iCamSource 2.7.2 Released

[Stefan]

iCamSource 2.7.2 has been released today for both Windows and Mac, and includes general bug fixes as well as support for the new Foscam IP camera firmware issue discussed here: http://skjm.com/forum/index.php?topic=5986.0

The new versions of the iCamSource can be downloaded below or from http://skjm.com/icam/support.php

Windows 8 and later - http://skjm.com/icam/iCamSourceSetup2.7.2.Win8.exe
Windows XP / Vista / 7 - http://skjm.com/icam/iCamSourceSetup2.7.2.7VXP.exe


Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and later - http://skjm.com/icam/iCamSource2.7.2.dmg
Mac OS X 10.4 & 10.5 (Tiger & Leopard) - http://skjm.com/icam/iCamSource_Tiger_Leopard_2.7.2.dmg


As always, if anyone has any questions, issues, or comments about the functionality, please let us know.

Thanks!

[35remington]

I stopped using iCam Source for the past 4 months because it was slowing down my while computer (quad core iMac). Does this update address that problem?

[kristinkski]

Hi,

I accidentally installed the newest update on my Mac not catching that it wasn't for a computer running Snow Leopard....My computer now won't boot up, it goes to a grey screen with a folder icon and a flashing ?

Can anyone help me with this?

Thanks,

Kristin

[Stefan]

Installing the wrong iCamSource version won't cause your computer to stop booting up. It sounds like your computer has other problems, unfortunately: http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1440

[35remington]

What about my question above?

[Stefan]

We hadn't heard of any reports of the iCamSource slowing down computers, so we didn't make any changes that would affect that, no.

Is the CPU or memory usage on your Mac high?

[35remington]

You're kidding, right? This has been a problem for ages with your software.

[Stefan]

All CPU usage issues that we were made aware of from previous versions have been fixed. Any recent issues with high CPU usage is due to configuration issues attributed to IP cameras with higher-than-recommended frame rates.

If high CPU usage is your issue, how many cameras are you running connected to your iCamSource, and are they IP cameras or USB webcams?

[35remington]

5 cameras total. 4 are Foscam FI8910W, connected wirelessly through Airport Extreme 6th Gen with 65 mb/s Speedtest-verified connection. 1 camera is iSight from the iCamSource host iMac.

[Stefan]

Have you adjusted the URLs of all of the Foscam cameras to use a lower (2-5 fps) framrate? - http://skjm.com/forum/index.php?topic=5263.0

If you further reduce the frame rates, does that improve the CPU usage? You can also try reducing the frequency that motion detection is performed for each camera in the iCamSource.

[35remington]

Why would someone buy 15 fps cameras just to dumb them down to 2 fps? Is that what it takes for your software to work correctly?

Yes, I have turned the motion detection frequency down as far as it will go.

[Stefan]

The more data you send to the iCamSource by adding additional cameras, the more it will have to process, so the CPU usage will increase. If you reduce the number of cameras or reduce the frame rate, you reduce the amount of data the iCamSource has to receive, and the CPU usage will go down.

[35remington]

I'm running a quad-core iMac here. No scarcity of CPU power. I use Vitamin D to record video from these cameras 24 hours a day, nonstop. Barely makes a blip on the CPU screen. What makes iCam any different?

[Stefan]

Not sure ... We'll have to look into Vitamin D and see if we can determine what the difference might be.

[Merlin]

I have an older computer that runs nothing but iCamSource and Dropbox.  Five cameras one of which is a USB camera. The frame rate set to 2fps for my IP cameras.  With this setup the CPU runs around the 71% or greater.  If I close dropbox it makes little to no difference.  When I close iCamSource it drops to 0 to 4%.

Hope this information helps,
Merlin