Security
Truth is, we were highly sceptical that such a low-cost device as MSI's StarCam 370i could be a realistic security option but we were proven wrong. It's not perfect but it works and works pretty well despite the MSI controller software - whatever it's called - having a seriously silly (read non-standard and ragged-looking) interface.
Why is it that so many software writers feel it necessary to reinvent the GUI wheel? Is it ego or do they genuinely believe that what they've designed is better than the boring old Windows standard?
Anyway, despite that shortcoming, the software does work as described in the rather too succinct paper manual and the slightly wordier PDF manual that gets automatically installed.
At one level, what that means is that the camera is able to be set up to monitor its complete field of view or five easily selected resizable zones within it and send out warning emails should it detect motion in any zone.
MSI security app. Five
detection-zones set,system not armed (click for larger image)
When an intruder (or, at least, motion) is detected, the camera takes a snapshot at 320x240 pixels resolution, saves that to hard disk and also attaches a copy to an outgoing email. Furthermore, it records a video clip to hard disk at the same resolution.
Thunderbird showing incomingsecurity emails (click for larger image)
Image emailed by
security appThat all worked well but we'd liked to have had an option to email the video clip as well as - or instead of - a still image. That's quite important because although video and stills are at the same resolution, video definitely does provide a lot more information to help identify intruders.
We do realise that a video file is massively bigger and far slower to be sent out - the smallest video clip that got recorded in our tests was 59MB, whereas the stills were all under 20KB. However, we could all too easily see a situation where the PC containing the video got stolen during a burglary and this vital information went with it.
The weird interface certainly didn't make it easier to sort out the various settings necessary to get the security side running smoothly but we didn't have any real problems. There were though, two issues that we'd like resolved - though they could wait until after the interface is normalised!
First, it was irritating to find that the Windows-standard shortcut for pasting information - Ctrl+V - didn't function as expected in the settings panels. A single paste carried out with this keyboard shortcut could result in the information being added multiple times without us realising. And it took us a while to figure what had happened and why.
Choosing E-mail settings for the
MSIsecurity app (some deliberately whited out)
Initially, the send-to email address and the SMTP server address were copied multiple times into their respective boxes and the same was true for the email password and the sender's email address. Consequently, these settings were all wrong and an email couldn't be sent. Right-clicking, though, and choosing Paste, worked just fine every time.
Also, there is no control within the security software for turning on the camera's trio of infra-red LEDs to illuminate things during the night. They can, of course, be switched on from within the AMCap program but there's no mention of this in the security program's paper or PDF manuals, which is silly.
Oh, and although we're sure the programmers got a bit of a giggle from the design of the security-monitoring on/off button on the interface - eyes shut when off, eyes open when active - this sort of non-standard, DIY thing could have serious implications.
Security is set, in contrast with
thefirst grab on the page (click for larger image)
The state-change is slightly reinforced by a colour change to some of the other buttons but what the programmers need to understand is the possible significance of the user confusing the two states - leaving the house when wrongly thinking it was protected.
Here are the security apps' other option screens
Choosing device settings
Choosing alarm settings
Choosing sensitivity settingsAmazing. The implementation of the security-cam feature is genuinely impressive - even with that clunky interface.
But, what's the final bottom line - about the MSI package overall? Check out the full specs on the follow page, then our final thoughts.