A recent report by IMS research anticipates that the market for megapixel security cameras will grow substantially in the coming years, at a compound annual rate of over 100 percent. That would equal approximately 250,000 megapixel cameras shipped in 2008, and over 2 million total megapixel network cameras sold by 2011. Improved technology is the main reason for this rise in popularity. The advantages of megapixel cameras are great, but it has taken time for the technology to overcome a few stumbling blocks. Now, it appears the megapixel market is poised to really take off.

Sony is amping up its IP surveillance product line with the addition of several new megapixel network cameras. The new models were introduced this week at the ISC West 2008 conference in Las Vegas. This is Sony's first foray into the megapixel camera market. Sony's megapixel offerings include the SNC-DM110 Megapixel Normal mini-dome, the SNC-CM120 Megapixel CS mount Day/Night, and the SNC-DM160 Megapixel Rugged Day/Night mini-dome.

At the ISC West conference, held this week in Las Vegas, Lumenera Corporation introduced two new intelligent megapixel cameras. The Lumenera Li165 and Li175 are built with features meant to catch and prevent criminal activity as it happens, rather than simply providing footage for investigative purposes.

A recent study conducted by IMS Research indicates the retailers in Europe are really starting to warm up to the idea of IP-based surveillance as a superior alternative to analog CCTV systems. The growth in popularity of IP cameras for the retail market has to do with a number of factors, including lower installation costs, and exciting features such as video analytics that can serve additional functions beyond video security.

IQinVision has announced the release of its latest network camera system, the IQeye Alliance Series. IQeye Alliance is vandal-resistant mini-dome camera system that offers high-quality video resolutions from VGA on up to 2-megapixel. The Alliance series also provides exciting new technologies such as independent simultaneous video streams and H.264 compression, the new highpoint in digital video compression.

Seems everyone is rushing to jump on the H.264 bandwagon these days, and with good reason. H.264 is the IP camera industry's latest revolution, a new video compression format that optimizes bandwidth and saves storage with much greater effectiveness than previous technologies, including Motion JPEG and MPEG-4. The latest manufacturer to offer up cameras with H.264 compression is Arecont Vision. The company showed off its new H.264 camera series at the IFSEC conference in Birmingham, UK on May 12.

When megapixel IP cameras were first introduced, there were some concerns about the performance of the cameras in low-light and nighttime conditions. Naturally the technology improved over time, and now a slew of manufacturers are offering megapixel cameras that deliver superior performance even in the most difficult lighting situations. Lumenera, for instance, recently made available true day/night versions of the network cameras in its Le165 product line.

Every June, about 300,000 baseball fans flock to Omaha, Nebraska for the College World Series. Each game draws 23,000 spectators to Omaha's Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, where visual security is provided by Arecont Vision IP cameras. With so many people shuffling through the stadium, security is always a concern. The Arecont Vision surveillance cameras help to provide comprehensive views of the facility, and can detect and provide visual evidence of any disturbances.

Washington State's Lucky Eagle Casino recently completed installation of a new IP-based surveillance system featuring megapixel network cameras from Arecont Vision. The casino made the move to IP megapixel cameras in order to capture higher-quality video footage with greater detail for identifying critical information.

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.

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.

Arecont Vision is known for its high-quality megapixel camera offerings. Now, they're releasing a new series of innovative panoramic megapixel IP cameras that use cutting-edge H.264 compression. H.264 technology allows users to increase bandwidth and storage efficiency when dealing with high-resolution video footage.

Overland Storage announced last week that it will be teaming up with Mobotix to deliver high-resolution video surveillance and archiving solutions geared towards the under 100-camera system market. The systems will include products from the Overland Snap Server network attached storage family (NAS), along with Mobotix megapixel IP cameras. Overland's Snap Server line is designed to give users outstanding storage capacity in a scalable solution that supports future growth.

Lucky Eagle Casino, located in southwest Washington State, has installed a new video surveillance system featuring megapixel network cameras from Arecont Vision. The casino made the conversion from analog to IP surveillance in an effort to provide surveillance operators with clearer video images for heightened security and identification purposes.

JVC plans on unveiling two new megapixel cameras this month at IIPSEC 09. The new models include the JVC VN-X35U megapixel camera, and the JVC VN-X235VP4U mini-dome camera. Each high-performance camera offers megapixel resolution for clear and detailed video images, along with cutting-edge features for optimal performance.

KIWI minipris, a Norwegian discount store chain, is employing ACTi network cameras to provide video security for its new stores opening in Denmark. 10 ACTi ACM-4200 cameras are installed in each store, along with two ACTi ACM-5611 megapixel cameras. The surveillance setup works to increase the level of security, deter theft, and identify suspects in criminal investigations. Key areas monitored by the system include entrances, corners of the store, aisles between display lanes, and the cashier counter.

A new 250-bed jail in Midland County, Michigan is going the digital surveillance route with IP-based video surveillance technology from Panasonic System Solutions to secure its facilities. The 103,000-square foot facility will be monitored by a cutting-edge surveillance solution that includes 87 Panasonic IP dome cameras along with high-capacity NVRs.

Arecont Vision has expanded its line of H.264 network cameras with the release of the new MegaDome series. The MegaDome series integrates the camera, megapixel lens, and housing into a complete, all-in-one solution. Available cameras include 1.2M, 2M, 3M, and 5 megapixel models. Each features H.264 compression technology which significantly reduces bit rate to optimize network bandwidth and storage capacity. MegaDome series cameras also offer multi-streaming of up to eight concurrent streams with variable frame rates, bit rates, and image quality.

Along with pulling off a surprising march to the AFC East division title, the Miami Dolphins’ successful football season also included an upgrade to their stadium surveillance system. The Dolphins recently deployed an IP-based video security system to monitor Dolphin Stadium. The system features IP video products from GE Security, and is used to protect and enhance the game-day experience of the 900,000 fans who pass through the gates during the regular season, playoffs, and other large events held at the venue each year.

D-Link has unveiled a new megapixel IP camera geared towards homes and small businesses. The D-Link DCS-2121 aims to make high-resolution video monitoring affordable for smaller applications. This all-in-one solution can operate over an existing network, is easy to set up, and enables remote video viewing. Users can access the camera and view streaming video from any computer connected to the internet. The DCS-2121 connects to a home or office network using a wireless connection for extremely flexible installation in almost any location.

Alaska's Anchorage Christian School has completed installation of a new IP-based surveillance system that features high-resolution megapixel network cameras from Mobotix. Previously the school was monitored by a 30-camera analog CCTV system. The upgrade to Mobotix IP cameras brings far superior image quality, better reliability, and a host of sophisticated features and functions.

ACTi network cameras are being used as part of a new hospital surveillance project in Japan's Chubu District. The IP-based surveillance system increases hospital security with a combination of 50 ACTi ACM-3411 megapixel dome cameras, and four ACTi ACM-5611 megapixel IP box cameras. The cameras are monitored using ACTi NVR Enterprise video management software. Compared to a traditional CCTV system, the IP-based solution was far more cost-effective for the hospital. Because the ACTi cameras operate using Power over Ethernet, installation and maintenance costs are lessened. Additionally, megapixel cameras offer a much broader field of view, so fewer cameras are required for monitoring large areas of the hospital.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The folks from Vivotek are on hand at ISC West 2009 showcasing a slew of new IP camera products. One of the new product offerings is the Vivotek IP7161, a fixed network camera that boasts 2-megapixel resolution and day/night functionality. The IP7161 is ideal for wide-area surveillance in locations such as airports and building entrances. And because of its high resolution, the camera is well-suited for applications requiring detailed surveillance for identification, for instance identifying faces in banks, or license plate numbers in parking lots.

Panasonic revealed two new i-Pro megapixel cameras this week at ISC West. The Panasonic i-Pro WV-NW5025 and the i-Pro WV-NP502 both offer Super Dynamic imaging technology which enables them to capture properly exposed high-resolution images in difficult lighting conditions such as high-contrast scenes, in direct sunlight, or in dim nighttime situations.

Axis is set to release a new, ultra-discreet IP camera designed specifically for recessed mounting in drop ceilings. The Axis M3014 is a fixed dome network camera measuring just 3.6 inches in diameter. And it only sticks out 1.1 inches from the ceiling. This makes the M3014 ideal for unobtrusive surveillance in a wide range of indoor locations such as lobbies, hallways, entryways, conference rooms, and more. Axis is even offering an assortment of cover rings in different color options to allow the camera to blend into a building's interior design scheme.

The Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Kuching, Malaysia recently installed 139 Arecont Vision megapixel network cameras to provide crystal clear video images for live monitoring and incident analysis. Because the cameras offer exceptionally high resolution, operators can zoom in on the details of both live and archived video images for identification purposes.

John Bauer, an upper secondary school with 28 campuses throughout Sweden, has chosen ACTi network cameras for its school surveillance needs. Each campus surveillance system will utilize ACTi CAM-7411 megapixel IP cameras managed by Ethiris IP video software. The ACTi CAM-7411 network cameras offer megapixel resolution for detailed wide-area surveillance. They're also vandal-resistant with a rugged dome casing.

Fresh off the heels of its first breakthrough hemispheric IP camera, the Q22M, Mobotix has upped the ante once again with a new and improved Q24M model. Like its predecessor, the Mobotix Q24M includes a unique integrated distortion feature which allows for clear and accurate panoramic images. This eliminates the bending and distortion of images you often find with panoramic or wide-angle cameras. The camera captures high-resolution video images with a 180-degree field of view, perfect for detailed wide-area surveillance.

The River Vale Police Department in New Jersey recently installed a digital surveillance solution from JVC Professional Products. The new IP surveillance system replaces an outdated analog system with a mix of indoor and outdoor cameras watching over any areas at the police station where officers and visitors are including entrances, the dispatch center, the jail, and the parking lot.

Arecont Vision is releasing a new high-resolution network camera that uses "MegaVideo" technology. What does that mean? Basically that the new Arecont Vision AV10005 IP camera can stream in multi-megapixel resolution (in this case 3,648 x 2,752 pixels) at up to 5 frames per second using H.264 or MJPEG compression. This is a 10 megapixel network camera that allows users to capture extremely detailed video images at reduced file sizes in order to make the most of available storage space and bandwidth.

Last week at the ASIS 2009 trade show in Anaheim, Arecont Vision rolled out its latest day/night megapixel camera, the AV3135. This dual-sensor IP camera is designed to capture high-resolution video images while providing outstanding low-light sensitivity. In order to capture the highest quality footage both day and night, the Arecont Vision AV3135 features two 1/2" CMOS sensors – a 3 megapixel color sensor, and a separate 1.3 megapixel black and white senor for darker conditions. The black and white sensor has larger individual pixels to provide higher sensitivity in low light. It's also infrared sensitive, which makes the AV3135 suitable for use in completely dark situations.

Arecont Vision recently unveiled a new lineup of IP network cameras featuring Megaflash technology in 1.3, 2, 3 or 5 megapixel formats. These compact IP cameras are designed to capture detailed images with megapixel resolution, and come equipped with a high-speed shutter that's synchronized with an external strobe light for extremely effective license plate recognition. They're ideal for intelligent transportation system applications, and can capture clear images of vehicles moving up to 100 miles per hour.

We've added two new megapixel IP cameras from Vivotek to the VideoSurveillance.com online store. The Vivotek IP7361 and FD7160 both come equipped with a 2 megapixel CMOS sensor for extremely clear and detailed images. The Vivotek IP7361 is a network bullet camera designed for outdoor use, while the Vivotek FD7160 is a compact fixed dome camera that's especially ideal for tough applications such as video surveillance in transportation vehicles.

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 a new megapixel network camera designed for detailed surveillance monitoring in both indoor and outdoor environments. The ACTi TCM-5312 is a high-performance camera that operates using an AC 24V power supply, which is common for outdoor installations. It streams clear and detailed video footage over your network and optimizes bandwidth and storage space with H.264 compression. It also supports MPEG-4 and MJPEG and allows for two simultaneous streams to meet varying needs for monitoring and recording.

This week Arecont Vision announced the launch of a new high-resolution camera series featuring compact network cameras available in 1.3, 2, 3, or 5 megapixel formats. The new batch of cameras joins Arecont Vision's MegaVideo lineup, only these cameras are half the size as the original full-size models. Despite their small stature, they offer the same image quality, frame rates, processing, and many of the same sophisticated features as the existing MegaVideo cameras, and are designed for end-users with a tighter budget.

Sony just announced four new IP cameras built to deliver high-definition surveillance footage. Each network camera model offers H.264, MPEG-4, and JPEG compression, and can stream high-def video at up to 30 frames per second in full 1280 x 720 resolution.

Sanyo recently announced an exciting new lineup of HD network cameras offering full frame rate and H.264/MJPEG dual codecs. We're pleased to announce this powerful collection of Sanyo IP cameras is now available in the VideoSurveillance.com online store. The Sanyo network camera series includes robust, vandal-resistant domes, fixed day/night models, zoom cameras, and high-performance PTZ cameras, all offering megapixel resolution and HDTV image quality.

The new camera announcements continue at ISC West. Today we got a sneak peek at the Axis P1347, a top-of-the-line, 5-megapixel fixed network camera featuring HDTV 1080p performance, and precise iris control for superior image quality. Two models are available: the indoor Axis P1347, and the Axis P1347-E for outdoor installations.

We recently added a slew of new IP cameras to the VideoSurveillance.com online store. The latest offering is Vivotek's FD8161 fixed-dome network camera. The Vivotek FD8161 delivers outstanding megapixel image quality, plus day/night functionality, making it a solid choice for applications requiring detailed surveillance around the clock.

Arecont Vision is unveiling its AV10005 series of megapixel cameras at ISC West 2010. The Arecont Vision AV10005 is unique in that it combines the resolution of a 10-megapixel camera and full HD 1080p performance at 30 frames per second, all in the same camera system. This innovative dual mode camera offers 33 times the resolution of standard VGA-resolution cameras, and uses H.264 compression to reduce network bandwidth usage while conserving storage space.

Panasonic is the latest in a long list of IP camera manufacturers releasing new models that promise HD picture quality. The new Panasonic lineup includes megapixel fixed network cameras, and mini-dome H.264 cameras, each boasting i-Pro Smart HD high-performance features.

In search of an IP camera solution to replace their outdated analog video surveillance system, Bonifacio hospital, the newest hospital on the island of Corsica, settled on megapixel cameras from IQinVision. The top priorities for the hospital were discreet positioning of the cameras and the quality of the resulting footage. Using IQeye Sentinel cameras the hospital was able to reduce the number of IP cameras they had initially planned on by half.

As public transportation security concerns have increased in recent years, mobile surveillance systems have become increasingly popular for many varieties of public transit systems including buses, taxi cabs, light rail, trains, and subways. To alleviate rising security concerns, VideoSurveillance.com recently created two new Mobile Surveillance Systems that help deter criminal activity and inappropriate behavior, increase safety by helping drivers focus on their jobs, and provide law enforcement officials with crucial evidence in the event of a criminal investigation.

Coventry Airport, located in the heart of the English midlands, prides itself on keeping operating costs low to pass those savings along to passengers. Although their infrastructure doesn’t boast as many amenities as other airports, one area they don’t skimp on is security. As the highest priority for the facility, Coventry Airport selected a system of 26 Mobotix IP cameras to monitor the airport’s day-to-day operations.

If you’re looking for IP cameras that will provide much higher resolution and clearer video images than traditional security cameras, then megapixel cameras may be the right solution for you. With improved resolution megapixel cameras significantly increase the camera’s field of view without losing any image detail. A single megapixel camera can cover areas that would normally be monitored by multiple surveillance cameras.

Like megapixel cameras, HDTV network cameras offer superb image detail and outstanding color representation. HDTV cameras capture crisp and clear images formatted for modern screens and TVs. For applications where full frame rates and high-quality imaging are a priority, HDTV cameras are an ideal fit.

In order for retailers to protect themselves against threat, they must be proactive about it by improving their loss prevent efforts. Shoplifting and employee/internal theft are undoubtedly the two most common theft practices. However, it's extremely important for retailers to be made aware of other theft practices happening today, especially crimes that may work against one’s current security system. Grab-and-go theft, flash mob robs, or flash robs have become the theft du jour. Based on previous crime reports, these acts tend to be committed by large groups of young adults who storm retail stores – usually department stores or convenience stores – and stuff pockets or bags with merchandise in a matter of minutes, if not seconds.