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Swann has been making some really cool flying RC toys that look like different sorts of helicopters. I have played with several of those helicopters over the years and they are a lot of fun, but inevitably, I end up crashing them into the wall and breaking the propeller or gears that move the propellers.
The latest flying toy from Swann is the Quad Starship and it reminds me a lot of the Parrot AR.Drone, only smaller. The Quad Starship has four propellers each protected by a plastic ring. That should mean you can touch a wall without the quadcopter suddenly becoming uncontrollable and crashing.
The Quad Starship has a wireless range of 330 feet and a controller powered by four AA batteries. The helicopter itself is powered by a rechargeable battery good for eight minutes of flight time. In addition to its size, and lack of an onboard camera, the other biggest difference between this and the AR.Drone is the price. The Swann Quad Starship sells for $79.99(USD) making it a fraction of the cost of the AR.Drone. Only time will tell if it flies as well, though.
We're starting to wonder where introducing lasers doesn't make everything better. Case in point: Swann's just-shipping Bolt HD action camera. While the 1080p video, microSD storage and 135-degree lens will be familiar from the Freestyle HD we saw in 2011, there's now a laser pointer to make sure the camera is on target when it isn't an option to peek through the detachable LCD. A sleeker look and an upgrade to 12-megapixel still photos also give us reason to upgrade. It's not a uniform move upwards from the Freestyle HD, however -- the Bolt HD can only submerge to 32 feet versus the 65 of its ancestor. As long as your scuba dives don't run that deep, however, the lower $200 price for the new camera might prove tempting.
Swann Security Unleashes Bolt HD[TM], A High Definition Waterproof and Wearable Mini Action Camera
Waterproof camera and DVR combo lets adrenaline junkies capture their most extreme moments
Santa Fe Springs, Calif. - (January 20, 2013) - Swann Security, the global leader in security monitoring solutions, proudly debuts the Bolt HD[TM] mini high definition action camera. Making its debut at the 2013 International CES, this mini HD camera / DVR combo is rugged, waterproof and comes with a myriad of mounting options so outdoor enthusiasts can live and relive their most extreme moments. The Bolt HD is available at www.swann.com for $199.99.
At the core of Bolt HD is a color camera that can record 1080p or Full HD high resolution video at real time or 12 MP still images. With a built in laser pointer, Bolt HD allows the user to confirm the camera is on target and ready to shoot. The protected lens allows the user to record more with a 135 degree angle lens. The Bolt HD has an included stereo microphone that enables audio recordings to not only see but hear the action. The device stores approximately 10 hours of video recordings on a removable MicroSD card (up to 32GB), so users can easily swap out cards while on the go. Bolt HD's mini HDMI connection allows the user to connect right in to their home TV to relive the action in HD right away. Bolt HD is powered by a lithium-ion battery that recharges via USB and gives the user hours of life per charge.
Not only is the Bolt HD shockproof, but it's also waterproof up to 32'. Equipped with a number of mounting options, Bolt HD is an ideal solution for a variety of sports and outdoor applications. With no dials, gauges, knobs or any preferences to configure, users simply turn it on, strap it on and hit record.
Bolt HD Features Include:
* Record professional high definition action videos at 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels) in real time (30fps) with stereo audio
* Use the laser pointer to check the camera is on target and shoot in any conditions with waterproof casing to 32ft below the surface
* Relive the action in high definition with mini HDMI connection
* Record footage to MicroSD card (up to 32GB), or use the USB cable to transfer to PC or Mac for easy uploading to your favorite websites
* Convenient lithium-ion battery is rechargeable via USB with hours of recording per charge
* Wearable mounts include: curved surface mount, Helmet mount, flat surface mount
* Wireless Remote
Availability
Swann's Bolt HD (MSRP-$199) is available through Swann's network of retailers and at www.swann.com.
Filed under: Cameras
Source: B&H
We don't follow the surveillance space as closely as we do, say, smartphones or tablets, but this four-camera HD system from Swann Security does in fact seem to be the first 1080p-capable consumer product of its kind, so we're here to bring you the news. "Coming soon" to Fry's Electronics and BestBuy.com, the complete rig nets you four 1080p cameras with 30 fps recording, complete with infrared for night shooting and power-over-Ethernet connectivity, letting you get each cam online with a simple CAT5E cable. 1080p may seem like overkill for home or small business use, but the cops will certainly thank you when they're able to feed a high-res frame grab to the evening news, rather than the fuzzy perp shot we've grown accustomed to.
The Platinum-HD DVR includes a 2TB hard drive for up to 45 days of continuous footage (at lower resolutions, we presume) and smartphone streaming through the SwannView app. The quad-cam package will set you back $1,600 whenever it does hit stores -- in the meantime, find a few more details in the PR after the break.
Protect your home or business like never before, with HD video streamed over the Internet to your smartphone or tablet
Santa Fe Springs, Calif.- January 17, 2013 - Swann, a global leader in do-it-yourself security monitoring solutions, announces the release of its new state-of-the-art high definition 1080p Network Video Recording (NVR) security systems, known as Platinum-HD. The Swann NVRs are capable of full HD video with real-time (30 frames per second) live viewing and video playback. Initially there will be two versions: 4 Channels (NVR4-7200) with 4 x 1080p (NHD-820) Cameras and 8 Channels (NVR8-7200) with 4 x 1080p Cameras.
Where HD security systems in the past have required a trade-off between resolution and video frame rates, these new solutions are unique in that they combine 1080p video resolution with real-time (30 frames per second) live viewing and video playback allowing end-users to see every detail, color and activity.
The systems include 4 of the latest NHD-820 surveillance cameras, each capable of producing 1080p HD video or, using security industry terminology, 1000 TV lines (2.1 Megapixels) lines; image quality far in excess of typical security cameras. The cameras also have powerful night vision up to 115 feet and can be used indoors or outdoors. The new Platinum-HD NVRs also have power over Ethernet (PoE) so that the cameras take their power and transmit video using CAT5E network cable, making them easier to set-up as they do not need a separate power connection for the cameras.
The Platinum-HD also allows viewing of live or recorded video in high definition on HDTV, LCD and Plasma screens with an HDMI cable included in the pack. The intuitive user interface means you can monitor and record multiple cameras on a split screen, as well as select any camera for full screen real time viewing or playback of pre-recorded footage. With a 2TB hard drive, users have the ability to record approximately 45 days of continuous surveillance or even longer when using the motion detection settings. With easy to use menus you can easily locate incident video and then transfer it to the network or a USB drive.
The free SwannView app offers convenient remote viewing functionality to the Platinum-HD kits allowing you to set up live remote viewing on your mobile device. The set-up is extremely easy with Swann's customizable network configuration. Once the kit is installed, simply download the SwannView app from your smartphone's application store or go to www.swann.com/swannview for the latest version of the SwannView app. Once the app is installed on your Smartphone or tablet, put the DVR's IP address into the browser and in minutes you can view live video from your cameras.
Available
Swann's Platinum-HD Full High Definition Security Systems are coming soon to Fry's Electronics and BestBuy.com. The 4 Channel 4 Camera versions (Swann code SWNVK-472004) have a MSRP of $1599.99 and the 8 Channel 4 Camera version (SWNVK-872004) has an MSRP of $1699.99.
Filed under: Cameras
Home security may not have reached all-seeing aerial eye proportions, but Swann's TrueBlue 4000 series of D1 DVR systems can place up to eight digital peepers throughout your island fortress or humble abode. With a resolution of 480 x 704 pixels, the cameras offer "DVD-quality" video and feature night vision with up to 65 feet of visibility. Those hankering to remotely keep tabs on their homestead can load up the free SwannView app for Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Mobile 6 and Symbian to watch live video on mobile devices. Footage can also be viewed on monitors using HDMI or VGA connections and can be backed up through USB, eSATA or over a network. The maximum one terabyte of storage space nets continuous recording for up to 30 days -- or longer if the device's motion detection settings are flipped on. A 500GB base model with a quartet of cams rings up at $549.99, while the more expensive $649.99 and $749.99 models each pack 1TB hard drives and eight channel support. However, only the priciest of the trio comes packaged with the octet of cameras. Head past the break for the full PR and a glimpse of the rig in action.
Filed under: Digital Cameras, Software
Swann TrueBlue 4000 series D1 DVRs pack up to 8 cameras, 1TB of storage for home security originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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