Stem Innovation's iZON Remote Room Monitor is Apple friendly, easy to set up
Stem Innovation, the same company that brought iOS device owners the TimeCommand alarm dock and accompanying Stem:Command software, now has a new product out that looks like a winner. The iZON Remote Room Monitor (US$129.95) is a Wi-Fi connected, app-based video camera that can be used to keep an eye on a child in another room or a house on the other side of the planet.
As with the TimeCommand, setup of the iZON appears to be drop-dead simple. The company recommends using an 802.11n Wi-Fi network, and the tiny cylindrical camera (which weighs only .74 oz) takes less than 10 minutes to set up. Compare that to the hours it took for me to set up a Foscam Wi-Fi camera -- I had to use Windows running under VMWare -- and the extra $40 or so for the iZON looks like a great investment.
In addition to connecting to your local Wi-Fi network, the iZON also connects to the Stem servers for video monitoring over EDGE, 3G and remote Wi-Fi networks for up to 5 minutes per session. It's possible to set up motion sensitivity with the camera so that you receive an alert through push notification whenever something within the field of view moves.
There's also an audio monitor built into the camera, and the same alerts can be enabled when an audio level is exceeded. The video stream is encrypted for your protection, but can be recorded in 30-second bursts to a free private YouTube account.
The iZON camera is available at Apple Stores and some Best Buy locations, or can be ordered directly from Stem Innovation. TUAW will have a full review of the iZON in the near future.
