Updates

• Support for joystick/gamepad control in UI3
• Email server send limits/fallback
• PTZ hold button
• Main stream export to separate alerts from continuous+ clips
• Optionally require recording or alerted in addition to triggered for overlay objects
• Adjust audio gain during export
• Require X confirmed alerts in Y seconds before alert actions are fired
• NGROK automation is now built-in–supply your authtoken and the software now handles the rest!
• Video playback cropping BVR clips, alerts, clipboard items
• Trim/export to BVR file format
• BVR clip info/analysis window
• Improved motion detection algorithm
• Support for Axis network speaker
• Progressive AI image analysis interval option
• Trigger/ONVIF event history
• “All cameras” and group cycle available for users limited to groups
• Windows Location API integration for mobile systems
• Slow-drive clip write buffer overflow check/prevention
• Variable pre-trigger time for email MP4s and push notification GIFs
• Zoom-in on AI objects of interest in the alert image
• Separate stream buffer, record, playback time settings; more determinant use of the stream buffer.
• Revised, more intuitive sub pixel digital zoom in live and playback
• Group layout zoom more accurately managed
• Pre-trigger AI image analysis
• Pre-trigger buffer used to bridge consecutive triggers for uninterrupted recording
• Automatic pruning of log folder
• Alerts for re-triggers option to use new sources exclusively
• Expanded blackout/obscure support for dual-streaming and direct-to-disk cameras, including playback and export
• Expanded AOI and Anamorphic support for dual-streaming and direct-to-disk cameras, including playback and export
• Improved watchdog handling of main stream or audio stream loss
• Expanded motion zone crossing trigger options
• Global DIO bits alert filters
• Viewer playback audio visualizations
• Advanced audio signal analysis for frequencies and patterns
• Ability to lock individual PTZ presets from resetting
• Reroute “talk” audio to an alternate camera
• Storage folder/drive classifications–shared, exclusive, unmanaged
• Timeline view idle timeout options
• 64-bit UScreenCapture
• FTP updates including TLS 1.3 and SFTP server support
• Reolink dual-streaming using RTSP + FLV
• Abandoned and missing object detection
• ONVIF GetEvents revamp including detailed status and actions
• Timelapse for timeline video export
• Database status window and health analysis
• Text search box for clips/alerts
• Support for ALPR using CodeProject.AI
• Limit clip age viewing by user
• Expanded alert re-trigger options (new sources, when AI cancelled)
• Confirmed alerts not deleted until parent clips are deleted
• Multi-camera selection and ad-hoc grouping
• Time selection
• Timeline video export
• GPU usage monitoring
• Multithreaded FTP and convert/export process queues
• Alert flag and count “rollup” on database clips list
• Audio playback for timeline, including UI3
• CodeProject.AI startup options, update checker
• Automatic IP address change detection and adoption
• MAC address scan in camera discovery window
• MAC address displayed in status/cameras
• Trigger search-in-clips post-processing
• Auto-mark trigger start/top points in viewer with motion test enabled
• Dynamic database updates (insertion now possible)
• Create ad-hoc alerts after the fact
• Alert action–upload MP4 video
• Optional direct-to-wire camera streaming
• Support for SenseAI to replace DeepStack
• PTZ preset filters for Action sets
• Support for Google Gmail OAuth2 login
• Visible cursor option for screen capture camera
• Support for up to 32 DIO inputs
• Send Command and Run alerts to Remote Management clients
• Timeline playback via UI3 browser client
• More flexible Remote Management
• /time/ timeline video playback streaming
• Support for NV12 video sources
• Camera settings copy tool
• Right-click access to many common functions from main window icons
• TLS support for MQTT connections
• Export camera details to CSV format
• Status alerts on timed basis WITH immediate notification for specific items
• Dynamic group layout for client apps and browser
• Group layout editor
• DeepStack Status page for testing & tuning
• Custom DeepStack object detection
• Continuous + triggered (or alerted) hybrid stream recording
• DeepStack facial recognition
• DeepStack object recognition
• Support for legacy SeaIO devices for DIO
• iOS Critical Alerts support
• Securely encrypted passwords option
• Instant replay button on the Timeline view
• Asynchronous clip list image retrieval/drawing
• Automatic alert exports to MP4 files
• Now up to 16 possible drives for recording
• Large “hero” images for pop-up toast alerts
• In-app news pages
• ONVIF used to pull all available stream profiles
• Clipboard view to manage video selections and exports
• Motion zone and trigger source database views
• Doorbird camera support
• Support for new Amcrest models ASH21, AS42, etc.
• “camera admin” access without full system admin access
• Main-stream snapshot and alert options
• Updates for upcoming iOS release
• RTSP server added to the web server
• Dual-streams stored to BVR format files for flexible playback
• Automatic switching between main and sub streams for remote viewing
• IPv6 support for web server and camera streaming
• BVR metadata for direct-to-disc overlays, motion rectangles and status bits
• Dual-streaming for high-MP cameras
• New update mechanism offering 2-tracks, frequent or crowd-tested.  Update backups may now be kept automatically as well.
• Service code now integrated into main EXE for enhanced reliability
• PTZ preset images may be used for zone editing and previewed on the PTZ presets page
• Pre-trigger time added to email MP4 and push GIF alerts
• Support for DXVA2 and D3D11VA hardware acceleration
• Support for Intel hardware decoding of H.265 and H.264 encoding
• Fill tool for arbitrary shapes on the motion zone edit window
• Action set list items may now be assigned trigger sources and motion zones
• The “wait” action has been expanded with many synchronization options
• Redesigned web server socket code (performance and reliability)
• Redesigned camera streaming socket code
• Convert/Export from UI3 browser interface
• Run software as “viewer only” after demo expires
• H.265 support for newer Wansview and its 100s of compatibles
• PCI compliance when using HTTPS on both LAN and WAN
• HTTP connection keep-alive for server speed and efficiency
• Frame window independent auto-cycle
• Improved A/V sync information saved to BVR for HQ export
• High-FPS group stream options
• New clip view filter options
• More sophisticated edge-vector motion detection algorithm
• Integration with Plate Recognizer for ALPR
• Integration with Sentry Smart Alert technology
• Motion detection for NON movement situations
• Built with renewed Apple iOS push certificates for 2019
• Improved offline activation procedure
• Camera specific profile overrides for ad-hoc triggers/alerts
• Temporary profile changes may be reset when any camera or a specific camera is triggered
• “Talk” audio is now shared from dependent to parent camera for cloned cameras
• Rich push notifications in animated GIF format (iOS)
• Download H.265 clips to iOS app
• Automatic clip storage sub-folder deletion
• Password peek buttons
• Automatic Nest/Dropcam “public page” parsing
• Frame stepping via client apps
• Nvidia CUDA support for hardware accelerated video encoding.  See https://developer.nvidia.com/video-encode-decode-gpu-support-matrix for compatibility.
• Nvidia CUDA support for hardware accelerated video decoding of H.264, H.265, MPEG4 and MJPEG
• Client app support for changing clip flags and a ‘delete all’ by camera/date function
• Service manager updated for stability including the ability to task kill BlueIris.exe if necessary
• Alarm data input and stability updates for Foscam 862x and compatibles
• Support for new Google FCM push notifications
• Animated GIF camera source
• Designated group leader/master when cloning cameras
• Option to add camera overlay/graphics to BVR direct-to-disc clips viewed remotely
• Consolidation of webcast JPEG quality setting with the other stream encoder options on Options/Web server
• Key frame FPS display on Status/Cameras
• New UI3 web browser interface, courtesy of Brian Pearce (AKA bp2008) and ruppmeister.
• HTTPS/SSL communication with the blueirissoftware.com website for registration and updates
• Admin command execution per DIO bit set/reset
• Automatic settings backup with multi-day archives
• MQTT IoT server/publish support
• Right-click Status/Connections page ban options
• Viewer/timeline direct date/time input
• PTZ preset images for new UI features
• Hide inactive camera options
• CPU management features: only stream, only decode when required
• High-performance direct-to-disc recording to insure no frames are dropped
• Console will launch the service without the prompt to run again
• Console will update and restart the service, then re-launch the console
• Inactive camera JPEG option, and they now participates in group images
• Hail/Goodbye WAV file option for camera Talk function
• The client apps are able to pull full-resolution JPEG images using the snapshot buttons
• Improved handling of very large files being moved between folders: progress display and cancel-ability
• Assign DIO input bits to PTZ presets for automatic camera movements based on DIO bits
• Database maintenance indicator icon and the ability to manually kick-off the maintenance routine
• Clip move/delete process now posts more readable information to the status/messages log
• Advanced web server configuration page with new auto-ban IP settings
• Doorbird support (Excellent DIY Ring alternative!)
• Status/connections hostname reverse-DNS lookup
• iOS push code integrated, and now sending preview image links
• Status/Messages page now easier to use while being refreshed
• Web server ZLIB deflate compression
• MP4 direct to disc files will now contain the correct H.264/265 headers for compatibility
• Use of Blue Iris website for WAN IP address queries
• De-warping of hemispheric (wall mounted camera) BVR files
• De-warping of 360 degree (ceiling mounted camera) BVR files
• Stability updates for Sealevel Ethernet devices
• HLS camera source option
• More and higher resolution system tray icons
• Time-lapse option with BVR Convert/Export
• FPS limit /image/ requests per user
• ReoLink support via RTMP
• Amazon Echo integration
• Browser maintains secure session through PC/software restart
• Web server virtual folder
• Updated Email Send components
• FLAC lossless audio compression for BVR files
• FLAC lossless audio compression for client apps and ActiveX
• H.265 camera support including direct-to-disc and MP4 export
• DIO handling moved to thread and better able to handle Ethernet device reconnections
• Analog/USB signal loss behavior now similar to Network/IP cameras
• DIO output alert duration independent of trigger duration
• Set/manage temp file location
• Camera group cycle
• Send group images to email/sms alerts
• Separate Post profile settings for FTP vs Folder
• Custom PTZ HTTP commands
• Add New Camera window
• RTMP, RTMPS, Flash camera sources, providing Nest, Dropcam compatibility!
• Alert JPEG file management options
• Clip storage status page
• Magic wand button to set schedule page common presets
• Multiple motion detection algorithm options
• Intel hardware decoding post processing acceleration options
• Intel hardware decoding used for BVR playback
• Skip dead-air during timeline playback
• Large object (scene or lighting change) cutoff/detector reset
• Support for camera Event stream to monitor for camera-based motion detection or triggering
• FPS matching for /image/ requests
• Motion zones, multiple hot spot regions
• Trigger based on motion zone independent of recording
• Line crossing/zone movement detection
• Rotate and flip video with direct-to-disc recording
• PTZ speed control
• PTZ preset cycle button on main window
• Better management of overridden motion detection masks
• Intel HD H.264 hardware decoding
• Extended and Priority support plan options
• Audio streaming in group and group cycle views
• RTSP audio back channel support
• Open Network Video digital output support
• Open Network Video motion trigger support
• MP4 export without re-encoding
• Enable/disable email/ftp servers
• Auto-protect flagged clips/alerts and alerts belonging to protected clips
• BVR resume/append capability
• Updated security certificates for iOS push notifications
• Visualize clip FTP backup and convert/export queues with progress meters
• Shadow and highlight elimination from motion detection
• Test recorded video through the motion and object detector
• Object detection for multiple objects and distance traveled measurement for triggering
• Motion detection algorithm now uses Gaussian mixture background subtraction
• Foscam FI98xx triggered motion detection
• Network camera discovery for ONVIF cameras
• Data-driven network camera make/model list and default settings
• Per-profile video and JPEG folders and filenames
• Per-user, per-camera new alert counters
• Default “admin” user for local PC console sessions
• Split camera audio between multiple cameras
• SeaLevel Ethernet DIO support
• Option to fire alerts for camera re-triggers
• Client app Alerts list will now show each camera’s most recent alert at the top of the list
• PTZ button HTTP or script events
• Auto-protect clips with motion
• HTTPS supported in the ActiveX control
• Remote access connection wizard
• Pseudo-DNS service via blueiris.pro
• Enhanced timing and audio/video synchronization options
• Bulk clip conversion/export
• UPnP router port forwarding configuration

WHAT’S NEW

With hundreds of updates, so much has changed since version 4 was first released in December 2014. But 4.5 years later, it’s time to take Blue Iris to the next level with this major upgrade to version 5. Here’s what you can expect to find:

UI refresh

Every element was redesigned and re-rendered for a consistent, high-contrast, high resolution and modern aesthetic. Buttons and other tools have been more intuitively grouped and sized. A new font has been selected for improved antialiasing and readability.

Help documentation refresh

It’s been awhile! The Help may now be read in book format as well as in-context via Adobe RoboHelp buttons throughout the UI. Major topics previously neglected have been rewritten to reflect all that has been added to this software over the years.

High DPI display awareness

Windows and UI elements will be scaled automatically to match your Windows Display control panel selections. UI elements were designed to look sharp at up to 300 DPI. No more tiny icons on 4K monitors and beyond.

Remote management

This is perhaps the most significant upgrade in terms of software power and flexibility—you may now use one Blue Iris installation to manage many others simultaneously.

When connected to one of more remote systems via the new remote management control panel, you get a concise view of each system’s status. You may then make any remote Blue Iris server ‘active’ in the UI, giving you complete virtual control of that remote Blue Iris installation without the hassle or many shortcomings of an otherwise “remote desktop” solution. BVR clips are opened using progressive download management so that only the portions of the file of interest are transferred. Status pages, the timeline and clips lists are refreshed as they are updated on the server. Sounds are played and popups may be displayed locally from all remote connected systems. Configuration changes are made seamlessly by uploading any edits.

Alert action set lists

Every possible action that’s supported by Blue Iris may now be applied to camera alerts as well as many other conditions such as user account login, status messages, digital input signals, and more. You may create a list of these actions to be executed in any order or combination. Each action has an associated profile selector to allow you to manage actions for all profiles together on one page.

New alert action types

There are also new action types. These include toaster pop-up messages in the lower-right corner of the Windows display, FTP transfers, and simply the ability to wait an arbitrary time between consecutive actions. You now may specify the devices and text for push notifications. Support for legacy Android GCM push notifications was added.

Clip management updates

In addition to its own UI refresh, the timeline view receives a couple of other interesting updates—the ability to zoom in further and have alert images displayed directly on the clip tracks.

The clip view list may be “unfolded” to fill the display with clip images. Days are delimited by a solid color bar.

Viewer playback controls

In place of generic play/pause/stop buttons, a more interactive speed control has been designed and implemented. For BVR content, you may now slide the speed control left to slow down or reverse, or right to speed up and go forward. Click the horizontal control anywhere to set the speed directly, or slide and release to return to the previous setting.

Camera configuration synchronization

On several camera settings pages you will find the option to synchronize that page with another camera’s settings. This allows you to make changes to one camera’s settings and have that affect one or more other cameras’ behavior. This will come in handy if you find yourself setting (and then having to later adjust) the same alerts or other settings across multiple cameras.

Global volume control

You may now use the mute and volume controls to adjust the live volume on all cameras simultaneously. For mixing levels, use the gain control found on each camera’s audio settings page. The same mute and volume control is used by the clip viewer window as well.

Technology

The time is right with a major software upgrade to also update development and runtime environments. The latest Microsoft technologies, video processing and runtime libraries are now used and redistributed. While we lose support for the oldest operating systems (dating back to 2001!) we gain support for many emergent technologies which will be further leveraged in the 5.x series.

As we are all interested in getting the most out of our CPU clock cycles, these newer development tools combined with new code optimizations will combine to contribute to a more efficiently running system. Work will continue with Intel and Nvidia to further leverage graphics hardware assistance.

And that’s not all!

Unlike other software which is released just once, or which sees an update only every one or two years, this is just the beginning for Blue Iris 5. As with versions past, improvement and innovation will continue over the coming years. The client apps for iOS and Android, as well as the UI3 browser interface all will receive major updates as well.

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming the major focus for all video security software, and this includes Blue Iris 5. In conjunction with Sentry Smart Alerts, a solution is already in place to reduce false triggers when human recognition is ideal. These options will be expanded to also include free services as well as LPR and facial recognition technologies.

Please keep the suggestions coming, and we thank you for your continued support of Blue Iris.