I haven't used this much myself, but I think you need to turn on iDisk Sync in System Preferences -> MobileMe -> iDisk (on your Mac). Then in your iCamSource window, click the "Change" button and select "iDisK" from the right column, and then select whichever folder you want to store the data in.
I'd recommend using an alias instead of changing the place where the pictures are stored. That way you have a copy on the iCamSouce machine and in the cloud.
And if you've set iCam to record, all the images are already in the folder [user]/pictures/iCam source motion events/[gigantic hash sequence]/[date-time stamp], conveniently in JPEG format.
Is there any way to save it to some other backup source other than my computer (for instance, if someone steals my computer while I'm not at home, how can I view the snapshots of the theft?!).
You need to run as many copies of iCam as you have cameras. Go to the Applications folder, and find the iCam Source app. Duplicate it (just leave it as "iCam Source copy"). Run that app in addition to the original app, but change the settings to reflect the address and name of the second camera. Both video feeds should go to your iPhone.
could you say all that in none computer savvy terms down loaded drop box
now what?
Well, first install Dropbox, then set up an account with Dropbox using the directions (even a video) on their site. This will create a folder on your Mac (I put mine on the desktop). Anything you put in that folder is copied to the Dropbox servers in the "Cloud" - which just means they store it for you. If you install another Dropbox on another machine, you have a simple way to "teleport" files between the two machines, but you don't need that for this application. All you want is a way to store files offsite.
Now you have to find the folder that holds the iCam videos. That's located at [user]/pictures/iCam source motion events/[gigantic hash sequence]/[date-time stamp]. Here User is the folder in Finder that has all your stuff in it. Inside that is a folder called Pictures, etc. The [gigantic hash sequence] is my name for the folder that has the recorded iCam video files in it, because it is a long string of apparently random alphanumeric characters.
Make an alias of that folder by selecting it and control-clicking it and selecting "Make Alias" (if you're using a PC, it'll be a right-click). Drop that folder in the Dropbox. You can change the name to something like "iCam files" if you wish, but do not change the name of the original file - the one with the long string of apparently random alphanumeric characters. If you do, iCam can't find it.
Now anytime iCam records anything, you'll find a copy of it appears in the Dropbox. It's stored on their servers, where it can easily be retrieved, even if your computer is gone.
I want to occasionally use iCam as a simple security system. I was concerned that in the event that someone broke into my house, one of the first things they'd go for was my computer. So, other than anything I was able to snap of the iCam data stream on my iPhone (assuming I acted on a push alert), the record of the burglary would be gone. I wanted some way to backup the data stream other than on the machine running iCam Source, so if the computer is stolen you can still get the perp’s picture.
I've been playing around with Dropbox, and I think it’s a killer solution. Note that the MJPEG images comprising the iCam stream are stored in Pictures are presently stored in:
If you make an alias of the [gigantic hash sequence] folder you can drop it in the Dropbox, which might be on your computer desktop. Do not rename the alias! Any images that appear in the [gigantic hash sequence] folder are immediately reflected in the Dropbox Cloud server, as well as anyplace else you have a synchronized Dropbox. This updating is continuous and does not wait for the motion trigger event to be completed!
The mirrored Dropboxes will show the JPEGs in the Dropbox files, just as they do on your computer. However, if you throw away the file from the alias in Dropbox, the file is gone for the Mac as well – so be careful.
This seems to be an ideal solution to remote backup of the MJPEG stream. I've tried it and it works! Best of all, Dropbox is free for up to 2GB folder. If you get Dropbox using this link: https://www.dropbox.com/referrals/NTM0MDgwNjM5 you (and I ) will get an extra 250 MB of storage.
And, thanks to Stefan for doing a sanity check on my ideas!
Stefan, I have used a Linksys camera and an iMac with iSight simultaneously on iCam without problems. Notably, my port forwarding is 12000-12100 for BOTH cameras (that is, in both instantiations of iCam Source). Could this be his problem? Maybe it won't work if you use other port settings.
You know, a really neat way to do this would be with Dropbox support. If you can arrange for the iCam Source to put the MJPEGs in a Dropbox folder on the desktop, it will not only save it in the Cloud, it will put a copy on your iPhone the next time you sync! And it's free, unlike MobileMe!
Many thanks for the clear and prompt answers to my questions. I hadn't thought through the fact that iCam had to be running on the phone to store the pictures, but of course that's obvious in retrospect. I REALLY like the idea of autosaving the MJPEG sequence to something like MobileMe or S3. I'm not a subscriber, but that might push me over the threshold.
Just downloaded v1.3, and it's great! Some thoughts that are only now obvious because I can look at recordings:
- Obviously you have to decide when to interpret a motion trigger as a new, unique event. Clearly a pause of a second between triggers is too short, and a minute is too long. Some experimentation seems to indicate the lockout time for new triggers is about 20 seconds. Is that right?
- It seems to me that if there is no motion in the frame, no new frames are sent. This is logical for a bandwidth-constrained system, but it was not obvious until I could look at recordings.
- One anticipated use of iCam is as a burglar alarm. However, if the bad guy gets in, one of the first things he's going to take is the PC. If your recordings of him getting in are on the PC, you have no evidence to present to the police. Right now, your only hope is to snap a picture of the screen while the triggered event is being streamed to you. A better option would be to save all the images that get to the iPhone in the Camera Roll automatically. Any chance?
- Pictures are presently stored in [user]/pictures/iCam source motion events/[gigantic arbitrary alphanumeric sequence]/[date-time stamp]. Can we rename the [gigantic arbitrary alphanumeric sequence] with our camera name, or will images get "lost"?
So, guys, how's v1.3 coming? Still hung up in the Apps process? We're all waiting for the recording capability that will make this Great App a Killer App!
I'm aware from other posts that you will shortly have v1.3 out there and that it will enable recording on the computer. I have a request that I acknowledge may be a low priority for you, but it would be "nice" someday.
Many people use iCam for home security. In case of a break-in, one can find out about it in real time (or near-real-time here in the boonies without 3G). But someone breaking into a house will go for the computer right after he goes for the jewelery and cash. No computer, no recording for evidence. At best you've taken a screen shot with your iPhone if you're fast. Two solutions would be to duplicate the recording on the iPhone itself or (less desirably) enable automatic FTP of the recording every "N" seconds to a remote server. But recording on the phone would be best. After all, the data is already being forwarded to the phone anyway, right? Why not record it there?
You really have a great product, and I will never forget the incredible support you gave me during setup. Thanks!
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