A New York-based startup promises to do for security what the Nest did to thermostats with Canary, an interesting looking security device packing camera, sensor array and wifi connectivity in a cylindrical shell.

The device is 15cm tall and 7cm wide and features motion, temperature, humidity and air quality sensors together with an HD camera (with night vision and wide angle lens), microphone and siren. Once placed on a shelf or plugged into a wall the Canary records and uploads data to a cloud-based service (available in either free or paid subscription flavours) users can access via web browser or smartphone app.

One features the company stresses upon is "learning"-- the device apparently "applies complex algorithms" to collected data, allowing it learn household patterns and rhythms and thus notice when a "notable event" takes place. Once such an event happens the device pushes an alert to the user account.

The residential segment accounts for 40.7% of the $2.7 billion 2012 global intruder alarm market IMS reports, with the integration of home automation and security systems into single platforms gaining further momentum.

The analyst forecast residential security will be "one of the fastest-growing verticals" in the industry, with a CAGR of 5.3% for the 2012-2017 period.

“The increase in new entrants attempting to penetrate the N. American and European markets for home security is evidence of how successful this trend is becoming," IMS says. “ Europe may not be too far behind [N. America], as energy-management features are making their way into more homes every year."

Driving integration within homes is increased end-user education from new vendors hoping to penetrate the market-- suggesting integrated residential system growth will develop in the short and medium term.

Key Digital and IC Realtime announce native Compass Control system integration for a number of IC Realtime surveillance DVRs, including the Flex series, Elite series, NVR700N and NVR700S2P.

IC Realtime is already a Compass Alliance Partner, having worked with Key Digital on the bi-directional drivers handling DVR control and feedback from the devices.

Compass Control is a control system designed around iDevices. It provides installers with bi-directional IR, 2-way RS232 (with feedback) and 2-way TCP/IP control. The new drivers are part of the design software.

Go IC Realtime Surveillance DVRs

Go Compass Control

Channel Vision launches the 6532, a "vandal-proof" mini IP dome camera with a 1.3MP CMOS sensor (records 1280x800 resolution footage at 30fps) and Power over Ethernet (PoE) capability.

It is IP66 rated for outdoor conditions, and further features include digital wide dynamic range, triple streaming and digital noise reduction.

Customers can control and view the 6532 from anywhere using either internet browser or Channel Vision iOS/Android mobile device apps. The company also offers a CMS software allowing the simultaneous management of up to 36 cameras.

Go Channel Vision 6532 Security Camera

Channel Vision launches the TE-AMP kit-- a front door intercom amplifier kit boosting volume and clarity on the DP and IU series front door intercom stations.

An easy upgrade, the TE-AMP kit can be installed on existing Channel Vision front door intercom stations in the field or added to your next DP or IU series station order.

The kit includes amplifier board, Philips screws, washers, stand-offs, nuts and 2x28 AWG wire.

Go Channel Vision

Newcomer August takes on the smartphone-controlled door lock with the August Smart Lock-- a lock module and free online service combination allowing customers to unlock doors via Bluetooth low energy (BLE).

Making the lock module rather interesting is not the striking Yves Behar industrial design (although it does remind us of the Nest thermostat) but its security features. It uses BLE and a paired smartphone or tablet instead of wifi to connect briefly with the August online service. Once the module syncs with the service it assigns an algorithmically generated key to the paired mobile device, thus avoiding the risk of hacking internet connections involve.

Individual "key" management comes through an app (iOS and Android) complete with granular remote access controls, such as allowing access to particular individuals on specific dates/times.