Surveillance video from a church in Federal Way, Wash. revealed a woman abandoning her baby early Sunday morning. The newborn girl is ok after spending six hours wrapped in a beach towel, unattended. Soon after the footage from the church security camera went public, the mother turned herself in to police.

Amtrak has announced that it will deploy the Cisco Video Surveillance System to monitor its maintenance yards in Los Angeles and Oakland. The Cisco Video Surveillance System is part of Cisco's Physical Security Solution, and operates over an IP network infrastructure to allow remote video monitoring and real-time investigation, incident response, and resolution.

We've talked about the new Smartvue S8 IP camera system before, and now we have a good idea when it will hit the market - January, 2009. That's the expected ship date for this intriguing solution for home and small business surveillance. Smartvue S8 is an integrated plug-and-play surveillance system that uses compact, wireless IP cameras along with a 1TB video recorder. Wireless connectivity allows for flexible installation, and users can monitor the cameras remotely on their PCs or cell phones.

Lumenera has released a new megapixel network camera designed to perform in difficult low-light situations. The Lumenera Le165 uses a high dynamic range to provide clear images in virtually any lighting condition. Ideal for high-end security applications, the camera captures full 1376x1032 resolution at 15 frames per second, and offers a number of sophisticated features, including programmable day/night settings, user-defined motion detection across multiple zones, and on-board memory.

The latest member of JVC's V.Networks lineup, the JVC VN-X35U IP camera, is designed to handle the video surveillance needs of schools, retailers, government and law enforcement agencies, and other industries requiring high-resolution video footage. The VN-X35U is a 1.3 megapixel camera that delivers precise image detail both day and night. It also offers real-time image scaling from VGA to QUAD VGA resolution. This allows users to conserve bandwidth while still benefiting from megapixel resolution when necessary.

At ASIS 2008 in Atlanta, VideoIQ revealed its new iCVR Storage Encoder. The VideoIQ iCVR allows users to integrate their existing analog CCTV cameras into an IP-based surveillance system that offers power, flexibility, and intelligent functionality. The encoder is ideal for those who want the benefits of IP-based surveillance, while still being able to make use of their analog security cameras.

Canon is showing off its new VB-60 network camera at ASIS International 2008. The PTZ IP camera boasts some impressive technology. It features a 40x optical zoom, pan/tilt/zoom functionality, and a 56-degree wide-angle lens. This enables the Canon VB-60 to monitor larger areas that might ordinarily require multiple security cameras.

OnSSI is introducing a new IP video surveillance management solution at ASIS 2008. It's called Ocularis. Designed for large-scale surveillance applications, Ocularis IP video software offers a unique user interface that provides easy and innovative camera control and video management, plus limitless scalability.

Axis network cameras will soon provide video surveillance for Austria's largest grocery chain, SPAR. The cameras will be used in 750 existing SPAR stores, with between 10 and 15 Axis IP cameras installed in each retail location. Each store surveillance system will feature a combination of Axis 207 and Axis 207MW camera models.

GE Security has unveiled the latest version of its CyberDome II camera line. The GE CyberDome II PTZ is designed to be a cost-effective solution for continuous video surveillance in locations such as schools, airports, stadiums, and retail outlets. Enhancements to the GE CyberDome IP camera include more options for different types of lighting conditions, improved indoor and outdoor housings, and expanded third-party compatibility.

Schlage and Panasonic have formed a partnership that will expand the capabilities of the new Schlage LiNK door locks to include remote video monitoring. By offering integration with Panasonic IP cameras, Schlage's wireless-controlled door locks will provide homeowners with 24/7 remote control and monitoring capabilities via computer or web-enabled cell phone. Users will be able to control the locks and view real-time video using the Schlage LiNK online portal.

IQinVision has released a new collection of high-performance network cameras. The IQeye 4 Series features sleek, compact IP cameras that range from full-VGA resolution on up to high-definition 2-megapixel models. The cameras are the latest additions to the company's IQeye Basic Line which is targeted at cost-sensitive applications like residential and retail surveillance.

LuxRiot has announced that its video recorder software now supports StarDot megapixel IP cameras. StarDot NetCam SC megapixel cameras offer resolution 15 times that of a typical analog CCTV camera. This makes them ideal for surveillance applications that require clear details such as license plate and facial recognition. LuxRiot DVR software provides a platform to remotely monitor and record surveillance footage from these cameras as well as IP cameras from other major manufacturers.

Arizona's Page Municipal Airport recently upgraded its video surveillance system to better protect the 60,000 tourists expected to pass through its gates this year. The new airport surveillance system features IP cameras operating over a wireless mesh network. The network also supports access control and a connection to a remote command center accessible to local-area police.

This week ioimage announced a partnership with Exacq Technologies that will allow the two companies to seamlessly integrate their IP video solutions. While ioimage specializes in intelligent network cameras and video analytics appliances, Exacq is a leading developer of open-architecture NVR software and hardware solutions.

Canon has added a new PTZ network camera to its surveillance arsenal. The Canon VB-C60 offers pan/tilt/zoom functionality for wide-area surveillance, and features built-in 40x optical zoom for detailed viewing of distant objects. The camera is a compact and versatile solution for video surveillance in schools, hospitals, and other facilities, as well as board room web conferencing.

Tyco International's American Dynamics brand has unveiled a new IP SpeedDome camera that boasts a number of powerful features, including electronic image stabilization, digital slow shutter, a wide dynamic range, and true day/night functionality. The new American Dynamics IP SpeedDome Ultra 8 is basically the IP version of Tyco's popular analog SpeedDome camera, offering all the same features along with the benefits that come with IP-based surveillance.

Vivotek has released a new fixed-dome network camera designed to provide 24-hour indoor surveillance. The Vivotek FD7132 IP camera offers day/night functionality with a removable IR-cut filter and infrared illuminators for dark conditions. It also boasts a unique 3-axis mechanism that allows for flexible installation on ceilings and walls in locations such as banks, commercial complexes, and office buildings.

Milestone Systems has released version 2.0 of its XProtect Analytics video management software. XProtect Analytics is a sophisticated software platform that can support video analytics tools from different manufacturers under a single interface. This provides users with a future-proof solution that can handle new technology and makes it easy to search through video surveillance footage from multiple sources.

Vivotek announced this week the launch of its new US subsidiary, Vivotek USA. With a considerable chunk of its IP camera business already taking place in the United States, Vivotek decided the time had come to set up shop on US soil. Vivotek USA now calls California home. The company will handle marketing, tech support, and sales in the US, while also looking to improve customer service and customer relationships.