A Visalia, California family's world was turned upside-down over the weekend when a group of young hooligans ran off with their beloved Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer lawn ornament. Thankfully the family had recently installed a video surveillance system for their home, and the cameras were able to capture footage of the thieves in action.

Toshiba has upgraded its network video recording server software to allow more flexibility in live viewing, recording, and playback. The software now enables users to simultaneously manage up to 32 local or remote IP network cameras per server.

Ethiopia's Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (EAE) is leaping into the digital surveillance age with a new IP-based system featuring network cameras and video management tools from Pelco. Already the most advanced airport in the region, EAE will now be monitored by a cutting-edge surveillance system featuring over 300 cameras, including 260 Pelco Spectra IV IP cameras, with the Endura system handling monitoring and digital video recording.

Tall Weijl, a global clothing retailer based in Switzerland, is installing 800 Axis network cameras in its stores throughout France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria. What's interesting about this surveillance solution is that it has less to do with security, and more with studying customer behavior. Each store will be equipped with two Axis IP cameras integrated into a sophisticated system that counts the number of visitors passing through.

Today Bosch announced a new network camera solution designed to operate without the need for a PC or digital video recorder. The Bosh NBC-225-P is an all-in-one network camera features a Secure Digital (SD) flash memory card that can record and store days of high-quality surveillance video footage. With onboard recording capabilities built into the camera, users can save costs on storage, while easing the load on network bandwidth. The camera can also be connected to the network using a single cable for power, camera control, and delivery of video and audio.

This week Toshiba released the new IK-WB30A network camera designed for detail-sensitive video surveillance. The camera features an advanced two-megapixel CMOS sensor that makes it ideal for applications requiring high-resolution video for identification and analysis.

In the winter months it can be a drag when you arrive at work before the sun rises only to watch it set before you return home. Imagine how IP cameras feel, having to deal with the lack of proper daylight in the dreary season. This problem is exacerbated in Finland, where there are only a few hours of daylight in the winter. It makes sense then that the Finnish town of Kurikka chose Lumenera Le175 day/night network cameras for a recent surveillance project monitoring local schools, youth centers, and other key locations.

Axis Communications has announced that the Axis 207 network camera is now a discontinued product. The company suggests the Axis M1011 IP camera as a suitable replacement. The M1011 is a compact, affordable network camera ideal for securing homes, small businesses, restaurants, hotels, and other indoor locations. Axis will continue to support the Axis 207 until November 30th, 2012. It's also important to note that the Axis 207W and 207WM wireless network cameras have NOT been discontinued.

Axis Communications is heading back to school, at least in Portugal, where the country's comprehensive safe school project has resulted in the installation of 12,000 new Axis IP cameras. The massive IP surveillance installation began in August and will continue into the coming year. The goal of the project is to increase security in public schools in a cost-effective manner.

Park Central is a 550,440-square-foot complex located in the heart of Denver's downtown business district. The building contains everything from a bank and ATM machines, to a fitness room, restaurant, and a media center. In order to provide effective security for the complex, a video surveillance system incorporating both IP cameras and analog CCTV cameras was recently installed. The surveillance solution features ACTi megapixel IP cameras along with analog cameras all running to a NUUO Hybrid NDVR server.

ACTi has released updated firmware for its ACD multi-channel video servers and H.264 products. The firmware (version A1D-310-V4.06.09-AC) supports all ACTi IP cameras and video servers in the H.264 platform.