Full Review
Inetcam's iVista 3.10 isn't sold in stores (though the web site makes liberal use of product box shots).
It requires a download of just under 8mb, and requires a registration code - whether you own the product or not.
If you're demoing it, you're required to provide your name and e-mail address so a registration code (good for 3 days)
can be sent to you. The registration code enables the top-of-the line VideoWebPage SECURITY PRO package; if and when
you actally purchase a registration key, some options may be disabled or removed.
Though all modules are included in the demo, the testing was only done on the ones people are most likely to use:
- (Multiple) Video
- VideoWebPage Address
- Scheduler
Installation
Installation proceedes quickly and smoothly, unless you have multiple webcams or no webcam at all (you can still use the
software to broadcast your desktop or audio over the internet.) If you have multiple webcams, it will prompt you to select
one of the drivers, and then show you the picture. For a single webcam driver source, it just goes straight to the video
display. If it shows the picture fine, you can click OK and finish the installation or click NEXT and choose additional
webcams. If you don't have a webcam, iVista detects this and asks if you still want to install the software. At the end of
the installation, you are prompted to type in your registration code - you can't continue or finish until you do. Be warned:
it can take several hours to get a demo registration code e-mailed to you (for this review, it took almost 4 and half hours to
get the code emailed), so download the software and wait until the you get the code before you try to install it.
Starting iVista
When you start iVista for the first time, the display is none-too-intuitive and rather bland. There are many options and features
to choose from, but they aren't all clear on the button-based menu. The screen is split into halves - the left half
(the large white area) contains your devices, the right has the buttons to control the functions.
For clarities sake (and because they are a bit confusing to find), it should be noted that the 6 icons on the very bottom of the
iVista window are actually the program settings - from left to right: Display connected users, the iVista VideoWebPage URL, Expert Mode, Messages, Web Server, and iVista Setup options.
To begin broadcasting your webcam image, first click the VIDEO button, then click on WEBCAST VIDEO (if a check box isn't already there.) That's it, you're broadcasting.
However, to optimize the settings in iVista, some tweaking must be done. Click EDIT SETTINGS, and then click on the PERFORMACE tab. This is where you set the Video Compression rate, how long a viewer can watch continuously, the maximum number of viewers, and the maximum framerate.
Compression: The default is 65%, which is sufficient for most viewing. You can increase it (lower picture quality, faster video transmission), or decrease it (higher picture quality, lower transmission rate.)
Disconnect view: You can control how many minutes a video stream runs for; after the time passes, the viewer must click the refresh button to start it again. The default is 30 minutes.
Maximum number of viewers: The default is 5. If more than the number specified tries to connect, they'll get a message saying the maximum number of viewers is already connected and to try again later.
Maximum frame rate:: This is the number of images sent per second, depending on the connection speed. It can be set to anywhere from 1 to 30 (30 frames per second (or FPS) is equivalant to TV-quality broadcast.)
To create a web page to use iVista with, click on the NEW WEB PAGE option, and you're presented with an screen to give it a name and the location of the
HTML file (figure3.jpg). You can use the page as is, or simply create it and copy the relevant HTML out of it to use in your own pre-existing page.
Webcast audio is checked by default; if you aren't streaming audio, make sure you uncheck it. Do this AFTER you make changes to the settings listed above,
so they'll be reflected in your HTML.
There is one other feature that no other webcam software has: built-in security for the video stream.
Click on the wrench icon in the lower-right corner of the iVista screen, which brings up the iVista setup
window. Click the WEB SERVER tab, then CONFIGURE WEB SERVER (see image on the left). This is where you change the webserver port number, as well.
The second tab is the USERS tab. You can either click the box to allow all users
(no one is denied the video stream); or you can build a list of users. They'll need a valid username
and password to view the webcam feed; if they don't have it, they'll be denied access to the
video stream. No more having to worry about CGI or IIS password lists!
Viewing the webcam stream
When you connect to a web page that has the iVista java applet in it, the video starts up very quickly. That's because the java applet is extemely small - anywhere from 15k-45k in size, depending on video, audio, or video and audio combined.
It should be noted that there are two major strengths available in the java applet used in the web page:
port tunneling and the ability to set the hue/brightness/compression of the picture on the fly.
In the web page, hold the mouse over the webcam picture; the iVista logo appears in the lower left-hand corner.
Clicking on it brings up a java applet window (image on the right).
The information tab is just that: information. What time it is where the iVista software is running, IP address, etc.
The second tab, "Adjustment" (left image) is the one to use. Here, the viewer can change the brightness, contrast,
and compression level of the picture. The more the compression, the higher the framerate will be (but the lower
the picture quality). Lower the compression (remember, the default is 65%), the better the picture is but the stream
goes a bit slower. In my tests, I found 40% to be the "optimal" setting.
About port tunneling
iVista is a small webserver (based on Apache). The default port is 80, which is pretty standard. What do you do,
though, if your ISP blocks port 80? (Most do unless yo have a business-class account.) Switch the iVista web server
to a different port! I run my iVista web server on port 8888. However, the person watching the webcam feed always
receives the stream on port 80 - so even those behind firewalls can view the stream. I haven't found a single other
webcam software package that can do that. Just remember, if you change the port, you'll have to manually change
your HTML too, or use the built-in feature to re-create the HTML code.
About the VideoWebPage Address option
iVista's personalized WebPageAddress is a DynamicDNS service that provides a static URL for your video and audio
webcast. You can choose virtually any name you like (for example: mypage.inetcam.com) as long as it hasn't already been chosen.
If it didn't come with the package suite you bought, you can purchase it in yearly contracts for $19.99 a year.
The plus with this is that iVista can automatically put this in your HTML for you; however, there are a number of
free DynamicDNS services that will work just as well - you just need to modify the HTML and put it in manually.
I chose not to use the WebPageAddress function, as I already use the free DynamicDNS service DNS2Go from deerfield.com.
In order to view your personal webcast you or your friends and family can simply type this web address into any Internet browser and view the Java Viewer.
Inetcam does supply all iVISTA customers a free, randomly generated address (URL) at no charge. However, this will not
be as easy for your friends, family and associates to remember as it will be something like VT15465lvm.Inetcam.com.
Scheduler
You have the ability to tell iVista when to start and stop, based on days of the week and the hours of operation.
This is good for those that only want the webcam on during a certain time of the day, such as when they're at work.
What drawbacks does iVista have?
Installation: The registration code is good on one machine, fo rone installation. If you want to move iVista to another machine, it will not allow you to reinstall it until you rest the registration number, which makes the first installation unusable.
Multiple camera support: It's only available in the premium $200 package. Additionally, after the installation, all the devices are simply labled "WEBCAM" - you need to preview them to figure out which is which and then manually rename them in the iVista window.
Availability
iVista WebCam software packages available from Inetcam, Inc.
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