Category Archives: Cloud Storage
CloudCasa bets on Velero Kubernetes backup Blocks and Files – Blocks and Files
Open source Velero has recorded more than 100 million Docker pulls making it among the most popular Kubernetes app backup software, says CloudCasa, which supports it.
CloudCasa is the Kubernetes backup business of Catalogic thats heading for a spin-out. Its cloud-native product integrates with Kubernetes engines on AWS, Azure, and GCP, and can see all the K8s clusters running through these engines. Velero provides snapshot-based backup for Kubernetes stateful containers and can run in a cloud provider or on-premises. CloudCasa supports Velero and provides a paid-for support package.
COO Sathya Sankaran told us the Velero stats imply at least a million clusters are downloading.
He says he had a conversation with a VMware product manager at KubeCon who told him that they estimate about one-third of all Kubernetes clusters have been touched by Velero and at some point have had Velero installed and running its a very substantial market presence.
Sankaran added: This is already a community ecosystem, driven very strongly by what the rest of the community thinks is good or bad.
We have asked business rivals Veeam, Pure, and Trilio what they think.
Sankaran says CloudCasa for Velero is the only Kubernetes Backup-as-a-Service offering with integration across multiple public clouds and portability between them. It offers a swathe of extra features over the base Velero provision (think Red Hat and Linux.)
Sankaran says: Velero wants to become the Kubernetes backup standard. The commercial backup products are pre-packaged Velero wants to be a plug-in engine, useable by new storage products as well as the historic incumbents.
The execs hope is that CloudCasa can overtake rivals Kasten, Portworx, and Trilio by riding what he sees as a wave of Velero adoption, particularly in the enterprise, by offering them a multi-cluster and anti-lock-in offering. K8s app protection is different from traditional backup, says Sankaran, who claims layering it on to legacy backup is the wrong approach.
Whether its wrong will be decided by the market, by whether enterprises agree they need special (Velero-based) protection for their K8s apps or such protection provided by their incumbent data protection supplier.
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CloudCasa bets on Velero Kubernetes backup Blocks and Files - Blocks and Files
Ransomware top of mind for IT at Rubrik Forward – TechTarget
The increasing severity of ransomware attacks and the dwindling sizes of IT teams will increase the role of third-party SaaS services for cyber recovery.
Speedy ransomware recovery, visibility into the performance of IT environments and the use of generative AI could be differentiators for SaaS products, according to speakers at the virtual Rubrik Forward 2023 event Wednesday.
Backups are becoming a more common target for cyber attacks, especially as the number of data silos increase on premises and in the cloud, said Kate Kuehn, chief trust officer at Aon Cyber Solutions, a management consulting firm based in London.
Knowing what data is important, how it's protected and what threats it can face are all important considerations for enterprise backups. Outages of business-critical applications without backups can sink an enterprise.
"[Enterprises] are protecting the wrong data, they're protecting the wrong things," she said.
A cyber attack in April 2021 knocked out most of the IT systems of Colchester Institute, a vocational college in the U.K., for about a month, including the internal email system and the school's application program.
In the days following the attack, school administrators declined to say if student information was compromised but did bring in third-party support to recover systems, according to local media reports.
In the trenches of the recovery operation was Chris Armitage, data storage and continuity officer at the Colchester Institute and a conference speaker.
Specific losses included the school's VMware vCenter Server and ESXi hypervisors. Recovery itself took 30 days, as Armitage compiled spreadsheet after spreadsheet of what applications ran on which servers.
"These spreadsheets contained the priority servers [with the] applications and services that we wanted to bring up first for our college and our business," he said.
Our biggest issue was not knowing if any of our snapshots were clean. That made our recovery process take a lot longer. Chris ArmitageData storage and continuity officer, Colchester Institute
The Colchester Institute IT team ultimately needed to rebuild the entire IT environment, testing snapshots and servers within an isolated recovery environment, a kind of digital clean room to test servers before redeploying them into production.
"We had built everything from scratch," Armitage said. "Our biggest issue was not knowing if any of our snapshots were clean. That made our recovery process take a lot longer."
Other enterprise IT professionals speaking at Rubrik Forward hadn't suffered from cyber attacks, but they were preparing for the possibility.
American Family Insurance (AFI), a Fortune 500 insurance company headquartered in Madison, Wis., is moving more of its IT operations to a hybrid cloud.
Overseeing that shift is Nate Brooks, technology services manager at AFI, who said the company is currently managing 500 AWS accounts. It uses Google Cloud Platform for AI capabilities and Microsoft Azure for its virtual desktop infrastructure.
Brooks has used Rubrik to secure his backups and set policies for data retention and usage across previously siloed data.
"Not everyone is trying to go to the public cloud, but there's a unified drive to use it in intelligent ways," he said. "We have to facilitate the same [policies] across environments where a group might spin up a thousand servers in a day. Having a unified way to secure those [instances], govern what's happening and look at what's going on [has] been extremely important for us."
He said the use of immutable storage and granular file recovery enables faster recovery in case of user error, while the Rubrik API helps connect the multi-cloud environment to the platform.
"The extensibility with the APIs in Rubrik allows us to lock down what changes can be made to the platform," he said. "We can, in broad strokes, lock things down and make sure they adhere to all our policies and obligations that we have."
Bipul Sinha, Rubrik co-founder and CEO, and Charlie Bell, executive vice president of security, compliance, identity and management at Microsoft, said generative AI is coming to Rubrik -- and soon.
During his keynote speech alongside Bell, Sinha demonstrated an integration of ChatGPT with Rubrik for Microsoft Sentinel, with ChatGPT preparing a general ransomware response plan and seeking a common pattern to the sample attacks. The demonstration follows a ChatGPT integration promoted by Rubik rival Cohesity last month.
The use of generative AI in security could also help with the skills shortage in cybersecurity, Bell said, as the enterprise could take more chances on junior employees who are assisted by AI rather than demanding -- and paying for -- veterans.
"We're going to get folks who weren't able to get into this industry and enable them," Bell said.
Tim McCarthy is a journalist from the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts. He covers cloud and data storage news.
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Ransomware top of mind for IT at Rubrik Forward - TechTarget
Does the Google Pixel 7a have a microSD slot? – Android Authority
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
The Google Pixel 7a may be stealing all the headlines, but there will be people thinking about practical factors such as device storage and expandable memory. If youre wondering does the Google Pixel 7a have a microSD slot, youll find out below.
QUICK ANSWER
The Google Pixel 7a doesn't have a microSD slot. With 128GB of storage space, you may want to consider cloud or external storage options. Another alternative is to choose a different device that does offers expandable storage.
Does the Google Pixel 7a have a microSD slot?
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
Unfortunately, the Google Pixel 7a does not have a microSD slot for expandable storage, and the internal device storage is a fairly modest 128GB.
This might be disappointing, but it isnt too surprising. Not only is the trend away from including space for a microSD card in more recent smartphones, but Google has actually never included microSD support on any of the Pixel devices. It would have been quite the trend shift to introduce the feature on the Pixel 7a.
Google would probably argue that this is to do with the handsets design. A microSD card takes more space within the device that the company is willing to sacrifice. Theres an element of truth to that, but its more likely related to saving on manufacturing costs.
Pixel phones have never had microSD support.
Theres no need to get too cynical when thinking about Googles motives. In the flagship Pixel line, Google has an extra incentive not to make storage expandable in order to upsell you a higher storage variant of an already pricey phone. Samsung and Apple do the same thing. But that isnt a relevant consideration in the case of the Pixel 7a, as there is only one storage option on offer.
It could also be argued that the target market for the Pixel 7a isnt the type of person who will usually face storage issues. 128GB might be a baseline capacity these days, but its still fairly ample for most people. Content creators will be eyeing more powerful devices, while people who store large video files such as movies are probably interested in a phone with a bigger screen. The Pixel 7a is a mid-range daily driver for those who want a compact and stylish handset with an above-average camera, which is a large demographic.
People interested in the Pixel 7a but concerned about storage capacity can look to make the most of cloud storage or external storage devices. If its too much of a dealbreaker for you, we can suggest some alternative phones that do offer expandable storage.
There are lots of great devices with expandable storage if its a feature youre looking for in a phone. Here are a few of our picks in the same price range or cheaper than the Pixel 7a.
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Galaxy A54 5G camera trio
Samsung hasnt given up on expandable storage entirely, with the recently released Galaxy A54 5G offering a microSD card slot to expand on the 128GB built-in capacity. It retails for $449 $50 less than the Pixel 7a and you certainly get a lot of bang for your buck. The design of the Galaxy A54 mirrors that of the higher-end Galaxy S23 series, and an Exynos 1380 chipset with 6GB of RAM offers an impressive performance. Throw in a color-rich, fluid display, solid battery life, and admirable primary camera, and you have an excellent alternative to the Pixel.
Moto G Stylus 5G 2022
Eric Zeman / Android Authority
Moto G Stylus 5G
The Moto G Stylus 5G 2022 has the same retail price as the Pixel 7a of $499 but is much more generous when it comes to storage. Already boasting 256GB of built-in storage, you can increase the capacity to 1TB by adding a microSD card.
The Pixel undoubtedly has more going for it, such as a better camera setup and the Google ecosystem. But if youre looking for a solid performer with good battery life, a great display, and a stylus, youre unlikely to be disappointed by choosing the Moto.
OnePlus Nord CE 2
Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
The OnePlus Nord 2 CE isnt anything groundbreaking, but its a solid alternative to the Pixel 7a and at least $200 cheaper. With 128GB storage expandable via microSD, hoarders on a budget will find it an interesting option. A 6.43-inch AMOLED screen, Dimensity 900 processor, and 8GB of RAM are complemented by an improved camera system from the Nord CE.
FAQs
The Pixel 7a has 128GB of built-in storage.
No Pixel phones have ever featured a microSD card slot, and the Pixel 7a is no different. Google may have aimed to keep costs down by omitting it and didnt feel that it would be a dealbreaker for most buyers.
Cheaper costs and lack of internal space make sacrificing the microSD slot an appealing option to manufacturers, with the added bonus that buyers might pay extra for a larger storage variant of the model if there is one.
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Does the Google Pixel 7a have a microSD slot? - Android Authority
Supply Chain Investments to Continue, Plus 8 Key Areas of Growth … – Consumer Goods Technology
Budgets may be tighter this year as consumer goods companies navigate a troubled economic climate, but its not keeping them from making major investments in their supply chain.
According to recent Gartner data, theres three trends holding steady in this area: upgrades that create new forms of engagement, optimize for resilience, and scale performance that enables tech to be delivered at any place and time.
What type of growth can we expect in supply chain technology? Gartner surveyed 499 supply chain leaders from October through December 2022 in North America, Latin America, Western Europe, and the Asia/Pacific region, finding that 65% anticipate funding new technology investments and 73% of supply chain IT budgets this year, on average, to be allocated to growth and performance enhancements.
Gartner expects the majority of supply chain investments to hit eight key areas: artificial intelligence, operations, mobile assets, cloud storage and computing, workforce planning, IT architecture, cyber security, and integrations.
1. Artificial intelligence (AI): Supply chains will see great transformations with the use of actionable AI. Gartner expects the tech will help drive decision making, tapping into human-like problem solving thats augmented by real-world, adaptable data. Unilever is one company leveraging AI, using it to develop science-backed products through the power of automation and robots.
2. Operations: Smart tech is set to develop end-to-end changes across the supply chain, impacting manufacturing, service and logistics, transportation, global trade, and more, according to Gartner. Take, for example, Keurig Dr Peppers supply chain realignment efforts to accelerate enterprise-wide productivity and optimize growth.
3. Mobile assets: The combination of sensory tech investments with operational research techniques to optimize business intelligence will have myriad benefits across warehouse operations, says Gartner. From improving visibility and capacity, investments in this area will trickle down to shipping and logistics.
4. Cloud migration: Companies are looking for agile, composable platforms, according to Gartner, and so cloud tech is the answer for many consumer goods companies aspiring to elevate their IT infrastructure. Henkel is migrating fully to the cloud over the next upcoming months and Unilever recently became a cloud-only enterprise.
5. Workforce: Many companies will be using their investment dollars to increase employee engagement, which should improve frontline worker performance, satisfaction, and retention, says Gartner. Upskilling should be a big part of this so much so that CGT predicts an entire job will be dedicated to this area of focus.
6. IT architecture: Consumer goods companies are transitioning to composable business structures, according to Gartner. They are designed to follow the core design principles of modularity, autonomy, orchestration and discovery, with a specific business use case, said the company.
7. Cyber security: The more tech, the more risk for fraud and digital penetration so Gartner expects enterprises will increase their cybersecurity to cover vulnerabilities. Companies will especially need to be careful as they implement still-learning technologies such as generative AI.
8. IT integration: Some companies will piece together their preferred solutions, while others will overhaul entire systems. Gartner predicts that enterprises will need to invest in integration to tie together a tactical, execution-centric, and technical view of system interoperability to a strategy-led vision of a more-interconnected world.
The last three years of uncertainty have blurred the line between business and technology strategies to the point that they must be considered together, said Simon Jacobson, VP analyst in Gartners supply chain practice, in a statement. Supply chain leaders must have an understanding of the strategic, disruptive, and unavoidable technologies that will impact their planning processes over the next five years.
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Supply Chain Investments to Continue, Plus 8 Key Areas of Growth ... - Consumer Goods Technology
What exactly is hybrid cloud the advantages and disadvantages – iTWire
The first step involves choosing whether or not to use a public or private cloud, or both. Using both is hybrid cloud.
But what exactly is a hybrid cloud? Before answering let's look at the two alternatives: public cloud and private cloud, and how these compare.
A public cloud involves hosting data and applications on a third-party server, which can then be accessed over the web. This puts responsibility on the third-party company to manage the servers and service anything that goes wrong.
In many cases an organisation's data and apps will be stored alongside others' data on the same machine, meaning they could be more vulnerable to a security breach.
To maintain cloud storage security, organisations can also invest in private cloud technology. Here, databases are stored on secure individual servers. Private cloud can be managed in-house, with servers located on the premises, or it can be managed by a third party.
Although private cloud is more expensive, generally it provides a more secure infrastructure. Better security from keeping the servers on a company's own premises also means more responsibility for ensuring that security protocols are sound and that everything is up and running properly.
So, public or private cloud? While many businesses may view this as a one-or-the-other choice, it's reasonable for large organisations to utilise both alongside their established on-site systems.
These organisations are discovering they can combine the advantages of private and public cloud options, building a single solution that marries the benefits of each while limiting the disadvantages.
This hybrid cloud solution combines many of the advantages of both public and private cloud systems, allowing information to be shared between on-premise systems and those maintained in the cloud.
By acting as orchestration between all platforms, the hybrid cloud increases organisational flexibility. For instance, consider remote workers who would still be able to access information located on local servers through the cloud. As companies grow in size and scope, this improved flexibility often becomes more and more essential.
The hybrid cloud market is projected to grow to US$97.6 billion by 2023. Demand for hybrid cloud computing has never been higher, and fortunately companies are rising to the occasion by providing top-notch service.
But what are the benefits and potential challenges? Cloud computing pluses and minuses come in many forms. Fortunately, for many organisations there are more advantages than disadvantages when using hybrid cloud, and the benefits include:
Cost savings
Hybrid cloud might be an investment upfront, but it will provide plenty of cost saving benefits down the road. For example, businesses using public cloud without a hybrid might have a difficult and expensive time migrating information if they decide to make changes to their internal systems.
Also because a hybrid cloud is scalable, it makes handling changes in business goals cheaper down the line.
Unique balance of control
Only hybrid cloud technology can provide a blend of benefits that come from public and private servers. Users can enjoy the scalability of a public cloud environment without forfeiting all control to a third party. With every hybrid cloud situation being different, a unique solution will have to be applied to each hybrid system in order to fulfill specific requirements.
Speed of deployment
Because a hybrid cloud is designed around an organisation's needs, it can be optimised with speed in mind. For example, because this system isn't entirely public, IT staff will be able to minimise latency, making data transfers quicker and easier.
Business agility
The overall level of customisation available for hybrid cloud also ensures that an organisation is agile enough to handle the needs of customers or clients. Not only does it connect old systems to new ones, but the hybrid cloud also allows businesses to create an overarching structure that meets the unique needs of a specific enterprise.
The disadvantages
Although hybrid cloud computing may be a necessity for certain large-scale organisations, there are potential issues when investing in a hybrid cloud solution. These include:
Overly complex security
A Forrester survey of 1,000 chief information security officers (CISOs) revealed that managing the growing complexity of security is their first concern. Because of the complicated nature of hybrid cloud, building effective ongoing security is a difficult process. Organisations should be fully prepared before loading sensitive information into a hybrid cloud.
My company commissioned a global survey exploring security preparedness and network visibility. They discovered that many IT professionals find it difficult to maintain visibility easily across a sprawling hybrid cloud. Lack of visibility can put a company at security risk.
Thankfully, there are ways to combat the disadvantages, giving a hybrid cloud setup the best chance of success. Here are several approaches designed to help achieve hybrid cloud success without lowering network defences.
Encrypt data
First, prepare against potential security breaches by encrypting data, making it more difficult to access.
Don't leave security to cloud vendors. These might make work easier, but in handing control of sensitive data/information over to a third party, an organisation is putting its faith in their ability to protect that information.
Unfortunately, not all third-party vendors might be capable of keeping information private. Instead, ensure that the tech team is involved in, and working on, a security system to ensure maximum safety for the hybrid cloud framework.
Determine which apps, data and workloads are appropriate for each cloud type
Data should be stored strategically within a hybrid cloud network. Sensitive information should be kept onsite or in a private cloud, while other less valuable data can be stored in the public cloud.
Utilise a container orchestration platform. An effective one such as Kubernetes will help deploy apps across cloud environments.
Use automation where possible. This can increase the speed of information, making it easier to react to a security threat quickly, and providing consistency across multiple platforms. It saves time in managing the system.
Invest in a cloud-visibility tool. Increased visibility permits increased security as the IT crew will be able to spend their time focusing on other equally important tasks.
So, hybrid cloud is a cost-effective way of connecting various data systems while balancing an organisation's needs. Although building and integrating a hybrid cloud is complex and can be potentially time-consuming, often the potential rewards more than compensate for the difficult learning curve. Visit Gigamon to learn more about what they can do for a network.
Image: Mguerreroch via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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What exactly is hybrid cloud the advantages and disadvantages - iTWire
Verizon’s rumored new Unlimited plans would ask subscribers to … – PhoneArena
That sound Verizon executives hear coming up fast behind them? That's T-Mobile. The nation's second-largest wireless provider reported 538,000 net new postpaid phone subscribers for the first quarter. That was more than AT&T and Verizon combined. But don't blame the former as AT&T had 424,000 net new subscribers in this all-important category during Q1 while Verizon lost 127,000 subscribers.And recently T-Mobile shook things up with its new Go5G plans which allow new and existing customers to upgrade to a new phone every two years instead of every three years as is the industry standard these days. But there is some rumbling per The Mobile Report that Verizon, still the leading wireless carrier in the U.S., will introduce new options for subscribers under the name "myPlan." Options will reportedly include Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus. These will replace all current Verizon Unlimited plans according to the rumor.
Unlimited Plus includes unlimited Ultra Wideband 5G data
Now according to the rumors, the "myPlan" branding means that subscribers would get to choose which perks they would receive. For example, depending on the Verizon unlimited plan you currently have, you can get for free the popular Disney+ bundle, Apple Arcade, or Apple Music, But, and this is a big but, under "myPlan," subscribers would have to pay $10 per month for each perk they choose. If Verizon hopes to stay ahead of T-Mobile, this would be a huge mistake. This is the most un Un-carrier move ever made.
Based on the leaked images, Verizon wants its customers to pay for perks including ones that are now free
Now that's not to say that there isn't value in some of these rumored freebies. Verizon says in leaked images that the 100GB of mobile hotspot connectivity it is offering for $10 per month would save subscribers $35 monthly. But the point of T-Mobile's perks is to keep the subscriber from having to pay extra for them. This move may not go down with subscribers as Verizon figured it might. For example, paying $10 per month for a Walmart membership would save a Verizon subscriber less than $3 per month after paying $10 a month extra.
Another issue that might not have caught your eye is that while both the "myPlan" Unlimited Welcome and Unlimited Plus support 5G, the cheaper plan includes unlimited 5G data while the Unlimited Plus plan supports unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband data. It isn't clear and we should know more soon, but it would seem that if you want the faster mid-band 5G that is approximately 10x faster than LTE, you will have to subscribe to the more expensive Unlimited Plus plan.
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Verizon's rumored new Unlimited plans would ask subscribers to ... - PhoneArena
Did you know you’re emitting carbon just by reading this headline? Here’s how and what you can do to reduce it – ABC News
If you're reading this, you're emitting carbon.
One online search uses about as much electricity as a light bulb left on for 35 minutes. Sending an email with a large attachment? That light bulb stays on for about an hour.
And, if digital technology were a country, it'd be the world's third-highest consumer of electricity behind China and the United States.
These are some of the findings featured in the French journalist and documentary maker Guillaume Pitron's new book, The Dark Cloud: How the digital world is costing the earth.
In a time where plenty of us are trying to be as environmentally conscious as possible using re-usable shopping bags, bringing our own cups to the cafe it's easy to forget a chunk of our carbon footprint comes from the devices we use daily.
But how did we get here and what can we do about it?
Even though they are not physically emitting carbon into the atmosphere, texts, emails and online searches all require energy to function.
"You don't think about it this way, right? Everything is virtual when you go online," Mr Pitron told ABC News Breakfast.
"But actually, it has a cost. It has a physical cost materials, electricity, CO2 emissions. The idea is to turn this idea of a dematerialised world into concrete."
Mr Pitron has spent the last two years conducting research across four continents for the book, and he says it reveals the true anatomy of a kind of technology that is virtual in name alone.
"We need to have these technologies, right? I don't say that I'm not using a phone," he said.
"But at the same time, we need to be conscious that it comes at a huge cost which is exploding."
Emissions from digital technology mostly come from the resourcing and manufacturing chain minerals like graphite and cobalt are crucial for batteries, and the mining process behind them comes with huge environmental impacts.
They also come from the energy required to run things that house and allow us to access our data, like modems and servers.
Then there's the "cloud" the internet, broadly, and everything you can access via the internet, including all of our online data storage.
Overall, the latest estimates from EY show the digital world represents about 4 per centof global carbon emissions roughly the same as the emissions of Canada and Germany combined and that's from late 2020.
Globally, streaming technology generates as much carbon as all of Spain equal to around 1per cent of global emissions. And the amount of energy used per stream also depends on what you're streaming on for example, a HD TV requires more CO2 than a laptop or tablet.
"Behind each of the 70 metals and minerals that are in your smartphone, you've got a mine and you've got potential impacts that you need to be aware of usually, mines which are somewhere other than Western world countries," he said.
"We've offshored pollution into third world and poorer countries."
And while it's not yet known for sure whether we emit more carbon in our average physical or digital day, he says rising AI and a constantly expanding digital sphere will likely push the needle further over to the digital side.
It makes for bleak reading. So, what can we do to reduce the carbon cost?
"The first thing we should understand is that pollution from digital technologies is mostly material. How do you reduce that? Well, you keep your phone longer, and you buy a second-hand phone," he said.
Even simple things like giving your online storage a spring clean and deleting duplicates, or files you no longer need, can help to reduce your digital carbon footprint.
"I've repaired my own phone six times for the last three years. And if you don't want your phone anymore, try to resell it. That's a way to keep the life span of your devices longer.
"That plays a huge role in mitigating such pollution."
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Did you know you're emitting carbon just by reading this headline? Here's how and what you can do to reduce it - ABC News
Transform Your Old iPhone Into a Security Camera With These 6 Apps – MUO – MakeUseOf
Just because your iPhone is a bit outdated doesn't make it completely useless. You can repurpose your old iPhone as a security camera instead of putting it away in the drawer. Doing so will help you save money that you'd have spent on security gear.
There are a plethora of apps that can transform your old iPhone into a full-fledged security camera, but choosing the right one can be tricky. Read along to find out which app suits your needs the best.
Before we get to the list of apps, you need to know how to set up your old phone as a security camera. You first have to find the right location for your security camera. It could be your garage to keep an eye on your car, a room where you keep all your important documents and valuable items, or the entrance of your house.
Once you find the right spot, make sure to set up the iPhone where you can surveil as much area as possible. You also need to check if it's close to a power source because you'll have to plug in your old iPhone for battery if you want 24-hour surveillance. If the power outlet is out of reach from the desired camera location, consider purchasing an extended version of one of the best Lightning cables.
Now, it's time to pick a security camera app and install it on your old iPhone and your current one for surveillance.
Alfred is a well-designed app that lets you use your old iPhone as a security camera. You can install the app on two phonesone for setting up the camera and the other for controlling and viewing footage.
Besides surveillance, Alfred offers a siren feature, motion detection, a low-light filter, and two-way communication. Moreover, you can give your family members or friends access to the surveillance by adding to the Trust Circle feature when necessary.
The Premium monthly subscription of Alfred starts at $3.99 and offers HD video, no ads, more cloud storage, multiple cameras, and longer capture intervals.
Download: Alfred Home Security Camera (Free, subscription available)
Manything lets you convert an old iPhone into a Wi-Fi-connected security camera and use your primary device to view the footage. Besides the ability to turn your phone into a security camera, Manything also has its own IFTTT channel, allowing you to link it to web services and other connected devices.
For example, you can set up smart lights in your house to automatically turn on when the app detects motion. Your phone acts as a security camera and a switch for smart gadgets to make it look like you're at home if someone tries to get inside.
The monthly Manything plan starts at $5.99, offering 30 days of cloud recording for one camera.
Download: Manything (Free, subscription available)
AtHome is perhaps the best free security camera app on the list. To use its features, install the AtHome Video Streamer DIY CCTV app on your old iPhone and the AtHome Camera Pro: Monitor app on your current device.
It uses advanced AI and deep learning technology to detect the motion of humans instead of shadows or light used by other apps. Moreover, it uses face recognition to distinguish between your family member and an intruder. The app has a Night Vision mode for surveillance in low-lighting conditions.
AtHome also features two-way communication, which uses your iPhone's built-in mic and speakers. The premium monthly subscription of the AtHome Camera Pro app starts at $9.99 and offers HD video, no ads, more cloud storage, and multiple cameras.
Download: AtHome Video Streamer DIY CCTV (Free) | Athome Camera Pro: Monitor (Free, subscription available)
Camy is another incredible app that turns your old iPhone into a live-stream video surveillance system. It offers high-quality video stream, video recording, motion detection, and night mode.
One of the best features of Camy is the ability to zoom in and take screenshots. Besides your primary phone, you can also use a browser on any device to watch the live video stream remotely.
The monthly Campy premium subscription costs $3.99 and lets you add unlimited zones and give access to family members. The premium membership also allows you to record videos to the cloud automatically.
Download: Camy (Free, subscription available)
Cloud Baby Monitor is the most advanced and feature-rich app on the list. It's a versatile app that can function as a home security camera or a baby monitor. The app is compatible with Apple Watch and can send noise and motion detection alerts directly to your wrist regardless of where you are.
Cloud Baby Monitor can also play white noises and lullabies to help your little one get to sleep. Besides providing service over Wi-Fi and cellular networks, CloudBaby Monitor offers a Bluetooth option. You can use the Bluetooth option for areas with limited cellular connectivity. It also features night vision if you check on your baby's well-being during the night.
While Cloud Baby Monitor is one of the best baby monitor apps, it has a catch: you have to pay for the app as it has no free version.
Download: CloudBaby Monitor ($5.99)
Presence is an easy-to-use app that offers a clear video feed. Like other security camera apps on the list, Presence also allows remote video monitoring and supports two-way video and voice chat. Moreover, it features motion detection and sends you an alert notification with photos and videos.
The premium subscription to the Presence app costs $4.99 per month and offers 5GB encrypted cloud storage, longer video recording duration, a camera alarm, and access to priority customer support.
Download: Presence Video Security Camera (Free, subscription available)
Using your old iPhone as a security camera instead of buying a standalone security camera will save you money and give you a better portability option. You can remove your old iPhone and place it at another location to use it as a temporary camera for any situation.
You can use it to keep an eye on your kids while they're playing in the yard or by the pool. If you're at a friend's place and want to put down your baby for a nap in the guest room, you can use it to watch over them.
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Transform Your Old iPhone Into a Security Camera With These 6 Apps - MUO - MakeUseOf
WiZs motion sensing smart lights can now monitor your home – The Verge
WiZ is launching a new home monitoring feature that leverages the smart lighting companys existing motion-sensing Wi-Fi smart bulbs. Paired with a new $70 indoor security camera, WiZ Home Monitoring can alert you to potential intruders in your home. Using WiZs unique SpaceSensing feature which detects changes in Wi-Fi signal strength caused by movement to turn lights on or off the lights the system can send an alert to the WiZ app when motion is detected. The new camera can then show you whats going on.
The WiZ Home Monitoring Starter kit, which includes three WiZ A19 full-color smart bulbs and one camera, will be available starting June 15th for 159.99 Euro with US pricing not set. Or, if you already have a couple of WiZ bulbs or lights, you can pick up the camera for $69.99 (89.99 Euro) later this month. (At least two bulbs are needed for SpaceSense to work.)
The WiZ Indoor Wi-Fi Camera works with WiZs smart lighting line as part of its new Home Monitoring feature. Image: Signify
Wi-Fi sensing is a very promising ambient technology for the smart home, and this isnt the first system to leverage it. Hex by Origin Wireless is a smart security system that uses the tech and Linksys Wi-Fi routers can detect motion in your home.
However, WiZs option is a super simple solution from a hardware perspective. While not as robust as a full security system with sensors on every door and window, its infinitely easier to set up: most people know how to screw in a lightbulb.
Theres no hub or siren or professional monitoring. Instead, when the alarm is triggered by any motion, the lights can be set to flash erratically to scare off a potential intruder. The Home Monitoring feature is free and works in WiZs newly launched WiZ V2 app. You can also customize the monitoring to just certain areas of the home. That may be useful for making sure your roommate doesnt pinch your leftovers from the fridge.
You can set customizable routines that control the lights and activate the monitoring, which can be turned on and off manually in the app or set on a schedule. The monitoring feature also includes presence simulation, which can turn lights on and off automatically to make it seem like someone is at home.
WiZs SpaceSense technology uses Wi-Fi signals to detect people in a room. At least, we think thats what this image is trying to tell us... . Image: Signify
WiZ, which is owned by Signify, says 80 to 90 percent of its existing lights and all its new products work with SpaceSense and will be compatible with Home Monitoring. That includes all Connected by WiZ brand lights.
At launch, you do need the new WiZ Indoor Camera to use the home monitoring features. WiZ says the camera is the first of many home monitoring products the company is planning.
The WiZ Indoor Camera streams and records in 1080p and has a 120-degree field of view. Infrared night vision, image-based motion detection, and two-way audio add to its security features, plus the cameras onboard microphone can listen for sudden loud noises and send notifications when it hears glass breaking or a smoke alarm going off.
An onboard microSD card can record footage locally, or you can subscribe to cloud storage for up to 30 days of recordings (pricing for this was not announced). The company said all cloud footage is end-to-end encrypted, and even the local SD card storage is encrypted, with footage only accessible through the WiZ app. The subscription also adds the option of using activity and privacy zones with the camera and the ability to start a manual recording while streaming.
The camera is fairly basic in terms of hardware, but its the software features that are the star of the show here. If the system can deliver what it promises, the simplicity and low price point make it a very intriguing home security solution, particularly for apartments and smaller homes.
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WiZs motion sensing smart lights can now monitor your home - The Verge
Purah Pad review: a rugged tablet designed for the dangers of Hyrule – The Verge
Its never easy to follow up a beloved device, especially when its one that managed to fuse ancient technology with a modern-day phablet. But the Purah Pad a spiritual successor to the Sheikah Slate manages to add more utility to a device that already let you control physics. It still doesnt have much in the way of entertainment options, but its new design and feature set are ideal for those traveling around Hyrule, particularly if you also have a wearable that gives you power over space and time.
In terms of hardware, the Purah Pad has a slightly more streamlined setup than its predecessor, with a seven-inch display flanked by physical buttons and other controls on the sides and a USB Type-C port at the bottom. It has a rather ornate design that fits right in among any other ancient tech you might have but also results in a gigantic bezel that can obscure the edges of the display. Its form over function. I should also note that somehow, once again, this device has infinite battery life.
The Purah Pad has a familiar array of basic apps and functionality, organized by a spartan UI. Theres a telescope for scouting things in the distance, which also has the option to pin important points to your map. The camera app which, curiously, doesnt come preinstalled is great, not just for taking selfies but also for cataloging wildlife, monsters, and other important things in the Hyrule Compendium app. The two features work seamlessly together, a clear benefit of having hardware and software designed by the same teams, but are held back by limited storage that only lets you keep a small number of photos on the device. (It does not support cloud storage, either.)
I was particularly impressed with the refreshed contacts app, which does an incredible job of keeping up-to-date information on pretty much everyone you interact with, whether a helpful spirit or a forest musician. If you travel a lot and, say, havent been to Hyrule in the last five years or so its a lifesaver that helps ensure youre able to discern Teba from Tulin.
The most important function of the device, though, remains the map. Unfortunately, due to yet another calamity, setting up the map is once again a DIY endeavor. Hyrule is littered with Skyview Towers, and reaching them is pivotal to fleshing out your map with useful GPS data. Frustratingly, they tend to be in out-of-the-way locations, often covered in prickly vines or surrounded by a moblin camp.
Once you reach a tower, accessing the map data is surprisingly straightforward and fun so long as you arent scared of heights. First, you tap your pad on the towers console (NFC capabilities are a base feature of the device), and youre then flung in the air, where you can use the tablet to scan your surroundings from the sky. Its faster and more efficient than a Google Maps car, and a lot more exhilarating. It also provides more information than in the past, with new mapping data covering the skies in addition to the ground and the depths below. And dont worry: youll be connected to the tower via a giant cable, so its not as dangerous as it seems.
Arguably the biggest change for the Purah Pad is its new wearable connectivity. Right now, the device only supports the Ultrahand, which admittedly, is available in very limited quantities at the moment, making it exclusive to those who have access to the spirit of a long-lost ruler. But with both gadgets, you have the option to not only quickly access your map and camera but also utilize a brand-new functionality that lets you move objects, rewind time, fuse things together, and ascend through the ceiling. It can be tricky to get the hang of, but used together, these tools make getting around both easy and an act of creativity and more than make up for the fact that the Purah Pad does not have an Uber app.
Its easy to ding the Purah Pad for lacking that basic functionality. Its hard to imagine launching a tablet now that still doesnt have major apps like Netflix or TikTok, especially given that was a major complaint of the Sheikah Slate. But this isnt a device you pick for entertainment: its a tool. And in that regard, its definitely a step up, with a lot more functionality designed specifically for staying safe and informed while traveling. Its pretty much an essential part of saving the realm of Hyrule again the biggest challenge is likely still getting your Ultrahand on one.
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Purah Pad review: a rugged tablet designed for the dangers of Hyrule - The Verge