GlanceCam - IP camera viewer
macOS / Utilitaires
GlanceCam for Mac is a secure IP camera viewer with support for standard streaming protocols. GlanceCam is unobtrusive, loved by Users (> 700 App Store ratings averaging 4.3 stars!) and modern (46 updates since 2018, 100% compatible with Tahoe and Apple silicon).
It's perfect to keep an eye on one, or 50, IP cameras:
• Install cameras from different manufacturers and avoid cumbersome web interfaces or obsolete apps.
• Mount webcams in your living room, kitchen and garden to check on your pet when you're away.
• Point a camera at your front gate and let visitors in by activating a network relay.
GlanceCam is a bit nerdy, but very useful if you want to take advantage of inexpensive IP cameras and maybe combine them to the automation capabilities of the Internet of Things; it works on your LAN or via Internet (please see the requirements below) and, while it's not the most "works out-of-the-box" solution to configure (you'll need to retrieve some network parameters), it's flexible and brand-agnostic.
Here's how it works:
• With most IP cameras, you can receive the realtime video stream via RTSP, HTTP(s) or RTMP (RTSPs not supported); GlanceCam shows you those feeds in resizable windows.
• You can add as many cameras as you like.
• By default the app shows one camera at a time in a single window, and you can switch between cameras inside that window; if you want to view multiple cameras at the same time, you will be able to upgrade to GlanceCam Pro and open as many windows as you need (including GlanceGrids, flexible grids with presets) and have them remembered between sessions.
• GlanceCam windows can be configured to be Always on Top and visible in every Space; you can use Insta-zoom (right click and hold to temporarily maximise) and optionally auto-launch at login.
• 4K, zoom and audio are supported.
• The app has lots of keyboard shortcuts; it supports Apple Script and URL schemes.
• For every camera, you can configure up to 2 buttons to perform actions via HTTP GET calls.
GlanceCam Pro is available either as a lifetime in-app purchase or as a yearly subscription (both provide the same functionality, you can pick your favorite purchasing method) and includes multi-windows, GlanceGrids, Cycle mode, an optional Minimalistic interface, custom icons, manual aspect ratios (works great with non 16/9 cameras like 180° panoramas) and a preferential channel for email support.
The app is designed for realtime playback and doesn't support DVRs/NVRs, cloud services, recording (nor playing back recordings), pan & tilt (PTZ) and motion detection/notifications.
To take advantage of GlanceCam you'll need at least one IP camera and some knowledge about your network; please, check the requirements below (or get in touch at support@cdf1982.com):
• An Apple silicon or Intel Mac running Tahoe or a previous version of macOS (10.15+).
• One or more IP cameras broadcasting their stream via RTSP, HTTP(s) or RTMP; you'll need to know their IP addresses, video stream protocols, credentials and ports and to put those informations into strings.
You can check if your camera supports such protocols by searching the web, usually on the manufacturer website; since there is no standard for the stream URL format, you'll need to retrieve the proper string on the camera's manual/website. If you can't find it, get in touch: I always try to help, and often succeed in finding the right string!
• For triggering actions from the optional buttons, you'll need devices that can react to HTTP GET calls.
• To work over the Internet, you'll need a static public IP address or a dynamic DNS service and to configure port forwarding; I recommend to start testing in LAN to check compatibility.
The app and the GlanceCam Pro upgrade are macOS-exclusive: future versions for different platforms (iOS, etc.) will require separate purchases/subscriptions not included with the Mac version.
Privacy Policy: https://bit.ly/3nZjYM4
Terms of Service: https://bit.ly/3uB6etv
Quoi de neuf dans la dernière version ?
GlanceCam 4.8 is a nerdy update, all about under-the-hood work to improve reliability: cameras that silently freeze are now detected and reconnected automatically in most cases, and the video engine has been updated with targeted stability improvements.
1. Frozen-frame detection
"Stuck" frames are really tricky: from a User standpoint, it's hard to tell at a glance that a camera is frozen, and from GlanceCam's point of view a frozen stream can look identical to one that is delivering new frames as expected.
Thankfully, this is not a common issue, but in this update I put a lot of work into making GlanceCam capable of monitoring whether a camera that appears to be streaming is actually delivering new frames.
When GlanceCam 4.8 detects (usually within 30 to 60 seconds) that a stream is actually stuck on a still image, it reloads it automatically.
While no single mechanism can catch every possible way a stream can stall for every camera out there, this update should make an appreciable difference in detecting frozen images for most models.
2. Updated video engine
GlanceCam uses an updated version of the video engine, which I've customised with RTSP-cameras specific stability improvements and bug fixes that should make the app more reliable for everybody, and especially for those streaming many cameras or using less reliable network connections.
3. Stability and responsiveness improvements
With the help of very patient Users, I've fixed an issue where the app could become temporarily unresponsive when many cameras reconnected at the same time, for instance after a network interruption in a large GlanceGrid. This update also addresses a rare crash that could occur when a camera accumulates a very large number of buffered packets (most likely due to a buggy RTSP implementation from a camera manufacturer).
If GlanceCam is useful to you, 5-star reviews, GlanceCam Pro upgrades or tips are very appreciated and keep development going... and if you have any suggestions or need assistance, I'd love to hear from you (Support menu > Contact support via email)!
My best, Cesare
