Many people are looking for inexpensive security cameras without spending lots of money on something like a Sony Nex 6 Systemkamera. In fact, most people won’t have to spend any money at all. Do you have an old Android based smart phone lying around? You can easily turn it into a security camera that can be monitored remotely, even from your current Android device with the IP Webcam application.
The IP Webcam application will allow you to remotely view your “security camera” from desktops, tablets, and smart phones. You can get either live video feeds from your Android device or download screen shots every few seconds. You’ll need the java plugin to view the live feed. What separates this application from others like it is the ability to hear through your camera’s microphone. I tried a variety of applications and this is one of few that have that feature. However, it should be noted that the audio and video aren’t synced perfectly, there is some lag. Another cool feature is you can activate the smart phone’s LED light with the click of a button from the web interface.
Once you install the application, it’s important to setup a login user and password. This will stop just anyone from viewing your camera’s feed. If you wish for the feed to be broadcasted to people outside of your computer network, you’ll need to port forward the port you chose in the configuration options in your router’s configuration menu. Otherwise, just type in your Android’s IP and port in your web browser to view the live feed. It should look something like this: 192.168.1.100:1080
IP Webcam is one of the many ways to reuse an old Android phone. No longer is it necessary to purchase expensive cameras such as the Nikon 1 V1. Obviously it won’t replace multiple camera interfaces, but it is a cool way to keep an eye on something important.