This week, at the ASIS International 2007 conference in Las Vegas, Sony unveiled two new network camera models, the SNC-RX530N and SNC-RX570N. The cameras are designed to offer a wider dynamic range along with increased sensitivity.

The graffiti problem in Los Angeles' North Hollywood area is so bad, the city has decided to employ high-tech security cameras that not only monitor specific areas, they also speak to taggers caught in the act.

We've talked quite a bit about how IP surveillance technology has affected home security. New digital systems are far more effective and functional than their analog predecessors, and as the technology continues to improve, digital surveillance equipment has become affordable even to the average homeowner. A recent break-in of a household in Framingham, Mass. demonstrates the effectiveness of digital surveillance in the home.

Two of the greatest things in the world are ice cream and cash. This week in Melbourne, Florida, a cold-hearted thief visited a Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop and walked off with both. The man in question was in the process of purchasing an undisclosed varietal of ice cream when he slyly stuck his mitts into the employee tip jar and scooped out $160 in folding cash. How do we know this? It's all caught on video provided by the shop's surveillance system.

360-degree video surveillance enables users to get comprehensive views of broad areas with a single security camera. This technology is especially popular for large open areas such as casino floors. Now imagine a 360-degree camera that utilizes some of today's more sophisticated surveillance innovations and you'll get an idea of what Sentry, a leader in 360-degree technology, is going for with its latest camera release.

Watching game footage is one of the most important strategies for football teams - it allows them to predict offensive and defensive moves, prepare strategies and anticipate the cohesiveness of their opponent. So important is the footage of opponent games that teams often hire cameramen to film the games for future research. One cameraman, however, may be in trouble for recording too much.

Axis networks cameras were recently installed at the Rose Bowl (no, not the home of the mighty USC Trojans, but rather the stadium that fields England's famed Hampshire County Cricket club). Folks, cricket is a big deal. In fact, it ranks just behind soccer (or futbol) as the second most popular sport in the world. And cricket matches at the Rose Bowl draw large crowds. In order to properly monitor those crowds, and to protect facility and those within it, the stadium's surveillance system has been upgraded with Axis IP cameras and video servers.

Over at The Consumerist, editor Ben Popken describes a situation reoprted by a reader who lost her cell phone while conducting business at a local credit union.