Messages

1

iCam Support / Re: Donation and server explanation please.

« on: October 28, 2011, 05:17:02 PM »

So I was reading reviews on app store, and some people raised the question about how they are displeased with donations, I don't mind them if it keeps better stuff coming from devs. But I was confused about server stuff can unexplain how icam works.  Am I to understand somehow my video stream is going to your server and then sent to my phone? If you ever get bought out, go out of business or have a total hardware failure. Does that mean my icam will be worthless? I'm confused and am not super computer savvy.  I'd like to understand how this works.  I wouldn't mind donating to keep development coming but am nervous I rely on a system that has a middle man, and that middle man could crash and leave me stranded. 

Thanks

First off I would like to thank you for posting your question in the forum instead of just writing it in a review since we have no way of answering questions asked in the App Store.

The primary reason that we included the contribution button is that over the years a number of users have been happy enough with iCam that they have gone out of their way to e-mail us to ask for our mailing address or PayPal account so that they could send us more money for the app. We have also noticed other applications throughout the store with "donate" buttons so we figured that the users that wanted to send us a little extra money could so without sending us an e-mail, and those that didn't want to contribute simply wouldn't. Although I don't understand the reasoning behind the 1-star reviews by users that are absolutely appalled at the idea of a contribution button even existing, I suppose it falls under the "no matter what you do, someone will be angry about it" rule.

The secondary reason for the contribution option is that we do incur ongoing monthly server and bandwidth costs to provide our users with the iCam Service. The iCam Service is essentially the "zero-config" connection capability and the Push Notifications that are sent whenever motion is detected.

We think that one of the major benefits of iCam is that the "zero-config" connection logic means that the majority of our users don't have to configure their routers, figure out their IP addresses, or setup a third-party dynamic DNS service to view their cameras when they are away from their home network. All they have to do is pick a login and password combination, enter it into iCam and the iCamSource, and that's it.

Push Notifications are also one of the more useful features of iCam, and the way that Apple has things set up is that our servers have to receive the motion detection messages from the iCamSources and then forward them on to Apple. The iCamSource cannot send the notifications directly to Apple's servers.

iCam video and audio are streamed peer-to-peer, directly from your iCamSource to your iCam, without going through our servers, as stated in the FAQ.

If you (or anyone else) has any further questions, please post it below.

Thanks!

Unbelievable response time! Thanks for the explanation. I love the notifications and yes icam is super simple.  I get now why you use the middle man.  Good to know my videos are sent from source to app without fear of it being accessed through your servers.  It all makes sense now.  And I get why you have the donate button. Doesnt bother me at all.  When it works it's the best security system I've ever used.  I know new update has bugs but am sure you'll work em out. Those that don't want to donate, shouldn't.  They should rate based on how well it works.  Consider me sending you a donation.  Hoping new update will be fixed so I can have more options and access to better cameras.  Currently using the Xbox 360 camera and it's always worked great.  I don't need sound right now.  What I would love is to figure out a wireless camera I could put in my house in one room without needing to have it attached. I heard about an izon camera at best buy, but read bad things about it.  Just throwing it out there as an example. Like their design, and magnet base, but I think they use their own processes and don't think it would jive with icam.

Anyway typed up on my iPhone. Sorry for the wall of text.  I'll be giving you a 5 star rating now.

Thanks.

Thanks

2

iCam Support / Donation and server explanation please.

« on: October 28, 2011, 12:39:52 PM »

So I was reading reviews on app store, and some people raised the question about how they are displeased with donations, I don't mind them if it keeps better stuff coming from devs. But I was confused about server stuff can unexplain how icam works.  Am I to understand somehow my video stream is going to your server and then sent to my phone? If you ever get bought out, go out of business or have a total hardware failure. Does that mean my icam will be worthless? I'm confused and am not super computer savvy.  I'd like to understand how this works.  I wouldn't mind donating to keep development coming but am nervous I rely on a system that has a middle man, and that middle man could crash and leave me stranded. 

Thanks

3

iCam Support / Re: New update broke my security camera

« on: October 27, 2011, 02:28:40 PM »

Ok downgraded both. And everything working fine again. As info tried to downgrade just the app and use source 2.4, but things still froze. Sorry new update is buggy, loved the new stuff, but I need this to work.  Thanks for replying.  Hope u fix things soon. Would love the new update, but can't afford to risk traveling with it as is.

4

iCam Support / Re: New update broke my security camera

« on: October 27, 2011, 01:54:11 PM »

I have iPad 2 iOS 5.  iPhone 4 iOS 5.  Both icam source and iPhone/ iPad apps never eer had issues with previous version.  I need this work I've come to rely on it.  Can I downgrade my apps and go back to Mac icam 2.3 or whatever it was?

5

iCam Support / Re: New Release - iOS iCam 2.1 + iCamSource 2.4

« on: October 27, 2011, 01:52:21 PM »

I have new iPad 2 with 5.0, and my iPhone is a 4 with iOS 5.

I was running icam source on Mac previously for over a year no problems.  And I've had iPhone 4 and iPad 2 since launch with icam apps previous version. And never once had any type of freeze issues.  I would travel change notifications off on, change record off on. Turn icam app off on, without ever crashing. Without ever having to reset.  I'd had it go almost a week while away and my Mac and iPhone app always ran smooth.  I could trust it.  Now I'm scared to travel knowing this thing is going to fail me as soon as I leave the house.  Can I downgrade to previous versions.

6

iCam Support / Re: New Release - iOS iCam 2.1 + iCamSource 2.4

« on: October 27, 2011, 01:43:08 PM »

Updated to icam source 2.4 and new iPhone and iPad apps.  I have a Mac with most recent leopard.  Don't want lion.  Previous icam source never once had issues. Previous apps never once had issues. Now when I try to use apps freeze when I change setting on iPad/iPhone.  Icam source keeps running on Mac fine, but the apps will no longer connect.  If I close source and relaunch apps works again, as soon as I change settings, be it notifications or record motion.  App freezes. Connections lost and no longer discovers running icam source.  Very frustrated,  I'd rather go back to what works.  Previous app and icam source.  Help.

7

iCam Support / New update broke my security camera

« on: October 27, 2011, 01:33:09 PM »

So I used icam source on my pc and Mac for years. The pc version was buggy and could not rely on it, the Mac version never had any issues. I dumped my pc and use my Mac for security camera.  I was hesitant to update today, but decided to do it.  The new icam source and icam app have new buttons, none of which are explained and it works as long as I don't mess with anything.  I run icam source, I open app and see myself and son moving no poblem as soon as I hit a button to turn on notifications whether it be global or single camera, the icam source still shows us moving but my icam app freezes and I get an error no icam sources found.  I close down icam app reopen it and same thing,  icam source is still running, still showing movement but the app can no longer communicate or show sources.  Something about that switch screw up the discovery of my icam source.  Even though nothing else has changed.

I close down icam source, re open it and the app works. As soon as i try and change notifications freezes up again.  I use my iPhone all the time to check on my house when we're away. I've been able to use icam without any issues on my iPhone and Mac for years without issues.  I don't like new update.  I can no longer rely on it. I want old icam source and old iPhone app back.   How do I do that, or when will this be fixed.  I almost donated to you and thank goodness I didn't.  You broke my security.

Help.