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CNET Editors' review
Welcome to my underground lair, Mr. Bond! How clever of you. But perhaps you didn't realize that I am watching your every move on multiple cameras at once, thanks to PY Software's Active WebCam? It monitors and displays multiple video capture streams simultaneously, and it records video at up to 30 frames per second. And I can use it to stream live video of your impending doom on the Internet! Too bad you didn't know that this versatile Webcam manager is free to try with nothing more than a nag screen, and affordable to any international supercriminal!
Actually, Active WebCam is almost that much fun, and much more versatile. It detects, monitors, and records video from just about any video source, including USB Webcams, analog cameras connected to video capture cards, FireWire video feeds, TV card output, and networked cameras. It can broadcast real-time audio and video to your Web browser or another copy of Active WebCam. If it senses motion, it can sound an alarm, send e-mail alerts, and record or broadcast video. There's even a Dial-Up Connection option, something many users around the world still need but rarely get. You can edit clips, add text, manage different users, and log in remotely, too.
When we started the program, it opened with a splash screen offering a menu of choices: Create New Camera, Search Cameras, Open All Video Capture Channels, Open Session, Create Web Page, and Read Tutorial. The extensive Help options include the Getting Started tutorial as well as a User Guide, a "How Do I?" section, and Technical Q&A. By far the easiest way to set up Active WebCam is to let it automatically detect your Webcams and other video devices. Each feed appears as a thumbnail in a scrolling preview bar above a main window that displays two active feeds simultaneously in its default mode. Even our video card's output showed up in the preview. We had fun with Active WebCam, but it's also a serious security tool that makes it incredibly easy to set up a video surveillance system that you don't have to be a supervillain in a James Bond movie to afford.
Editors' note: This is a review of the trial version of Active Webcam 11.5.
Publisher's Description
From PY Software:
Active WebCam captures images up to 30 frames per second from any video device including USB and analog cameras, TV boards, capture cards, frame grabbers, camcorders, and network IP cameras. The program broadcasts captured content from your computer or uploads it to an FTP server. Broadcasting can be viewed using any Internet browser. The program performs simultaneous recording and broadcasting from unlimited number of cameras. Your camera(s) can be used as part of a surveillance system. When the program detects motion in the monitored area, it sounds an alarm, e-mails you captured images, starts broadcasting, or records video. Live broadcasting as well as recording can be password protected, so all video and audio are scrambled and cannot be watched without a valid password.
What's new in this version: Version 11.5 New fixes FTP uploading issues.
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All versions:
3.1 starsout of 124 votes
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Current version:
2.8 starsout of 26 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Don't bother"
Version: Active WebCam 11.5
Pros
Can't think of anything
Cons
As stated before, support non existent. Wouldn't work with my Wanscam camera. The 'support' web page only works with IE (but they don't tell you that) bit it doesn't matter,. they don't reply anyway! No phone # at all..
Had to use PayPay resolution center to get refund (Thank you PayPal!)Summary
Try H264WebCam the free version will let you set up your cam and really "use' the software. The you can upgrade if you choose..
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"Horrible software, ZERO support."
Version: Active WebCam 11.5
Pros
Not really any, constant crashes in both XP Pro and Seven Pro.
Cons
Constant Crashes. Had 5 stable sessions in the last year since purchase.
Summary
DO NOT BUY THIS SOFTWARE. WebcamXP/webcam Pro puts this to shame. If it was cheaper I would buy that, but this was all I could afford and it was a BIG Mistake. I have to constantly babysit this software. Support does not exist. Horrible customer service PY Software!!! In all my efforts very many too many to count I have never gotten a response!
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"45% DISCOUNT COUPON found today"
Version: Active WebCam 11.5
Pros
This program works very good. Very powerful and easy-to-use. It has lots of options and controls. I bought it for half price here:
http://www.**************.info/active_webcam.htmCons
Nothing bad to say.
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"decent software for the intended use"
Version: Active WebCam 11.5
Pros
Does what it says pretty well; lots of options and controls given
Cons
Preview screen a bit laggy when more than 1 camera are "open".
Summary
Very solid software as far as I can tell. User interface looked a bit dated but that's minor stylistic point.
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"Software is good, but I wouldn't expect any support"
Version: Active WebCam 11.5
Pros
I have used this for years and this software has become indispensable to me in sending videos to police from my security camera. I pay 8.99 a month for web streaming so I can watch a camera from work or from a cell phone.
Cons
Since the software hasn't been updated in 2.5 years I would suspect this company has gone by the wayside and just collects its money. I have never heard back on any emails I have ever sent and I paid a lot of money for the "real" full version.
Summary
I have tried every software similar to this one of its kind. I have not found any at all besides this one that has the features and the ability to have streaming without the complicated port forwarding steps.
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"great webcam"
Version: Active WebCam 11.5
Pros
great but yeah i cant download
Cons
i cant download this coz it cost too much
Summary
great..but i can't download it..coz it cost too much ;)..i want a free product.
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"45% DISCOUNT COUPON found today"
Version: Active WebCam 11.5
Pros
This program works very good. Very powerful and easy-to-use. It has lots of options and controls. I bought it for half price here:
http://www.********.com/active_webcam.htmCons
It's a great program!
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"does the job, but smells like a scam"
Version: Active WebCam 11.5
Pros
nice features, interface is logical, works fine with windows 7
Cons
you actually have more features in the freeware version than in the version you pay the $ 29 for. If you want to have all features and no nag screen, you have to bay the pro version. And (ofcourse) all the nice featrues are in the pro version.
Summary
don't expect too much. It will do the job, but not more than that. If you think that paying for this software will get you extra's, then you will be dissappointed.
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"Unable to test it properly"
Version: Active WebCam 11.5
Pros
Looks like it would do what I need but unable to test due to how fast the nag comes up.
Cons
Nag screen came up too fast to be able to properly test this software so I pulled the plug on it.
Summary
I am looking for software to replace the dreadful D-Link software that comes with the DCS-900W cameras I use for security at my business. (Terrible cameras but I've used them and the crappy software for years.) Unfortunately I was unable to test this software because the camera would switch to their nag screen so quickly I have no idea if it would be suitable. That's too bad because it seems like it would work but I'm not spending money even just thirty dollars if I am not certain. I have already uninstalled it. Sorry.
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"Just a bait to get more out of you"
Version: Active WebCam 11.5
Pros
I like the motion detection feature, and it worked fine when I purchased the product. I found the half-off discount website, and purchased the product for half price.
Cons
On the second day of using this product, some of the features were disabled, and I had to upgrade to the PRO version to continue using what I wanted most from this product. (motion detection)
Summary
From now on, I'll just go in the store and purchase products there. At least, I'll be getting what the product says it will do, "OR' , I can at least take it back and get my money back. NO MORE FREE TRIALS FOR ME.
