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- #Security cameras with phone app full#
- #Security cameras with phone app android#
- #Security cameras with phone app software#
The LiveCam app initially crashed repeatedly on my Pixel 3, though whatever issue plagued it resolved over the (long) period of testing. Throughout this review, I also ran into some other unfortunate problems. Temporarily plugging a gap in camera coverage via LiveCam by tossing a phone in a high spot or corner isn't too feasible. While being used as a security camera, your phone will also suck down a lot of power, so barring very short-term use, you'll need to keep it plugged in or deal with a security camera that has only a couple hours of battery life.
#Security cameras with phone app android#
On some of my devices it could stay running for hours, on others it disconnected within minutes, and that likely has more to do with how your device's OEM implemented power-saving features in Android than anything else (though I still had issues on every device I tested with the app set to be exempt from Doze).Īt most, you can expect an hour or two of use tossing a phone in a window, so filling gaps in coverage without power isn't possible long-term. If you do turn the display off, the app may continue working, but not in the long-term. That means keeping what will probably be a mostly static image on your display 24/7, which can damage OLED-based screens. Sadly, that's one of the last positive things I have to say.įor the LiveCam app to work correctly on your phone, you will need to keep your device powered on - the app will keep it awake for you by default, but you can't turn the display off without running into issues. (Keep in mind, should you fail to maintain that system, you're also the only thing keeping it secure.)
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#Security cameras with phone app full#
Self-hosted camera solutions like this also have fewer points of failure when it comes to security, and you're in control with full ownership of your data every step of the way. However, you aren't paying a monthly fee for those sorts of extras, possibly saving you money if you don't need them. You can set alerts for motion detection, but it doesn't have anything as advanced as the "person detection" features you get on some other paid security services or cloud backups - though you can shoehorn your own solution for remote storage if you need to. When it comes to extra "smart" security features, this setup is a bit lacking compared to the many AI-equipped cameras out there.
#Security cameras with phone app software#
Our review is mostly concerned with LiveCam, which is an app by Synology that turns Android and iOS devices into security cameras for Synology's Surveillance Station, which is a security camera software platform and management system that runs on top of the company's NAS hardware, accessible remotely via the DS Cam app.ĭS Cam (app for viewing recordings and live feeds) on Android.
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I think it's necessary to explain the relationships between Synology's products just a bit before I dive in, since they can be hard to keep straight. Synology's software isn't generally user-friendly past the basics. Trying to replicate functionality like cloud video backups is possible, but it becomes a very complicated proposition. Sucks power fast on battery, works unreliably and inconsistently with the screen off - though that's more a fault of Android itself. Between the price of a NAS and the extra expense for each additional camera license, the free LiveCam app ends up being deceptively expensive to use.Īt higher quality settings, LiveCam tends to fall behind real time.