Cool gadget

BlueCorn · 09/08/2011, 09:38 AM

Webcams on tanks are hardly a new thing. I ran one on my 60gallon, way back in 2002, for a number of years. Enter 2011

There's a new product called 'iZON' made by a company called Stem Innovations. It's basically a webcam designed for iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, etc). What's cool about it is it's simplicity. It uses the cloud so there aren't any changes to your router.

Pros:
Really easy to setup
Relatively inexpensive
Motion/sound alarms
Automatic upload to YouTube on demand or after an 'alarm'

Cons:
Fairly low resolution (but very sharp when viewed on your device)
Streams to iOS devices only (a Mac desktop and other possibilities are coming according to the email I got from their marketing VP)
No exposure adjustment (it works pretty well for me but I wish I could darken the exposure a touch)
Because it uses a proxy on the net, there's a 20-30 delay between video and real life.

This is what the thing looks like (not my picture):

and here's a screen shot from my phone:

If you use an iPhone and have wanted to put a visual monitoring device on your tank, this is pretty slick.

Cheers

doctorgori · 09/08/2011, 09:45 AM

I did a google and came up empty ...how much is it?

Mandragen · 09/08/2011, 09:46 AM

nice find!

PokerReefer · 09/08/2011, 09:46 AM

Can it purchased at say best buy ? Or is it ordered from the net ? Link?

BlueCorn · 09/08/2011, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doctorgori

I did a google and came up empty ...how much is it?

http://steminnovation.com/

It's supposed to be in Apple stores and BestBuy now but I haven't looked. I ordered it online before they were released.

BlueCorn · 09/08/2011, 12:52 PM

Garbage deleted.

Carry on. Talk amongst yourselves.

strittmatter · 09/08/2011, 01:23 PM

I have a 2nd gen iphone (3g) would this cam work?

BlueCorn · 09/08/2011, 01:28 PM

From their site:

iZON requires that an iPod touch, iPhone or iPad that supports multitasking (i.e. app background mode) be used for initial setup. These models are: iPod touch 3rd generation or later, iPhone 3GS or later and any iPad. Earlier generations of these models will not allow proper setup from within the Stem:Connect App. Earlier models of these devices are supported to view iZON video provided that they are running iOS 4.0 or later.

I.e. It will work with your phone but you'd need to borrow a newer device to do the initial setup.

strittmatter · 09/08/2011, 01:33 PM

sweet, I can get a newer device to setup. Only place I can seem to find the cam is on Stem. but i couldn't find the requirments, just saw it was $129.

09/08/2011, 09:38 AM	#1
BlueCorn Retired Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,908	Cool gadget Webcams on tanks are hardly a new thing. I ran one on my 60gallon, way back in 2002, for a number of years. Enter 2011 There's a new product called 'iZON' made by a company called Stem Innovations. It's basically a webcam designed for iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, etc). What's cool about it is it's simplicity. It uses the cloud so there aren't any changes to your router. Pros: Really easy to setup Relatively inexpensive Motion/sound alarms Automatic upload to YouTube on demand or after an 'alarm' Cons: Fairly low resolution (but very sharp when viewed on your device) Streams to iOS devices only (a Mac desktop and other possibilities are coming according to the email I got from their marketing VP) No exposure adjustment (it works pretty well for me but I wish I could darken the exposure a touch) Because it uses a proxy on the net, there's a 20-30 delay between video and real life. This is what the thing looks like (not my picture): and here's a screen shot from my phone: If you use an iPhone and have wanted to put a visual monitoring device on your tank, this is pretty slick. Cheers __________________ Doug [I]Dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes God made when establishing tonal relationships. ~ Ansel Adams[/I]

09/08/2011, 09:46 AM	#3
Mandragen Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Lake Norman, North Carolina Posts: 700	nice find! __________________ Oliver "Live a life uncommon." Current Tank Info: Falcon

09/08/2011, 12:52 PM	#6
BlueCorn Retired Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,908	Garbage deleted. Carry on. Talk amongst yourselves. __________________ Doug [I]Dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes God made when establishing tonal relationships. ~ Ansel Adams[/I]

09/08/2011, 01:28 PM	#8
BlueCorn Retired Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,908	From their site: iZON requires that an iPod touch, iPhone or iPad that supports multitasking (i.e. app background mode) be used for initial setup. These models are: iPod touch 3rd generation or later, iPhone 3GS or later and any iPad. Earlier generations of these models will not allow proper setup from within the Stem:Connect App. Earlier models of these devices are supported to view iZON video provided that they are running iOS 4.0 or later. I.e. It will work with your phone but you'd need to borrow a newer device to do the initial setup. __________________ Doug [I]Dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes God made when establishing tonal relationships. ~ Ansel Adams[/I]

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Going Green! Tank cooling (geothermal)	robertjk7005	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	11	11/26/2011 10:06 PM
Cool Fish Recomendations	kingkipper	New to the Hobby	8	02/19/2011 03:20 PM
DIY cooling fans for water temp	gte539f	Do It Yourself	3	04/26/2010 06:43 PM
Cooling gadget	casalt	Marine Aquarists Roundtable of Sacramento (MARS)	15	08/21/2009 07:14 AM
Here's a cool gadget!	melev	Reef Discussion	7	10/10/2006 01:21 PM

09/08/2011, 09:45 AM	#2
doctorgori Moved On Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Simon Bar-Sinistar Posts: 1,097	I did a google and came up empty ...how much is it?

09/08/2011, 09:46 AM	#4
PokerReefer Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Modesto,CA. Posts: 309	Can it purchased at say best buy ? Or is it ordered from the net ? Link?

09/08/2011, 01:23 PM	#7
strittmatter Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 409	I have a 2nd gen iphone (3g) would this cam work?

09/08/2011, 01:33 PM	#9
strittmatter Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 409	sweet, I can get a newer device to setup. Only place I can seem to find the cam is on Stem. but i couldn't find the requirments, just saw it was $129.