Topics

46

iSpy Support / Responses to App Store Reviews & Criticisms

« on: October 17, 2009, 05:37:50 PM »

Since Apple doesn't really provide an easy way for us to respond to App Store reviews I figured we might as well address some of the more popular topics here instead.

TOPIC #1 : Are the cameras live or is the video pre-recorded?

As we state in the app's description, they are indeed LIVE, and you are ACTUALLY CONTROLLING THEM. Most of the controllable cameras linked to by iSpy are made by Canon: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=108

Here is a list (from Canon's webpage) of a number of their controllable cameras located throughout the world: http://www.usa.canon.com/app/html/X-Zone/xzone/webcams.html

Those are the same webcams that are linked to by iSpy, http://www.opentopia.com/, http://webcams.gajda.cz/, and a number of other websites.

Streaming pre-recorded video that looked like you were controlling a camera would be such a complex, expensive undertaking that I don't even know why people automatically think that it's the most obvious explanation for how iSpy works.  

TOPIC #2 : There aren't that many cameras in my neighborhood / city / state / country!

We never claimed that iSpy Cameras linked to cameras in own your back yard, so I really don't know why people expect it to. The world is a big place, and we're adding cameras every week. If you would like us to add cameras from specific places around the globe, let us know (or send us a link) and we'll add them in the next update if they're both compatible and interesting.

47

iCam Support / New Release - iCamSource 1.3.6 - (Requires iCam 1.2.1)

« on: September 17, 2009, 11:46:00 AM »

The latest version of the iCamSource (1.3.6) is now available for download for both OS X and Windows - http://skjm.com/icam/support.php

It includes overall reduced bandwidth usage, a crash fix for the OS X version, improved command-line support for the Windows version, and other various bug fixes.

The authentication protocol between iCam and the iCamSource has changed, so please note that this version of the iCamSource requires the use of iCam 1.2.1 or later.

In addition, if you or someone you know are using iCamWeb "share links" to directly connect to your iCamSource from a web browser, you will need to login again to generate a new share link that is compatible with the new version.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks!

48

iCam Support / New Release - iCam 1.2.1

« on: September 13, 2009, 09:52:42 PM »

New Features Include:

Sound on Motion when iCam is Running

A short sound is played when motion is detected and iCam is already running. To enable, zoom in on a camera, tap once to show the motion detection settings, and tap the Motion "dot" to toggle the Sound on Motion option. A speaker icon will appear in the dot when Sound on Motion is enabled. This option is applied to all iCamSource connections.

If the Auto-Zoom option is enabled in the iCam Options screen then iCam will zoom-out of a zoomed-in iCamSource if another iCamSource detects motion when Sound on Motion is enabled.

Support for Push Notification Badges

When you receive a Push on Motion notification the iCam icon will also include a badge number indicating how many Push on Motion notifications you have received since you last launched iCam.

Various Bug Fixes and Improvements


The iCam 1.2.1 upgrades are all 100% FREE. You don't even need to have purchased the Push on Motion upgrade to take advantage of the Sound on Motion functionality.

Please let us know if you have any questions or have any issues.

Thanks!

49

iSpy Support / Welcome to the iSpy Support Discussion Forum!

« on: September 10, 2009, 03:36:13 PM »

Please post any questions you might have about the iSpy application for the iPhone and iPod Touch in this forum.

Thanks!

50

iCam Support / Troubleshooting 102 - Source Connection Error

« on: August 12, 2009, 01:40:32 PM »

UPDATE - We have a new Troubleshooting page that should help explain the possible causes and solutions for many of the more common connection issues: http://skjm.com/icam/help/troubleshooting.php


PLEASE NOTE : If you are looking to troubleshoot any error message other than the Source Connection Error then please start here: http://skjm.com/forum/index.php?topic=174.0

The Source Connection Error message indicates that both iCam and the iCamSource are able to connect to the iCam Broker Server, but they are unable to connect to one another.

There are a number of reasons why iCam and the iCamSource might be unable to connect. Please find the description below that best describes your situation.


1) If you are receiving the Source Connection Error when your iPhone is connected via 3G/EDGE but you ARE able to connect via WiFi

This is the most common connectivity problem that we see with iCam. The issue is that generally both the mobile and computer networks use a complex port translation technique, making it one of the few cases where iCam doesn't "just work" out of the box.

Version 1.4.2.6 BETA and later of the iCamSource may resolve this problem.  If you are running 1.4.2.5 or earlier, the new BETA version of iCamSource is available for download at:

Windows:  http://skjm.com/icam/iCamSetup1.4.2.6.exe
Mac:  http://skjm.com/icam/iCamSource1.4.2.6.dmg

If you check the Auto-Config Router checkbox (in version 1.4.2.6 and later) before clicking the Start button, the iCamSource will attempt to automatically forward a port in your router. When you click the Start button, a status message should appear above the "Auto-Config Router Port" checkbox.  If you are still getting the Source Connection Error, make sure that your router has either UPnP or NAT-PMP enabled. If you are still having problems, please send an email to support@skjm.com with the status message.

If that doesn't resolve the problem, there is another solution, and that involves forwarding ports in your router to the computer running the iCamSource.

For step-by-step instructions on how to forward ports in your router, please click here: http://skjm.com/forum/index.php?topic=402.0

2) If you are receiving the Source Connection Error when your iPhone is connected via WiFi but you ARE able to connect via 3G/EDGE

You may have more than one router on your network, each generating their own sub-networks that may not be able to connect to one another. One solution is to put the router that is not directly connected to the modem into "bridge" mode so as to not have it generate its own sub-network.

3) If you are receiving the Source Connection Error when your iPhone is connected via both WiFi and 3G/EDGE

Make sure that you are running the latest versions of iCam and the iCamSource from http://skjm.com/icam/support.php and that any security or firewall software on your computer is allowing the iCamSource to accept incoming connections. (On Mac OS X 10.5 the setting is under System Preferencess > Security > Firewall)


TIP : To test whether or not your iPhone can connect via 3G/EDGE you can temporary turn off WiFi in your iPhone's Settings, forcing it to connect via 3G/EDGE.

Still receiving the Source Connection Error? If so, then if you could go to http://whatismyipaddress.com/ from the computer running the iCamSource and e-mail support@skjm.com what is says your computer's external IP address is in addition to the description above that best describes your situation then we will attempt to further troubleshoot your problem.

Thanks!

51

iCam Support / Troubleshooting 103 - Port Forwarding

« on: August 12, 2009, 01:39:33 PM »

PLEASE NOTE : If you are unsure as to whether or not Port Forwarding is the solution to your problem then please start here: http://skjm.com/forum/index.php?topic=174.0

Port forwarding isn't always the solution to every connectivity problem. Sometimes it can make things worse or simply confuse the troubleshooting process. If you are receiving the Source Connection Error when your iPhone is connected via 3G/EDGE but you ARE able to connect via WiFi, then Port Forwarding is most likely the solution for you.

To use port forwarding, you will need to both enable port forwarding in the iCamSource and setup a port forwarding range in your router.

To enable port forwarding in the iCamSource:


If you are running Windows, you will need to set an iCamSource registry key:

1. Download the following file to your computer and double-click it: http://skjm.com/icam/iCamSourcePortForwarding.reg If the file opens up in notepad for some reason, please see the Registry Note below.
2. Restart the iCamSource. You should now see a checkbox allowing you to enable Port Forwarding. Check it, and you should see the range 12000 to 12100 by default.

Registry Note - If double-clicking the .reg file doesn't work, you can do the following to add it to the registry:

- Click on Start and then Run...
- Type in regedit, and then click OK
- In regedit, click on File, and then Import
- Enter the filename or otherwise locate the ".reg" file you want to enter, and click OK


If you are running Mac OS X, you will need to add an iCamSource user defaults setting:

1. Open a Terminal windows from Applications > Utilities > Terminal
2. Copy and paste the following line of text into it and press Enter:

defaults write com.skjm.icamsource PortRangeSet -bool true

3. Restart the iCamSource. You should now see a checkbox allowing you to enable Port Forwarding.  Check it, and you should see the range 12000 to 12100 by default.


The next step is to forward that range of ports in your router to the computer running the iCamSource:

1. Go to http://portforward.com/ and find your router in the list sorted by manufacturer and model.
2. Click on your router's model, and then click on the "Click here to skip this advertisement..." link in the top-right corner.
3. The iCamSource is not among their list of supported applications, so you'll need to find and click on the "Default Guide" link near the top of the page, located above the list of applications.
4. Following the default instructions, forward UDP (not TCP) ports 12000-12100 to the computer running the iCamSource.

Once this is done, you should be able to access your iCamSource via 3G/EDGE.


IMPORTANT NOTE #1 - If your router only allows you to forward a single port at a time, change the port range from 12000-12100 to 12000-12005 in the iCamSource and add 6 port forwarding rules in your router, one for each port.

IMPORTANT NOTE #2 - If you are running iCamSource(s) on more than one computer on the same network then you will need to use (and forward) a separate port range for each computer. (We recommend using 12000-12100, 12200-12300, 12400-12500, etc.)


If things are not still not working correctly, then you can first try and confirm that your port forwarding is functioning as expected. If you visit this link ...

http://portchecker.net/udp.php?p=12000

... it will open a webpage that contains a Java Applet in it (similar to iCamWeb) that will be able to listen on port 12000 for a UDP packet to be sent from a server on the Internet to your computer. If your port forwarding is functioning correctly then you should see a message saying that the port is open. If it is not functioning correctly, it should say that it is blocked.


As always, please feel free to e-mail support@skjm.com if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks!

52

iCam Support / iCamSource 1.3.2 Released

« on: July 24, 2009, 04:04:24 PM »

New features include:

• Added a date and time to the Push on Motion notifications.
• Improved connectivity for users with frequently changing external IP addresses.

As always, the latest version of the iCamSource can be downloaded from: http://skjm.com/icam/support.php

Please let us know if you have any issues.

53

Network / IP Camera Compatibility / Welcome to the Network / IP Camera Compatibility Discussion Forum!

« on: May 31, 2009, 11:49:21 AM »

MJPEG & JPEG URL formats vary among different network webcam manufacturers and even among different webcam models from the same manufacturer.

Please visit http://skjm.com/icam/mjpeg.php for the latest list of manufacturers and their associated MJPEG and JPEG URLs. Not all URLs will work with all models, so please let us know if either your webcam manufacturer is not listed or if none of the URLs work with your specific camera model.

Thanks!

54

iCam Support / iCamSource 1.2 BETA Released

« on: May 05, 2009, 08:06:49 AM »

Two of the most requested features have now been added to the latest BETA version of the iCamSource:

• Preliminary video-only support for MJPEG-compatible WiFi and Ethernet network IP webcams.
• Window now minimizes to the System Tray / Menu Bar.

Please visit the iCam Support page for more information, including the list of currently tested and supported MJPEG-compatible webcams.

If your network webcam is not currently supported, you can either request its addition in this thread of the discussion forum or by e-mailing support.

Thanks!

55

iCam Support / MJPEG-Compatible Webcam Support & Requests

« on: May 05, 2009, 07:57:49 AM »

The current list of confirmed and tested network IP webcams and their respective MJPEG URLs can always be found here: http://skjm.com/icam/mjpeg.php

If your webcam is not on that list or is currently not supported, reply in this thread or contact support and we will hopefully be able to add support for it soon.

Thanks!

56

iCam Support / Question for LaptopConnect Card Users

« on: April 27, 2009, 09:03:56 PM »

Has anyone used iCam while running the iCamSource on a laptop that is connected to the Internet via a LaptopConnect card from AT&T?

We have received 3 reports within the past six months from users that have had issues doing just that, and we suspect that it has something to do with the inner-workings of AT&T's network. The problem only occurs when the iPhone is also connected via EDGE or 3G, as users have no problem connecting to LaptopConnect iCamSources when their iPhones are connected via WiFi.

We are currently looking into obtaining a LaptopConnect card for testing, but if anyone has had any experience running iCam and the iCamSource in this configuration, please reply in this thread.

Thanks!

57

iCam Support / Troubleshooting 101 - iCam & iCamSource Error Messages

« on: April 18, 2009, 09:10:31 AM »

UPDATE - We have a new Troubleshooting page that should help explain the possible causes and solutions for many of the more common connection issues: http://skjm.com/icam/help/troubleshooting.php


No Sources Found

There are two potential causes for this error:

1) The login and password on the iCamSource and iCam do not match. (Please note that they are both case sensitive.)
2) The iCamSource on your computer is unable to communicate with the iCam Broker Server.

If you are running Mac OS X and your firewall in System Preferences > Security > Firewall is enabled, make sure that the iCamSource is one of the applications allowed to accept incoming connections.

If you have made sure that your Mac or Windows computer's firewall software is "allowing" the iCamSource to communicate with the Internet, then the next step is to go to http://whatismyipaddress.com/ from your computer and e-mail support@skjm.com what it says your computer's external IP address is so that we can further troubleshoot the problem.

Broker Connection Error

This error message usually indicates that iCam on your iPhone or iPod touch cannot communicate with the iCam Broker Server. This is most likely due to a poor Internet connection (due to a weak cellular signal) or your network not allowing outgoing UDP communication. We can confirm the issue if you go to http://whatismyipaddress.com/ from your iPhone or iPod touch and e-mail support@skjm.com what it says your device's external IP address is.

You can also try connecting via both 3G/EDGE and WiFi, if available, to see if you achieve a different result.

Source Connection Error

This error message indicates that both iCam and the iCamSource are able to connect to the iCam Broker Server, but they are unable to connect to each another.

Please refer to this support forum post for further Source Connection Error troubleshooting information: http://skjm.com/forum/index.php?topic=403.0

Error Code 14 - Render Stream Failed

This error means that the iCamSource is having problems communicating with your webcam.

First make sure that there are no other applications attempting to use the webcam at the same time as the iCamSource. Make sure that your webcam is plugged directly into your computer, and not into a USB hub. If it is already plugged directly into your computer, try plugging it in to a different USB port.

Next, try rebooting your computer. If you are still having issues, make sure you have the latest drivers installed for your webcam.

If none of those things help, you can try installing these two operating system prerequestites required by the iCamSource:

Visual C++ Redistributable Package: http://skjm.com/icam/vcredist_x86.exe
.NET Framework: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=333325FD-AE52-4E35-B531-508D977D32A6&displaylang=en

58

iCam Support / iCamSource 1.1.4 (for Mac) Released

« on: April 16, 2009, 01:01:52 PM »

iCamSource 1.1.4 has been released for Mac.

New features include:

- Recalls which Audio and Video devices were previously selected for each instance when running multiple instances on the same computer.
- Bug fixes.

As always, the latest version of the iCamSource can be downloaded here: http://skjm.com/icam/support.php

Thanks!

59

iCam Support / iCamSource 1.1.3 Released

« on: April 14, 2009, 11:50:46 AM »

iCamSource 1.1.3 has been released for both Windows and Mac.

New features include:

- Option to auto-start the iCamSource when it is launched.
- Recalls which Audio and Video devices were previously selected.
- "No Audio" option added to the Audio device drop-down list.
- Support for DV camera audio on OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and later.

As always, the latest version of the iCamSource can be downloaded here: http://skjm.com/icam/support.php

Thanks!

60

iCam Support / PLEASE NOTE : The Latest iCamSource Version is 1.1.1

« on: February 21, 2009, 08:51:16 AM »

When we released the latest update to iCam (1.1), we also released a new version of the iCamSource, version 1.1. A few hours after doing so we discovered a bug that caused people to suddenly have problems connecting via 3G/EDGE or from a different WiFi network.

If you are experiencing this issue, please make sure that you are running the latest version of the iCamSource on your computer. The latest version of the iCamSource can always be found here: http://skjm.com/icam/support.php

If you are running the latest version of the iCamSource and are still experiencing problems that first appeared after you upgraded, please either reply to this thread or e-mail us at support@skjm.com

Thanks!