Canon's new VB-C500D network camera is on display this week at the ISC West 2009 conference in Las Vegas. The Canon VB-C500D provides outstanding image quality and advanced features with Genuine Canon Optics and a powerful DIGIC NET Processor. This versatile IP mini dome camera is ideal for monitoring retail and convenience stores, lobbies, receptions areas, hotels, and other locations where an unobtrusive, fixed security camera is required.

ISC West 2009 is taking place in Las Vegas this week, which means we're about to catch a sneak peek at the latest IP camera offerings from many of the industry's leading manufacturers. Pelco recently announced they'll be on hand with a slew of new network video products, including the Sarix ID Series Mega-Performance cameras, the Endura 2.0 end-to-end surveillance solution, and the Spectra IV 2.0 integrated dome camera system.

Axis announced this week that Michigan's Chippewa Valley School District has installed over 600 Axis network cameras and video encoders to improve school security. The school district, which serves over 15,000 students, chose a network video solution because of the superior image quality, centralized management and storage, and easy integration with the web and the district's active directory.

JVC is planning to exhibit its latest line of PoE network cameras at the IFSEC 2009 global security event in May. The cream of the crop is the new JVC VN-V685U, which is considered the first fully-functional PTZ dome camera that supports Power over Ethernet. The VN-V685U offers precise and silent pan/tilt control using JVC's durable direct drive motor. Other attributes include 27x optical zoom, true day/night functionality, and simultaneous full-frame MPEG-4 and Motion JPEG streams. The camera is available in versions for both indoor and outdoor use.

Jackson High School in Cleveland, Ohio has installed a new IP surveillance system that uses high-resolution Mobotix IP cameras, MXControlCenter video management software, and two-way VoIP communication. This cutting-edge solution provides vastly improved image quality when compared to the school's previous analog CCTV system. The new scalable IP video system also offers considerable savings in installation and maintenance.

Michigan's Waterfront Township is well-hydrated, with 11 water treatment plants, 18 wells, 8.25 million gallons of storage, and 355 miles of water main. Protecting this massive water supply requires a high-end video surveillance solution, so the township turned to IQinVision network cameras. The new surveillance solution uses 40 IP cameras installed at water treatment plants, storage and sewage plants. Each network camera streams VGA-quality video in real-time back to the main office for remote viewing and digital recording.

JVC took Manufacturer of the Year honors at the Milestone Integration Platform Symposium (MIPS 2009) recently held in Las Vegas. JVC received the award for its line of embedded network video recorders, including the JVC VR-N1600U and VR-N900U, and its complete selection of IP network cameras. MIPS is an annual forum that allows advocates of open architecture IP video surveillance to evaluate the state of the IP video industry, and test out new plug-and-play applications.

IQinVision announced today its next generation IQrecorder software and IQeye Event Recording System (ERS). IQrecorder is innovative, on-camera software ideal for small-scale applications where simplicity, ease-of-installation, and affordability are key concerns. The onboard software works with IQeye IP network cameras, offering DVD-like controls, and boasting an intuitive user interface. Improved software features include a redesigned engine, and enhanced performance that makes IQrecorder the industry's only on-camera megapixel NVR solution.

IP cameras from D-Link have been chosen to monitor the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a new vista destination on the majestic canyon's western edge. The Grand Canyon Skywalk is a massive, horseshoe-shaped glass bridge suspended 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. Since it opened in 2007, over 250,000 people visit the skywalk each year. Because of the large crowds, video surveillance plays an important role in ensuring the safety and security of visitors, workers, and the facility itself. As part of a new IP-based surveillance system, D-Link network cameras were installed due to their outstanding image quality and their support for remote video monitoring.

The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles is a 19-story luxury hotel that, with its sweeping crescent-shaped design, sits as a landmark along the world-famous Avenue of the Stars. The hotel and the surrounding tourist hot-spots reel in mobs of visitors throughout the year, making top-quality video surveillance an important aspect of maintaining security. Recently the Hyatt was equipped with a new video surveillance system that integrates ACTi IP network cameras with LuxRiot software. The network-based system is cost-effective, scalable, and offers outstanding image quality.

Trendnet is set to release a new wireless network camera that supports the speedy Wireless-N standard. The Trendnet TV-IP512WN is a network camera with a built-in Wireless-N internet camera server. This allows users to access and control the camera remotely over the internet without any additional equipment.

IQinvision network cameras are proving to be quite popular in the Netherlands, specifically in Rotterdam, where the company reports at least 20 downtown shops are now using IQeye megapixel cameras. Area shopkeepers and local police are working together on a video security system that allows the police department to remotely monitor the IQeye cameras and access surveillance footage in instances of theft or emergencies. The surveillance system was launched in response to an increase in robberies throughout the commercial district. Response to the program has been so positive that the police department even won a Dutch innovation award for the deployment of the IQeye camera network.

Copperhill Mountain Lodge, a Swedish luxury hotel, is now equipped with a cutting-edge IP surveillance system utilizing megapixel network cameras from ACTi. The ACTi IP cameras provide video security for the lodge-style hotel which features 112 suites and 420 beds. To properly monitor the high-class facility, megapixel network cameras were chosen because of the clear image quality they deliver, and their ability to cover larger areas than traditional surveillance cameras.