AbelCam

One of the most commonly used surveillance methods nowadays are video cameras. A simple webcam can provide the necessary means to see what's going on in a specific area. For better management, various applications such as AbelCam give you the possibility to handle them from a distance and even take advantage of a motion detection feature.

The application itself takes a little getting used to because of the slightly poor design. However, there is online content that make sure you can put the application to good use.

Adding a camera is not a complicated task, only requiring you to choose the device from a list, and most of the time connected devices are automatically recognized. Depending on the purpose with which the application is used, you can add IP cameras, web videos and more.

All of them are displayed in a list, along with several info fields, as well as a preview section that shows feedback from the selected device. Hitting the “Config” button gives you access to a large variety of settings.

You can configure the device the way you see fit. From giving it a name, to setting up quality, resolution, as well as pan and zoom, you find a diverse palette of options. You can even add overlay text or image to any desired location.

Most time is spent in this menu, because it also grants you the ability to configure server options, with the possibility to have real-time recordings streamed over the Internet, or connect to a remote webcam via IP or URL. Moreover, you can use it locally and have snapshots or video sessions saved to the hard disk drive for later use.

Taking everything into consideration, we can say that AbelCam may not be the best application of its kind, with a little something left to be desired overall, but manages to get the job done once you get acquainted with its features. It's a handy method to enhance security through accessing remote cameras, or simply to broadcast content via the Internet.