SwannCloud ADS-456
A fixed position camera with some unique touches.
The ADS-456 boasts a lot of the same virtues as the ADS-446, including excellent image quality and night vision, useful first-party software and a neat hardware design. That hardware includes some unique touches, like the mini-HDMI port that can be used to view the current feed on a TV screen, a microSD card slot and a proper mounting bracket for attaching the ADS-456 to a wall or ceiling.
Physically, the design of the ADS-456 is similar to that of the Belkin NetCam — a fixed ‘cube’ rotating around a post. The main body of the camera can tilt up to 90°, which should cover most angles with some proper planning. It does look a little ugly in a wall-mount situation, however, since it protrudes a long way from the wall.
It uses the same underlying software and firmware as the ADS-446, which is a good thing, since it’s generally a solid solution, with easy-to-use mobile apps for beginners and a more technical web interface for those who really want to drill down into the notification and motion and facial detection settings.
It also includes free access to SwannCloud, a service that works a lot like MyDlink — register a camera with the cloud service and you’ll be able to view its feed from anywhere on the ‘net using the Swann mobile app. There is a paid version of SwannCloud that also includes online storage of event feeds, images and clips, but that’s optional.
It’s a very nice camera overall, and we’d recommend it if the ADS446 weren’t both better and available for less.