I’ve been a consumer of Safety Spy digicam recording software program for a few years. SecuritySpy is software program made by Bensoftware primarily based within the U.Okay. In 2017, I voted it as my favourite software program product of the yr for Apple World As we speak.
What makes SecuritySpy so good, and is model 6 well worth the improve over model 5? A number of the following feedback apply to earlier variations of SecuritySpy in case any readers aren’t conversant in it.
SecuritySpy can report a limiteless variety of cameras. There are tiers one can buy akin to 1, 4, 8, 16, 32, and limitless cameras. I’ve the 16 digicam model and usually report 12 to fifteen cameras.
The software program is simply too superior to enter a deep overview, however you probably have any curiosity in any respect in recording cameras, SecuritySpy is the goto software program. Not solely can it report any variety of cameras you need, however makes use of little or no processing energy. For a couple of years I’ve been operating SecuritySpy on an M1 Mac Mini. The entire CPU utilization is barely about 15 to twenty%. With the discharge of model 6 that utilization dropped nearer to 10%.This can be a testomony to the coding and streamlining of SecuritySpy model 6.
I’ve been testing SecuritySpy on an M2 Extremely Mac Studio in addition to an M1 Max Mac Studio. Both of the Mac Studios run SecuritySpy flawlessly. I’ve determined to make the M1 Max Mac Studio the primary laptop to run SecuritySpy.
The software program mainly runs itself after you have it arrange. It requires little to no consideration. I’ve had the digicam server operating for a number of months with no consideration. As soon as after many months the Mac Mini rebooted itself. SecuritySpy got here again up operating and recording and I by no means needed to do something.
I had used model 5 of SecuritySpy for years. Is model 6 well worth the worth of the 33% discounted improve? Actually in a phrase, “Sure.” However what makes it well worth the improve?
The brand new net viewer is likely one of the major enhancements. I can rapidly and simply hook up with the server utilizing an online browser. The cameras immediately pop up and the view is as easy as viewing straight on the server.
The SecuritySpy server can now be completely configured through the browser interface. This makes it very handy to have an Apple silicon Mac saved out of the way in which and use because the SecuritySpy server. I’ve had model 5 operating for a lot of months in “headless” mode with no keyboard, monitor, or mouse.
I might join through display screen share on one other mac to examine and configure, however with the brand new distant entry, even that’s made a lot simpler and will be accessed and configured through any system. However, if previous efficiency is any indication, I anticipate to by no means must entry the digicam server. In Apple vogue, SecuritySpy “simply works.”
I exploit movement detection to report when there’s exercise throughout the specified space of every digicam. Model 5 expanded upon this through the use of the ability of the M1 to allow AI-powered sensible movement detection. SecuritySpy can inform if the movement is an individual or automotive for instance. The M1 is considerably sooner at AI processing than an Intel CPU.
In accordance with Ben Chicken, the creator of SecuritySpy, the M1 can course of sensible detection in 1ms vs. 50ms for the quickest Intel-based Mac – 50 instances sooner. The AI course of and common efficiency is enormously improved much more in model 6 and leverages the ability of Apple Silicon.
SecuritySpy helps H.256 HEVC for high-efficiency streaming and recording. It may well even report video in Apple’s ProRes format. Metallic graphics is supported for extremely excessive efficiency video.
One “intangible” good thing about SecuritySpy is the assist. Ben Chicken may be very fast to reply to emails–often inside an hour or two throughout the day. There’s additionally a consumer discussion board the place Ben may be very lively in addition to others to reply any questions and provides any recommendation.
I’ve by no means had Ben go over a piece day with out personally responding. This isn’t simply any worker responding. That is the precise author of the software program. One of these assist makes upgrading nicely well worth the worth. There’s additionally a really detailed handbook on-line that has typically answered any questions I’ve.
Can model 5 do all I want? Sure, however model 6 can do way more. Model 5 was nice, however model 6 confirmed me simply how way more I can do with SecuritySpy. Here’s a hyperlink to the updates in model 6: https://www.bensoftware.com/securityspy/versionhistory.html .
The AI has been a lot improved in SecuritySpy 6, which is significant in recognizing people, autos, and so on. The most important improve in model 6 that I discover is pace and responsiveness. The software program makes use of much less sources and serves up recordings mainly immediately. I exploit an exterior 4TB NVMe drive to retailer all recordings on, and I can not inform any distinction in efficiency whether or not recording internally or to an exterior drive. The whole lot is immediate.
The cameras and recorded video are a lot faster to reply and far smoother in viewing. I’ve one older Home windows laptop computer I exploit as a full time viewer of SecuritySpy in one other room. The video with model 6 is far smoother. It’s as easy as viewing the cameras straight. It’s way more pleasing to see. There’s by no means a touch of any jerkiness or delay.
SecuritySpy is likely one of the greatest Mac-only apps I’ve ever used. Although a lot of what I do requires a Home windows laptop, I plan to all the time preserve no less than one Mac simply merely for SecuritySpy.
If you happen to improve to model 6 earlier than March 31 you’ll obtain a 33% low cost. Any longer, somewhat than main upgrades, model 6 might be regularly developed and improved. If you buy or improve, you’ll obtain two years of assist and upgrades. Not like many software program distributors who solely supply subscriptions, in case you select to not improve, the software program will proceed to operate, however with out assist or upgrades.
SecuritySpy provides an iOS app for $5 on the Apple App Retailer that permits you to management your cameras from wherever. You’ll be able to view footage, allow and disable recording, and way more. You’ll be able to arrange alerts and have them despatched by e-mail or within the app.
One alert I exploit typically is to alert me when there’s movement within the storage. I’ve SecuritySpy arrange to do that solely from sundown to dawn. Because the months progress, SecuritySpy modifications the time day by day that alerts are enabled. It units this time-frame primarily based on my location.
You’ll be able to arrange very advanced alerts, triggering of different cameras, and even add all recordings to an off-site FTP server.
What in case you run into one thing SecuritySpy can not do or want to counsel a change? Ben may be very open to strategies on the boards and I’ve seen him greater than as soon as say they might plan on including that characteristic. You simply don’t get that sort of entry with different builders.
Safety Spy is my single most used utility. It runs 24/7, and has for a few years, and is rock-solid dependable. I’ve by no means as soon as had it crash or cease working, which is essential for safety cameras. I gave SecuritySpy 5 out of 5 stars and I give 5 out of 5 stars to SecuritySpy 6.
You’ll be able to attempt SecuritySpy for 30 days. Even in case you don’t have a spare Mac to run it, SecuritySpy will run seamlessly alongside your common apps.
And even if you’re solely casually focused on recording cameras for safety, there isn’t a higher Mac resolution than SecuritySpy. In case you are not utilizing SecuritySpy, I extremely suggest it. In case you are, I additionally extremely suggest upgrading to model 6.
Apple World As we speak ranking (out of 5 stars): ★★★★★
