If you want to keep an eye on someone (or somewhere) but are on a tight budget, fear not. We are in the second decade of the 21st century. You no longer have to buy a bunch of expensive equipment to monitor your area — although some of the best home security cameras are more affordable than you might think.
All you need is a smartphone — preferably one you don’t use — and something to watch the feed. With a few dollars, a mobile device, a charger and some tape or a tripod for mounting purposes, you can track anything you want.
In this guide, we use AlfredCamera as a free example, but we also list great alternatives for iOS and Android.
How to use AlfredCamera
We chose AlfredCamera (Google Play) (Apple App Store) because it has great user reviews, is easy to use, and works great. You can use this service for free, but there are some drawbacks, such as advertisements and recording restrictions. You can unlock everything this service offers through a monthly or annual subscription.
In this example, we’re using a free account and setting the Pixel 3 as the camera. To view the feed, we use a laptop and Google’s Chrome web browser — no extensions required.
Mobile device requirements:
- Android 5.0 or later
- iOS 8 or later
Note: Before you begin, make sure you are using a wireless network that is secure and password protected. Setting this up on an unsecured network is not recommended as someone could access your network without your permission.
Step 1: Install the app and sign in using your email address, Google Account or Apple ID credentials.
Step 2: Choose how you want to use AlfredCamera. As shown below, we have chosen Baby monitorbut you can tap other options like Baby monitor and On a trip.
Step 3: The app can set Browser mode by default. If there is, tap The viewer at the top and select Camera instead of that.
Step 4: Tap one of the three permission options in the photo and video recording pop-up window.
Step 5: Tap one of the three permission options in the audio recording pop-up window.
Step 6: Pair your phone with another device by logging into AlfredCamera on the other device. You can do this by installing the app on another phone or tablet, or by visiting the AlfredCamera website in any browser and logging in with the same account credentials.
Step 7: Point your phone’s camera at the location you want to monitor. A tablet stand or phone holder will work, and you can also buy a smartphone adapter that screws into a tripod. By default, the app uses the rear camera, but you can switch to the front-facing camera within the mobile app or through a web browser.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Step 8: Open the AlfredCamera website in your browser, login and click WebViewer shown in the upper right corner.
Step 9: As shown above, the specified camera shows a preview that changes like a slow slide show, but it’s not an actual feed. Click on Review to see the live feed, shown below.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Step 10: With the live feed open, hover over the video and a transparent menu will appear with the following tools:
- Screenshot — Take a screenshot that is automatically downloaded to your device.
- Recording — Record a feed of up to 30 seconds.
- Rotate — Rotate the indent 90 degrees.
- Flashlight — Turns on your phone’s LED flash.
- Change camera — Switch between front and rear camera.
- Low Light Filter — Click once to set this to automatic. Double click to activate the filter.
- Full Screen — This puts the browser in full screen mode. The actual feed does not spread.
- Siren — The phone will emit a sound at maximum volume.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Change the name of the camera
Step 1: Return to the main portal with your camera listing.
Step 2: Hover over the image until the gear icon appears. Click on Gear.
Step 3: Click on Camera name and enter a new name.
Here you can adjust other settings, such as turning motion detection on/off, setting the low-light filter to Automatic, turning on the “stay zoomed” feature, and adding accounts to the Trust Circle.
A few notes about AlfredCamera
All videos are stored in Moments section on the website. If you want to download a video, click on the video and it will start playing towards the right side of the browser. Click on download files or Share buttons.
If you want to record a video longer than 30 seconds, you need a subscription that extends the recording duration to 120 seconds. The subscription also unlocks the Zoom feature, enables HD viewing and recording, removes ads, extends cloud storage for up to 30 days, and enables motion detection scheduling. The cost is $4 per month or $30 per year. If you just want to disable the ads, a one-time payment of $17 will remove them forever.
Note that using your phone as a camera will drain the battery very quickly. We drained about 20% of the battery in just an hour while testing this app. While using it as a camera, the phone should be plugged in at all times.
AlfredCamera offers a webcam feature on a website that accesses your laptop’s webcam. You can easily use this instead of your phone and then browse the feed in the Android or iOS app.
Finally, you can access the app’s settings by tapping on the three lines “hamburger” icon in the upper left corner. Here you can switch to viewing mode, turn on motion detection, view camera status, and change camera settings.
Android alternatives
If you own an Android device, there are plenty of alternatives. We recommend two.
WardenCam and IP web camera
WardenCam and IP Webcam are simple, easy to use and work on most Android devices. If you can tolerate the ads, both services are free to use. If not, you can get IP Webcam Pro for $4, while WardenCam costs $6.
In terms of features, both are basically the same whether you need motion detection, night vision, or the ability to view events that happened while you were away. They also let you adjust the resolution of your video feed and configure your phone so it doesn’t go to sleep while the camera is running. It all comes down to personal preference.
Access their feeds on your computer
WardenCam does not offer a Windows 10 or Mac app. Instead, you can view the content summary through the website’s web browser.
With an IP webcam, you have several options. You can view the feed using VLC or any video player with streaming compatibility. If you use VLC, go to Media > Open Network Streamand enter the URL of the remote camera. Once you enter the URL, you can connect and view through your smartphone’s camera. Unfortunately, you can’t record material well with VLC; for that you’ll want to opt for more powerful software.
More robust settings
Here we recommend WebcamXP or Netcam Studio. Both WebcamXP and Netcam Studio are made by the same company, but Netcam Studio is newer and includes a watermark when viewing footage. If you don’t want a watermark, you can buy the software for $50 or use WebcamXP, its older but capable sibling, without the watermark. However, both limit you to only one camera at a time, so if you want some crazy setups with three different smartphones, you should invest in the paid edition of Netcam Studio.
Both WebcamXP and Netcam Studio offer the same simple functionality you’ll need to take full advantage of your Android device’s remote camera. Both can watch live feed from the camera, record footage, activate when motion or sound is detected, and connect to an IP webcam. They lack minor features, such as camera focus and LED control, but you can still control them remotely via an IP webcam. Both WebcamXP and Netcam Studio are extremely versatile in terms of their feature set, and if you decide to give your Android device a little boost, these tools can transform it into a real security camera.
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
iPhone alternatives
As an iPhone owner, you have several options for setting up remote viewing.
Presence
Presence by People Power is an all-in-one automation app that offers free viewing-only connectivity to another iOS device. The free version allows you to watch live broadcasts and send notifications when something happens nearby. In-app purchases for Presence Pro Video increase your cloud storage, improve video quality, and allow for longer video recordings.
Presence has a browser version that you must register to use.
Baby Monitor 3G
If you want better quality food for something like monitoring a sleeping baby, consider the Baby Monitor 3G. It costs just $5 and lets you use an old iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch as a wireless baby monitor. The current iteration supports watchOS and includes video zoom and night mode. Both the Mac app and the Apple TV app cost an additional $5 each and are great for watching and talking to your child from a room or two away.
At home
If you’re looking for another alternative, check out AtHome. There are two components to this setup: the AtHome Video Streamer app that serves as the camera, and the AtHome Camera app that receives the feed. When used together, the pair allows you to track an area of your choice wherever you are, as long as you have a Wi-Fi or cellular connection. You can also schedule recordings in advance, view multiple cameras on one device thanks to the split screen feature, and remotely control the camera to get a better look at the room or surrounding area.
If you want to follow the feed using a PC, AtHome offers desktop software for Windows 10. You can turn a Mac into a camera — Windows 10, too — but there’s no app to receive feeds.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn