Tag: cam
Watch shocking dash cam footage of ‘stolen police car careering off the road and crashing into a ditch’
SHOCKING dash cam footage allegedly shows the moment a stolen police car careers off the road and crashes into a ditch.
The video begins with a police car appearing from around a bend at speed, followed by two other police vehicles in hot pursuit.
Dash cam footage allegedly shows the moment a stolen police car careers off the road and crashes into a ditch[/caption]
Dashcam footage then captures the car crashing into a ditch[/caption]
The police car then narrowly misses an oncoming vehicle while speeding around the corner on the narrow country lane before crashing over a hedge and into a field in the footage.
Cops said they received several reports of a civilian car allegedly being driven dangerously in Graig-Y-Rhacca in Caerphilly, Wales.
Officers said when they located the car and chased the driver on foot, the passenger made off with a police vehicle.
Gwent Police confirmed that a 19-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident, which happened on Saturday, April 8.
He has since been charged with aggravated vehicle taking, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs, driving with no insurance, assault and criminal damage.
He has been remanded in custody.
A 22-year-old man was also arrested in connection with the events on suspicion of dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving whilst under the influence of drugs, criminal damage and racially or religiously aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.
He has since been released on conditional bail.
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Creepy ‘INVISIBLE HUNTER’ Appears on Elmira, NY Trail Cam Image (PHOTO)
On March 12, 2023, an Elmira, NY man, Bob Grandall, checked his game camera and discovered a strange transparent figure in one of the photos. That day he posted the image to his Facebook page.
“So, while looking through my game cam pics today (March 12, 2023), this kind of gave me chills. That is me in the front, then my daughter Cheyanne, and we don’t know who the third person is. Zooming in, you can’t make out the face, and….the body is transparent! We even compared it to another pic and can see the branch through him. I think I need to call Ghostbusters! I didn’t find any others like that. Tons of wildlife though.
I know the family it has(the property) been in for more than 100 years. I am going to show them that picture and see if they have any info. I think it is cool as hell. Creepy, but cool.”
At least one user, Josh Savage, thought the figure might have been a deceased relative:
“This is absolutely AMAZING. I’d say you got a loved one who has passed that is watching over you and your daughter who wants nothing more than to share a hunting experience with his loved ones”
Source: Bob Grandall (Facebook)
NOTE: The invisible hunter does seem to be carrying a long rifle in their right hand. Very interesting photo. Lon
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Have you had a sighting of a winged humanoid or huge bat-like creature in the Chicago, Illinois metro area / Lake Michigan region? The entity has also been referred to as the ‘Chicago Mothman’, ‘Chicago Owlman’ & ‘O’Hare Mothman’ or ‘O’Hare Batman.’ – Chicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid Regional Interactive Map – Please feel free to contact me at lonstrickler@phantomsandmonsters.com – your anonymity is guaranteed. Our investigative group is conducting a serious examination of his phenomenon. We are merely seeking the truth and wish to determine what eyewitnesses have been encountering. Your cooperation is truly appreciated.
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Please use the PayPal donation buttons on the blog site. You can also go directly to Phantoms & Monsters donation. Thanks again for your loyalty and continued support. Lon
This blog and newsletter are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Work 3.0 United States License.
Registered trademark PHANTOMS AND MONSTERS ® / PHANTOMS & MONSTERS ® – USPTO #90902480 – Lon D. Strickler
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Ring Car Cam hands-on: Amazon’s video security ecosystem hits America’s highways
Amazon’s evolution from omnipresent shopping platform to omnipresent surveillance platform continues apace, having drastically expanded its line of Ring security camera systems in recent years. Nowadays, the company offers video doorbells, exterior cameras, interior cameras, flying cameras, lighting systems, alarm systems and vehicle security packages — the lattermost of which is why we are here today. I put a Ring camera in my car.
That’s not to say that the Ring Car Camera is a poorly designed or manufactured product — far from it! The $250 Car Camera features dual-facing (pointing both at the road and into the cabin), IR-capable 1080p imaging sensors, optional LTE connectivity, Alexa-driven voice commands, and remote vehicle monitoring through the Ring mobile app.
In fact, I was surprised by how quickly and easily I was able to get the system set up. The camera assembly itself is a single piece that wedges into the bottom edge of the windshield-dashboard horizon and sticks to the glass with a high-strength adhesive. It’s not strong enough to keep a car thief from yanking it out but it’ll keep the camera in place as you travel over and through America’s crumbling highway infrastructure system. One sticking point I could see arising is the camera needs access to a home wi-fi connection during the setup/app pairing sequence. I was able to pull around my driveway until I was at the exterior of the wall from my house’s router but if you live in an apartment complex, things might get dicey.
“If you are unable to connect to your home Wi-Fi during setup, you can set up the device using LTE through Ring Protect Go,” a Ring rep told Engadget. “Just skip the ‘set up with Wi-Fi’ step in the set up flow and follow the on-screen instructions. Each new customer will have a free 30-day trial of Ring Protect Go, which provides LTE connectivity.”
I was not at all a fan of the camera’s wired power connection to the vehicle’s OBDII port, which also monitors the battery’s voltage so that the camera can turn itself off before fully exhausting the power supply. For one, that physical requirement limits the vehicles this system can work with to only those with OBD ports located to the left of the steering column. For another, I now have a 6-foot long cable snaking its way across my previously immaculate dashboard, draping down my driver side door panel to connect with the OBDII port just over my brake pedal. Even with the included 3M-adhesive cable stays (which, I might add, were immediately foiled by the tiny crags and crinkles of my dashboard’s surface), I can hear the cord shifting and sliding around during turns, I’m constantly aware of it when swinging my legs out of the car lest I accidentally catch it on a toe and tear the connector from the port. Which I did the very first time I drove after installation — and then the next as well.
The other issue is that not every car has an OBDII port located in the passenger cabin and for those vehicles the Ring Car Cam will not work. Neither will any of the vehicles on this rather expansive list of incompatible models for one reason or another — some cut power to the port when the key is removed and Teslas, for their part, don’t even use the OBDII interface. What’s more, if your dongle is already in use, whether for an insurance tracker or an interlock device, you’re SOL with using the Car Cam. Same if you buy it in a jurisdiction that limits the use of dashcams — except then you also go to jail.
At 1080p, the Car Cam’s video quality is just fine for what the average driver would presumably be using it for and the interior-facing IR sensor will ensure that you get a good look at whoever’s rifling through your center console at three in the morning. But, since it’s mounted on the dash itself and not suspended from the rearview mirror like the commercial-grade ones you find in Ubers and Lyfts, you won’t get much of a view of the interior below chest level. Accessing those videos takes a hot second as well, as the clips aren’t transferred directly to your phone (if using Protect Go). They have to first be uploaded and processed in the cloud before you can watch them.
The camera offers a variety of recording options. You can set it for continuous use, as you would a traditional dash cam — and if you don’t want it recording you, the unit thankfully incorporates a physical lens cover for the interior-facing camera. You can also use it specifically for traffic stops with the verbal “Alexa, Record” command, in which the system will record uninterrupted for 20 minutes even after the ignition has been turned off. Finally, there’s Parking Protection mode that activates the camera if it detects motion or an impact when the vehicle is parked.
All of the recorded data — up to seven hours worth — is saved locally on the device and made available once the camera is back in range of a Wi-Fi connection. Again, that’s not great if a thief or cop rips out the unit before the information can be uploaded. Also, there’s no loop recording so if something important happens when you’ve got 6 hours and 56 minutes of video already saved, you better hope the matter resolves itself in under 4 minutes, otherwise the recording will simply be cut off.
To get around that, you’ll need cloud access and to spend $6 a month (or $60 a year) for the Ring Protect Go subscription service for it. In addition, Protect Go unlocks access to the camera’s onboard LTE connection enabling two-way view and talk, notifications and GPS tracking from anywhere with cell service. Without that subscription access, those features are only available over Wi-Fi.
Ring’s business decisions have made very clear that it is on the side of the police — even if the homeowners themselves aren’t — freely volunteering data to, and often partnering with, law enforcement agencies around the country. When asked whether safeguards have been put in place to prevent law enforcement from surreptitiously spying through the Car Cam, Ring’s spokesperson noted, “Ring builds products and services for our customers, not law enforcement. When parked, Car Cam only records when the smart sensors detect an incident (such as a collision or broken window) or if the device owner or Shared User initiates Live View.” What happens to that data once it’s off the device and in Ring’s cloud servers was not made clear.
Even if I could put aside Ring’s cozy relationship with police, $250 for what the Car Cam offers is a big ask, especially with that $6-a-month cherry on top to get anything to work outside of your driveway. Granted, if you’re already part of the Ring ecosystem, you like what it offers and want to extend that platform to your vehicle, absolutely give the Car Cam a shot. But if you’re in the market for a standalone vehicle security system, there are plenty of options available to choose from that offer many of the same features as the Ring at a fraction of the price and without the baggage — or that blasted power cable.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ring-car-cam-hands-on-amazons-video-security-ecosystem-hits-americas-highways-190033606.html?src=rss
Ring’s Car Cam is for those who want to record everything everywhere all at once
This dual-camera dash cam can detect break-ins when your car is parked and record every second of your time on the road. If you have a specific need for a device like this, it’s a good option. But integration with other Ring devices and Alexa is lacking.
SHADOWY HUMANOID OR BIGFOOT Captured on West Virginia Trail Cam?
In December 2022, the witness captured images of an unknown humanoid or cryptid creature as it passed by their trail camera. The images were captured during the late Fall of 2022 during the early deer season in McDowell County, West Virginia. The area is well-known for Bigfoot activity. But did the witness capture the image of a Bigfoot or something completely different?
VIDEO: Shadowy Humanoid or Cryptid Creature Caught on Trail Cam
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Have you had a sighting of a winged humanoid or huge bat-like creature in the Chicago, Illinois metro area / Lake Michigan region? The entity has also been referred to as the ‘Chicago Mothman’, ‘Chicago Owlman’ & ‘O’Hare Mothman’ or ‘O’Hare Batman.’ – Chicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid Regional Interactive Map – Please feel free to contact me at lonstrickler@phantomsandmonsters.com – your anonymity is guaranteed. Our investigative group is conducting a serious examination of his phenomenon. We are merely seeking the truth and wish to determine what eyewitnesses have been encountering. Your cooperation is truly appreciated.
—–
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Please Consider a Donation to ‘Phantoms & Monsters’
Your financial support of Phantoms & Monsters and our other pursuits is much appreciated. This all depends on you, the readers & followers.
Please use the PayPal donation buttons on the blog site. You can also go directly to Phantoms & Monsters donation. Thanks again for your loyalty and continued support. Lon
This blog and newsletter are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Work 3.0 United States License.
Registered trademark PHANTOMS AND MONSTERS ® / PHANTOMS & MONSTERS ® – USPTO #90902480 – Lon D. Strickler
© 2005-2022 Phantoms & Monsters – All Rights Reserved
Wyze Cam Pan V3 Has Double the Tilt Motion, Only Costs $34
Wyze has been selling low-cost smart security cameras for years, with a few different models to choose from. Now the company has updated its panning camera with a new design and an even lower price.
Read This Article on How-To Geek ›
The best car tech of CES 2023: Color-changing paint, an LTE dash cam, and more
It’s a heck of a time to be a car owner.
While one wouldn’t typically think of cars as “consumer electronics,” CES always brings the heat with auto-tech and the 2023 trade show was no different. Everyone from Google to BMW, Volkswagen, and Garmin got in on the action, either with new cars entirely or nifty new features for existing cars.
Whether it’s a car that changes colors, a car that glows in the dark, or a handy way to keep your car toxin-free, CES 2023 had it all.
Android Auto gets a facelift
Credit: Google
First up is Android Auto, Google’s software-level solution for Android phones that are connected to cars. Android Auto itself isn’t new, but Google brought a much-needed makeover for the product to CES and rolled it out to users immediately, which is nice.
The Maps view is now situated on the left side of your car’s interior display, so it’s the first thing drivers will see when they glance over at the screen. There’s a new quick toolbar for apps you open frequently and everything has been updated to reflect the “Material You” look that Pixel phones have been sporting for the last couple of years.
Between those additions and the ability to make WhatsApp calls from your phone while in the car, Android Auto users would probably be satisfied. But there’s more. Podcasts and music finally have a progress bar so you can skip around your favorite track while driving. Great stuff.
An air purifier for your cupholder
Credit: Panasonic
Sometimes cars don’t smell great. Whether that’s because of food or circumstances in the environment that you can’t control (count your blessings if you’ve never driven past a field full of livestock), Panasonic has a way to fix the problem.
The nanoe X Portable Air Purifier looks like a stainless steel water bottle, but it’s actually an air purifier made to fit into a car’s cupholder. It makes tiny water particles that oxidize the air, ideally reducing both bad smells and bad bacteria in the car. We can’t vouch for its effectiveness against things like diseases, but at the very least, it should keep your car smelling fresh.
Hot tip: Regular car washes will also do that.
Ready Vision and Ready Care
Credit: Harman
It feels like we’ve been waiting forever for cars to resemble their sci-fi counterparts from movies like Minority Report. With Harman’s new Ready Vision tech, the wait might be over.
With Ready Vision, your car will use augmented reality to project helpful images onto the windshield itself. GPS instructions, blind spot warnings, and other important info about your car can all be projected by Ready Vision, which Harman says will go into production this spring.
Another new Harman feature going into production at the same time is Ready Care. Using neuroscience and machine learning, Ready Care uses cameras, sensors, and monitors to detect if drivers are sleepy or otherwise distracted. If that’s the case, the car will deliver a personalized response to keep you focused on the road.
BMW and VW getting freaky with exterior paint
Credit: Volkswagen
Credit: BMW
For basically an entire century, cars have typically been painted one color and that’s it. BMW and Volkswagen, however, came to CES with two unique visions of how cars could adapt their appearances on-the-fly going forward.
The VW ID.7 is an electric sedan that’s sure to be eye-catching on the road, as it’s covered in multi-colored digital camouflage paint and QR codes. Different sections of the car can light up or go dark independently of one another, so your car can put on a light show in sync to music you’re listening to, for example. It’s not really clear if this is helpful in any way, but it’s a conversation starter, if nothing else.
The same goes for the BMW i Vision Dee. This is a concept car with an e-ink exterior that allows drivers to actually change the color of the car. You can choose between 32 different shades for 240 different segments of the car’s exterior, creating all sorts of unique patterns depending on your taste. Again, this feature is unlikely to change your life, but it is cool to have a giant, mechanical chameleon in your garage.
The dash cam of your dreams
Credit: Garmin
Finally, Garmin came to CES with a dash cam that can do all sorts of fun things…for a price.
The $400 Dash Cam Live comes with LTE connectivity, which requires a $10/mo fee to utilize. If you do choose to pay the fee, you get the ability to remotely view a 140-degree, 1440p feed from the dash cam no matter where you are. If someone tries some funny business with your car while you’re inside a restaurant, for example, you’ll be able to see it and react accordingly.
The always-on camera will also auto-save incident clips with time and location tags, and it’s voice command-enabled so you can tell it what to do while your hands are on the wheel. It’s certainly not a color-changing car or a portable air purifier, but one could argue the Dash Cam Live is the most actually useful car tech shown off at CES.