There are and so many reasons why you might need a security camera. There are too a lot of reasons why purchasing an actual security arrangement might not be cost effective. Then, if you're looking for a simple way to get a single camera security system up and running, and you happen to have a spare Android device lying around, at that place'southward an app that you need to look into called IP Webcam.

The IP Webcam app uses your device'south born camera, adds a lightweight web server, and allows you to connect to the camera through that server. It'southward simple and constructive. Here are just a few of the things that you practice through the web interface:

  • Focus
  • Cull renderer (Wink, JavaScript, or built-in)
  • Record
  • Adjust video quality
  • Enable/disable audio
  • Snap a photo

The total feature list includes:

  • Record in webm or MPEG4 (on Android 4.one+)
  • Stream audio in wav, opus, and AAC (AAC requires Android iv.1+)
  • Movement detection with sound trigger
  • Date, time, and bombardment level video overlay
  • Sensor data conquering with online web graphing
  • Videochat back up (video stream only for Windows and Linux via an universal MJPEG video streaming driver)
  • Countersign protection for web interface

There are two versions of IP Webcam:

  • Gratuitous — includes ads
  • Pro — includes Tasker support

You'll probably desire some type of mount for your device. If you're using a tablet, you tin opt for something similar this universal tablet mount. If you're using a phone, check out this Dockem: Damage costless wall mount.

Installation

Installation of the IP Webcam app is quite simple. We'll install the free version on a Verizon-branded Droid Turbo. Here are the steps:

  1. Open up the Google Play Store on your device
  2. Search for IP Webcam
  3. Locate and tap the entry by Pavel Khlebovich
  4. Tap Install
  5. Read through the permissions listing
  6. If the permissions listing is adequate, tap Accept

Once the installation is complete, you lot'll observe a launcher on the home screen or in the app drawer (or both). Tap the launcher and get ready to gear up your webcam.

Usage

Setting up this webcam is incredibly unproblematic. When you launch the app, the settings window will appear (Effigy A).

Figure A

The IP Webcam settings window.

You'll be surprised to detect out that, out of the box, y'all tin can just scroll down to the bottom of the settings window, tap Start server, and and so point a browser to the private IP address handed out by the app. That lone should primal you in on the first of import fact — if y'all're going to utilize this on a local area network (LAN), make sure the phone (or tablet) is connected to the local Wi-Fi.

Co-ordinate to the app, you should exist able to utilise the carrier network (if applicative), only many of the carrier IP addresses handed out aren't reachable. This would mean, should y'all want to admission that webcam outside of your LAN, you'll demand to fix upward your router to pass traffic to the IP Webcam server. With that in listen, let'due south assume that y'all're simply going to view the webcam via your local network.

Before you outset the server, you might want to fix a countersign to foreclose anyone from gaining access to the camera. To do this, tap Login/password (from the IP Webcam settings window) then add a Login name and password to be used. You can also select features that will require a password to use. Tap Select features that require password (from the Login/password setup window, as shown in Figure B) and enable/disable the features you desire to countersign protect.

Figure B

Setting up security for IP Webcam web interface.

In one case you've set up that up, tap Outset server and you'll be given the local IP address to use. Information technology will exist in the form http://192.168.ane.100:8080. If the port 8080 is not usable on your network, you lot can modify the port to a more acquiescent number from the settings window.

One time you've started the server, the camera will starting time, and you can point your web browser to the IP address. From the spider web interface (Figure C), you'll need to select your Video renderer and (if applicable) your Sound player. Once you've selected the Video renderer, the streaming should begin.

Figure C

Viewing the video stream from IP Webcam.

If you need to record video, just enter a characterization for the recording and tap the record push. Y'all'll notice in that location are two tape buttons:

  • Circular
  • Manual

If you tape a circular video, it will tape a loop of a adamant length (select the length from the Chunk length drib-down). Yous tin select loops of v, 10, thirty, threescore, or 120 minutes. The recording will exist plant on the device in a sub-folder within sdcard/ipwebcam_videos, labeled with the tag you lot gave the recording in the web interface. You can't view those videos with the standard player. In the spider web interface, in that location is a Video annal button (at the elevation of the web interface). Tap that button to detect and view an archived video. The archived videos themselves are not time stamped, but the files are.

To stop the server, you lot have to get dorsum to the device and tap Actions (Figure D). From the pop-up menu, tap End, and y'all'll be returned to the Settings window.

Figure D

The IP Webcam interface when the camera is on.

If you're looking for a cheap way to get a uncomplicated security organization using nothing merely an Android device, IP Webcam is just the app y'all want.

Do you have a unique fashion to brand use of your old Android devices? Allow us know in the discussion thread below.