EXCLUSIVES

Fire-i Digital Camera
By Errikos Tzavaras

Digital cameras are certainly a vital component of any digital hub. More specifically, web cameras for use in office and home applications are fast becoming a must have for those looking to utilize video communication in those environments.

Digital cameras of this nature can be used to take pictures and quickly send them to friends over the Internet, videoconference with other people, communicate with loved ones, or as part of a security system. But choosing the right camera for the right price can be a difficult decision. Unibrain, a global leader in the development of FireWire hardware and software solutions, offers Mac users its Fire-i digital camera - a sound combination of lightweight design, superior picture quality, and compatibility.

The Fire-I digital camera (www.unibrain.com) offers many features and amenities that distinguish the camera from other FireWire and USB cameras. The Fire-i outperforms standard USB cameras, reaching 640X480 at 30fps, allowing the camera to provide the largest possible resolution at the fastest possible frame-rate.

Also, all of the Fire-i's competitors have fixed cables of a set length attached to them, impeding installation of the camera away from the computer. The Fire-i requires no extra hardware - like a repeater or a hub - to facilitate distant camera installation. Additionally, the Fire-i has two FireWire ports, allowing users to connect the camera to PCs and Macs without the burden of the different cables needed for different computing platforms and also provides a two-meter, six-pin cable in case it is needed.

The Fire-i's dual port feature allows users to daisy chain up to 32 Fire-i cameras on one computer for surveillance purposes, and the camera boasts a clip for mounting the Fire-i on a notebook computer or desktop monitor.

While the Fire-i possesses many useful features, like any digital camera, it is still dependent on the software it comes with. The Fire-i camera includes several software amenities.

Firstly, BTV Pro, a camera viewing application able to detect motion and capture still images and video streams is bundled with the camera. ISPQ, videoconferencing software for the Mac, is also included. In addition, SpyCam, a multi-camera security software package, comes with the Fire-i. The program allows daisy chaining of cameras, facilitating the potential for monitoring up to 32 areas in a house or office.

The FireBoard 800

Unibrain also manufactures 1394b to PCI OHCI compliant boards, the first of its kind (http://www.unibrain.com/1394_products/
fireboard_800/fireboard_800_mac.htm) which is designed to meet the demanding requirements of today's 1394 bus designs. The FireBoard800 is a 64bit PCI OHCI host adapter capable of exceptional 800Mbit/sec performance, providing the throughput and bandwidth to move data efficiently and quickly between the PCI and 1394 busses.

This board also provides outstanding ultra-low power operation and intelligent power management capabilities, being compliant with all the latest 1394, OHCI and PCI specification/standards.

Along with the soon-to-be-released FW800 drive enclosures, the FireBoard800 is the perfect alternative to expensive SCSI solutions. The most popular application of the FW800 drive enclosure is to take a number of the drives, RAID them, and connect them to a FB800 card which is installed in your computer.

This creates the fastest possible streaming storage server at a fraction of the cost for all sorts of audio or video needs, including everything from home movies to editing a beta quality movie for post-production.

Company History

Unibrain (Reuters: UNBr.AT) is a global leader in the development of FireWire (IEEE-1394) hardware and software solutions, and offers a complete line of FireWire products for a wide range of applications.

Unibrain has been an active member of the 1394 Trade Association since 1997 and continues to play a vital role in the advancement of FireWire technology.

Unibrain was founded in 1986 in Athens, Greece and in 2000 it has also established an office in San Ramon, California. Unibrain is a public company traded in the New Market (NE.XA) of the Athens Stock Exchange. Unibrain's FireWire products enable consumer electronics vendors, integrators and software companies to dynamically enter the FireWire market: to design, manufacture, and sell products that end users can start using today.

Unibrain's development activity spans the entire gamut of hardware, firmware and software development. Unibrain has been fortunate in acquiring a team of technical developers whose capabilities make this possible.