Man Watches His Home Get Robbed Via iPhone ($4.99 iCam app)

Information Week ^ | 8/25/10 | Eric Zeman

[Libloather]

Man Watches His Home Get Robbed Via iPhone
A man from Dallas was alerted by an iPhone application that his house was being robbed. He watched it happen live while away on vacation.
By Eric Zeman
InformationWeek
August 25, 2010 01:44 PM

Webcams and home security systems have long been a part our culture. Dallas-area resident Vincent Hunter took advantage of both home security measures, and even connected the Webcams in his home to an iPhone application called iCam.

iCam, which costs $4.99 and is available in the iPhone App Store, allows users to stream video and audio feeds from up to four Webcams to an iPhone or iPod touch over both 3G and Wi-Fi.

**SNIP**

Hunter watched as the two men made their way through the house and eventually leave...before the police showed up. According to the Associated Press, the two burglars are still at large in the Dallas areas.

The iCam application receives mixed reviews from those who purchased it in the iPhone App Store. It has earned a rating of 3.5 stars, with nearly 1000 users taking the time to jot down their thoughts.

Standard consumer technology came very close to helping nab two robbers. It's a shame the police were unable to arrive before the robbers left.

[Libloather]

Could've used a phone to call the cops - maybe?

[Hunton Peck]

So, here’s a question: If you’re far away from your home or wherever an emergency is happening, whom do you call? 911 and ask them to patch you through or pass on the message to wherever? Or do you look up the non-emergency number for the police or fire dept. in the locale of the emergency, or what?

[GladesGuru]

Call the cops ? But, but - what about their donut break time?

‘Sides, SCOTUS has ruled the cops are not responsible for preventing crime.

[BubbaJunebug]

Could’ve spent the $4.99 on one of Michael Vicks old pit bulls

[DanielRedfoot]

This is actually a neat thing.

You can dial in whenever you want to heck on your parakeet(or whatever)

Or, if someone walks by the camera, you instantly get a E-Mail video of them in action.

And all videos are stored off site on you ISP server, so no stealing the surveillance evidence

[Farmer Dean]

He should have had a couple of good guard dogs.It would be fun to watch them destroy the intruders.

[Bubba_Leroy]

Just leave a few of these lying around your house.

[Teotwawki]

Wasn't there an Internet hunting website where you could remotely operate a real gun to shoot game? Now if he had that hooked up on his IPhone ap, well then you'd really have something. Hard to justify that "I was in fear for my life" but maybe it would be okay if your state had the Castle Doctrine.

[6SJ7]

Now the guy just needs the iRottweiler app to go with the iCam app.

[LifeChoice]

Now THAT would have made MY vacation a little more special!

Imagine seeing that getting sprung on your iPhone while in Cancun... I’d drink to that!

[Hawthorn]

Good grief! What has happened to education in the USA? Doesn’t the writer know the difference between burglary and robbery?

[GOPJ]

I’d go with the non-emergency number - and carry it with you when you travel...

[Tank-FL]

I use an App on my iPhone called “live cams”. It was only .99 (cents) when I got it. Does the same thing in book.

I can see the house from anywhere I can get a signal.