TECH SPOTLIGHT

Apple-compatible iZon camera offers low-cost security

Stem Innovation provides security for your home or business with the iZon camera (left) and Stem Connect app. The camera and app work with Apple’s iPhone, iPod (not shown) or iPad.
Stem Innovation provides security for your home or business with the iZon camera (left) and Stem Connect app. The camera and app work with Apple’s iPhone, iPod (not shown) or iPad.

— A little security can go a long way when you’re a long way from home.

It’s inevitable that something is going to take you away from home - holidays, vacations, medical treatment, etc. For me, recent health issues have meant I’ve had to spend some time away from home.

Being gone for a while, I worried about the security of my home. Sure, I could ask friends to check on it for me, but I hated to keep doing that. I could get one of those expensive security systems, but that meant paying monthly monitoring fees.

Stem Innovation provided a solution with an update to its iZon camera and software system. The iZon 2.0 looks a lot like the previous room monitor Stem produced. Actually, it looks exactly like the old camera. The difference is in the firmware, and especially in the software.

The iZon is made to work with iPods, iPhones and iPads. The key to this camera is its Stem Connect app, which can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store.

Let’s start with the camera itself. The iZon is a small, white camera about 3 inches tall. It sits on a dome base and is held there by magnets, so the camera can be adjusted up, down or side to side. It makes it a lot easier to point the camera exactly where you want it. The camera lens is near the top of the front, and a tiny hole near the bottom holds the microphone. The back of the device contains the port for the power adapter and a hole that serves as a reset button, should you have problems setting it up. The camera is wired to a power outlet, but the cord is plenty long. The images from the camera, however, are transmitted wirelessly. A wireless Internet system is required for this camera.

A standard home wireless Internet system works just fine. Just make sure you know your Internet router’s password. I thought I did, but eight resets of the camera later, I figured out I was typing in an old password. Hey, we all have those days, right? Still, it would have been nice if Stem’s software had said something like “incorrect password” instead of acting like it was going to connect.

Setup is made easier because the app talks you through the steps. The app then produces a QR code on the iPhone, iPod or iPad screen to show to the camera. That code tells the camera how to set itself up the rest of the way. It takes less than 5 minutes to set this camera up … provided you remember all your passwords.

A big change to the new iZon camera is the ability to view video in “real time.” The previous model and software had a 15-second delay on video. It was more of an annoyance than a serious security risk. There can be a delay on the new system of a second or two, depending on your Internet connection. But it’s far better than 15 seconds.

The camera has settings to detect motion or audio, and it will send an alert when either is detected. It also will record 30 seconds automatically, starting 5 seconds before the audio or video is detected. It’s enough to see what’s going on, or who’s breaking in. You also can press the record button while viewing a camera live to catch that snippet of video.

You will have to set up an account with iZon, but that account provides a lot of perks. First, it allows you to set up one or more iZon cameras and view them all at once. Second, it allows you to save any recordings to the iZon “cloud,” or server. You can save up to 99 videos to the cloud. You can protect any video by hitting the lock icon next to the video, or you can edit the list and delete one or more at a time so your account doesn’t fill up.

The iZon does not have infrared, but it can see well in low light situations. The microphone works very well. The video isn’t the smoothest or fastest. You can get a lot of motion blur when people move. But if you need a good room monitor and can’t afford the expensive systems, this is the camera to get.

These cameras came in very handy while I was away. The camera is a clever design, and thanks to the new app, it’s easy to set up and even easier to use. I’m impressed.

I’m hoping I won’t need to use the iZon camera again anytime soon for the reasons I did recently, but I’m glad to know it’s there if I need it. A remote eye is nice to have, but it’s even nicer to be home.

Melissa L. Jones can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].

Where it’s @

Stem Innovation’s iZon 2.0 camera requires an iPhone, iPod or iPad with iOS 4.3 or later, the Stem Connect app from the App Store and a free iZon account. The camera retails for $129. More information is available at steminnovation.com.

Business, Pages 21 on 10/29/2012

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