As many as 50 Phoenix police officers may soon be wearing tiny convert video surveillance cameras as part of their uniform accouterment if a $500,000 grant is approved in early September through a joint partnership with Arizona State University and the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant is being called The Smart Policing Initiative.   Earlier this spring, a pilot program was tested with 18 officers wearing the small hidden spy cameras attached to their uniform in an effort to increase police transparency with the public. The three month trial, which concluded in June, resulted in 860 hours worth of video. From among the recordings, portions of the footage will be used as evidence in 62 cases going before the court. The spy camera is worn like a Bluetooth device around the ear, and can be turned on and off from a remote control on the chest. A pocket recorder, or small video monitor, is attached to the belt. Once activated, video can't be edited or deleted. Arizona law requires at least one person be aware they are being recorded, although the law is not well defined in how that is communicated or acknowledged, and can likely not even register depending on the situation or number of persons being confronted by officers. During the trial period some citizens did key in on the cameras being worn and asked if they were being recorded.   During the pilot program, Phoenix police tested Scottsdale-based TASER International's Axon cameras, which are more obvious in their appearance than traditional covert cameras of the same type, and come with a more heftier price tag. The cost of Axon cameras are about $1,700, plus an annual $1,200 each to archive the video footage. Likewise, a comparable wireless Bluetooth covert camera from any local security store runs about $200. The grant doesn't specify which brand of cameras are to be used, but does require the police agency to enlist a research partner. In the case of Phoenix it will be A.S.U., who will collect and analyze the data and calculate the effectiveness of their efforts. The “Candid-Camera” officer video pilot program was one of 34 recommendations developed by a Phoenix task force last January to help improve relations between the police department and the community. The task force came into being in April, 2010, after several incidents involving the police angered citizens, including a March 2010 incident which saw City Councilman Michael Johnson, an Afro-American, wrestled to the ground and handcuffed by a White police officer. With the eye of “Big Brother” becoming more prevalent in our daily lives now, and technology providing a video recorder to anyone with a cell phone, providing police officers with a wearable video recording device is the logical next step in the progression. How this plays out over time and the legal impact it could carry will be questions that will no doubt be discussed, but for now it may give us pause to be mindful of what we say and how we respond the next time we are confronted by an officer of the law.  

Pocket Clip Hidden Spy Camera with Built-in DVR   The Clip Hidden Camera with built-in DVR is very portable body security camera. The HD Clip camera has a crisp 1080p resolution. You can clip this onto your short pocket, Backpack, or Purse to capture events on the go. The 32Gb memory card will allow you to store up to 7 hours of video footage. The camera will let you start recording with one touch of a button. This camera has a video playing cable to connect directly to the monitor/TV for playback. You can also connect the camera to a PC to download all the video footage.   Features: 1920x1080p video resolution at 30fps, battery life about 1 hours, 32GB memory, works with Windows and Mac OS, Dimensions 4 ¼” x 1”. Includes: HD Clip Camera, USB cable, User Manual         Standard shipping is FREE for all retail orders totaling $100.00 or more! (48 Continental US orders only) Flat rate of $8.50 shipping applies to orders under $100.00.  

  USB Charger Hidden Spy Camera with Built-in DVR   USB Charger Hidden Spy Camera with Built in DVR. In this age of electronics, everyone has a variety of adapters and chargers plugged into nearly every electrical outlet. No one will even pay attention to the USB charger hidden camera with night vision. It records in crisp clear 1920x1080p resolution at 30fps on a 32GB micro SD card which will store up to 7 hours of footage. This covert USB adapter is great for office security or a nanny cam at home. It is very easy to use and will do Loop or Motion Activated recordings. Easily connects to your computer to download and view video footage.  Features:  1920x1080p video resolution, 30fps motion detection, 32GB memory, works with Windows and Mac OS, dimensions 1 ¼” x 1 ¼” x 1 ½”. Includes:  HD Adapter Camera Micro SD Card Reader USB cable User manual         Standard shipping is FREE for all retail orders totaling $100.00 or more! (48 Continental US orders only) Flat rate of $8.50 shipping applies to orders under $100.00              

    Cross Hidden Spy Camera with Built-in DVR   The Cross Hidden Spy Camera with built in DVR is a tiny spy camera hidden inside a mini crucifix!  You can wear it as a necklace to capture people in the act, or any other number of possible uses.  The possibilities are endless. It records at a crisp clear 640x480 resolution at 30fps on an internal 16GB of memory, which will give you up to 10 hours of recording. Its very easy to capture video evidence for court, for use as a nanny camera, or for recording live sporting events. You can also use it as a camera for still photos with a 1280x960 resolution. Just use the USB cord to connect to you computer and download the video footage. Features: 640*480 resolution, 1280 x 960 photo resolution, 16GB memory, battery life about 2 hours, charging time 2 hours, Works with Windows and Mac OS, dimensions 2 7/8" x 1 3/8" x 7/16". Includes:  Cross camera, USB Cable, User Manual                     Standard shipping is FREE for all retail orders totaling $100.00 or more! (48 Continental US orders only) Flat rate of $8.50 shipping applies to orders under $100.00.      

Mini Hidden Spy Camera with Built-in DVR     Mini Hidden Spy Camera with Built In DVR and motion activation. The Mini spy camera is one of the smallest cameras on the market. It is small and very versatile. You can use this camera practically anywhere for almost anything. It can be used for outdoor activities, body worn applications, capture evidence for court, car surveillance, RC's, and drones. The built in motion detection allows for recordings when movement is detected in the cameras view.  It comes with 2 types of mounts. The first is a pocket clip mount that can be used to clip the camera to a piece of clothing or object. The second mount is a wall/dash mount. This mount is versatile as it can be screwed into drywall or attached with Velcro. It can also be attached to a necklace. Not only it is small and versatile, it records crisp clear video footage at 1920x1080P resolution or 1280x720P resolution at 30fps and stores the footage on a 32GB micro SD card (Included).   Features: 1280x720P or 1920x1080P video resolution at 30fps, 12M (4032x3024) photo resolution, Up to 60-minute battery life, Works with Windows and Mac OS, 32GB memory, Dimensions 1” cube. Includes: Mini Spy Camera, USB cable w/TV-out, Pocket clip, Wall/dash bracket, User manual     Standard shipping is FREE for all retail orders totaling $100.00 or more! (48 Continental US orders only) Flat rate of $8.50 shipping applies to orders under $100.00.        

Mention the words “hidden camera” or “spy cameras” to ten different people and you'll likely receive ten different thoughts and opinions.  For many, it might mean a nanny cam for home to keep an eye on their kids while at work as well as to observe the behavior of a babysitter or nanny.  For others, it can mean collecting proof of a family member pilfering money out of a wallet or desk drawer.  A wife or husband may utilize a concealed camera to help confirm a suspicion their spouse could be fooling around on them.  Employers often utilize covert monitoring in order to watch over their employees,  while a number of employees will place a spy camera on their desktop or work space to safe guard possessions against theft by the nightly cleaning crew.  There are as many good reasons why people use a hidden camera as there are in the variety of cleverly disguised spy cameras to choose from.  The usage of video  is everywhere these days.  What was once associated only with spies and covert operatives employed by the government,  now can easily be found in several digital camera stores and bought by everyday consumers.  Today, hidden video cameras can be found in stores and retail shops, commercial offices, factories, airports, train stations, and on almost every street corner in the city.  In fact, it is virtually impossible not to be recorded somewhere in the course of a normal day, especially if you live in or near a metropolitan area.  Here are a few other popular or unusual purposes for covert spy cameras. We've practically all seen law enforcement shows on television where a meeting room is bugged with hidden audio and video surveillance equipment to gather evidence for a sting operation, or where an officer is wired when going undercover.  Likewise, investigative journalists may use a spy camera to be able to document proof regarding a scam artist, or in health violations taking place in the kitchen of a restaurant or food packing plant, or perhaps in a article relating to animal cruelty.  Many companies may use video recording as an effective training tool for their workers, especially with regard to their sales staff when practicing their presentations to clients.  Other companies utilize hidden cameras when launching new products and services to the market and want to obtain a sampling of consumer response.  This could be a taste test between Pepsi and Coke, or the release of a new and improved corn chip by Frito Lay.  An increasing number of employees today are resorting to spy camera recorders in the work place to document proof of verbal and physical discrimination.  Sadly, sexual harassment towards women in the workplace continues to rise, while the laws protecting us from all forms of discrimination and harassment continues to be watered down by the courts.  HR departments are usually caught in the middle of these claims, and without documented proof to support assertions of age, race, or sexual harassment, HR will always side with the company to avoid getting into legal entanglements.  This is where a hidden camera can supply the evidence you need.  With the occurrence recorded on video and audio, your proof now becomes irrefutable.  Last, but certainly not least, is the need to document eldercare abuse. The abuse of our elderly is significantly more prevalent today than a generation ago.  A newly released government investigation showed that 60% of all nursing homes in this country experience some kind of elder abuse. Often these victims are immobile, may suffer from dementia or Alzheimer's, and have a difficult time in verbalizing their abuse.  If you're a family member caring for an elderly parent or grandparent in a nursing facility, a hidden camera might be the only way to document that your loved one is being properly cared for and attended to.  The thing that makes these cameras so effective is that they can be hidden in everyday products found in your home or place of work.  In fact, they're so common most people don't glance twice at them, or would ever suppose there's a video camera found inside. Hidden spy cameras may be found in wall clocks, AM/FM digital clock radios, picture frames, room deodorizers, tissue containers, coat hooks, table lamps, desktop calculators, flower pots, smoke alarms, fountain pens, and stuffed teddy bears. There is virtually no object that can't be transformed to a hidden spy camera for home or work.  There is also a big selection of body worn covert cameras, such as spy watches, Bluetooth cameras, spy pen camera, and camera glasses. These, and hundreds of other widely used hidden cameras have become more simpler to use than ever due to the fact the DVR is built in. In discarding the necessity for wires and wireless receivers, these basic cameras can record the video and sound onto themselves using a normal SD card.  With up to 32GB of memory, they will furnish you with several hours of recording time.  Another aspect that's generally found is a motion detection setting, thus extending the recording time even further by only activating the camera to come on when movement is detected.  When you're ready to see the video, you can just simply connect the camera to your pc with the supplied USB cable, or remove the SD card and place it straight into the computer or SD card reader.   

Over the past decade there has been a marked evolution in the technology of surveillance equipment, along with a significant reduction in price among security cameras, tracking devices, and GPS units. Perhaps the biggest evolution of these has been seen in the area of hidden spy cameras. In less than 10 years, the “nanny cam” has evolved from a complicated setup of electronic equipment to a simple to use electronic work of art. So, what steps has technology taken in the evolution of spy cameras?   Wired to Wireless Hidden Cameras Like standard security cameras found today protecting homes, businesses, and found on nearly every street corner in the city, nanny cams were another wired camera needing video connections running from the camera unit back to a recording device, like a VCR or monitor. Along the way, micro chips got smaller and more powerful in creating miniature lenses, or what is today called pinhole cameras. These were easily placed into such everyday items, like teddy bears, clock radios, and nearly any household item. Although still available today and often seen in disguised hidden cameras, like smoke detectors, floodlights, and some wall clocks, they require two sets of wires to transmit power and signal to a TV or DVR. Concealing the wires was a bit cumbersome, but then a new generation of wireless cameras hit the market starting around 2000. First manufactured in such inanimate objects as planters, teddy bears, books, exit signs, and countless other items, wireless cameras eventually found their way into practical working components, like alarm clocks, clock radios, wristwatches, cell phones, fountain pens, and CD players. Inside the component was a tiny pinhole video camera and a small wireless transmitter. When a customer purchased a wireless nanny cam, they got not only a working electronic device but a receiver, A/V cables and power adapter as well. The tricky part came when it was actually time to set up the hidden camera system. The receiver that was provided had to plug into either a monitor close by or a VCR if they wanted to record events throughout the day. This required the user to place the VCR somewhere in the house within 100 feet of the camera, either in another room or on another floor altogether.   The receiver was then plugged into the VCR, and when the user was ready to start recording he just hit the “start” button. Voila!....well, not exactly. A standard VHS cassette can only record eight to ten hours max, which can create a problem. However, with the advent of PCs and DVR players this did greatly extend the recording time available. Let's say a mother wants to keep an eye on the nanny or babysitter while she's at work during the day. Just before leaving the house in the morning she would plug in the nanny cam and turn on the VCR or DVR to start recording. On arriving home at the end of the day and wanting to review what was recorded, she would have to sit for several minutes while fast-forwarding through hours of video, often looking at nothing at all. At the time, this was the only means available to monitor her child's welfare during the day, and the process at best was tedious. Motion Activated Spy Cams The concept of motion activation in video recording was a big breakthrough in the spy camera industry. Although the technology had been around for years, it wasn't until the mid 2000's that it became available and affordable to every day consumers. No longer did people have to sit through countless hours of viewing blank tape only to find nothing eventful was captured that day. Now, with motion activated hidden cameras, recording only took place when the camera's sensors detected activity in the room. If nothing moved, then the camera sat idle. As a result, the user might only have to watch 30 minutes to an hour of tape rather than 8 hours or more of static recording. Another technology feature that came along to compliment the motion activated features of hidden cameras was the increasing popularity of the DVR, which eventually all but replaced the VCR. With a DVR there was no longer a need for VHS tape, since everything that was recorded now was done digitally, frame by frame. The advent of motion activation together with the convenience of the DVR made spy camera and nanny cam users very happy. Then, when it didn't seem things could improve any further, technology came along once again to improve the spy camera one more time. Built-in DVRs and Micro SD Cards A growing need started to develop for a self-contained, all-in-one hidden camera system, which by 2006 saw a solution finally arrive. To the delight of everyone, the motion activated spy cam now came with a built-in DVR, which utilized a micro SD card for hours of additional recording time and expanded memory. Gone, were audio/video cables, wireless transmitters, receivers, VCRs and obsolete cassette tape. The new generation of nanny cams and spy cameras allowed the user to set the device and walk away; either for the day, or weeks at a time. When he returned and wanted to view what the camera had recorded, he simply removed the SD card and inserted it into a USB card reader or directly into an SD card slot on the computer. Since the camera only recorded when movement was detected, viewing what had been captured became quick and easy. These cameras, which can be built into any everyday item imaginable, and often include added features like variable recording speeds, low light apertures, still shots, and date and time stamps, remain as the most popular hidden spy camera dvr on the market today. It didn't seem that video surveillance could get any better or easier, but then technology advanced once again to bring us the latest generation of hidden spy cameras. Real Time Remote Viewing Just when you thought covert spy cameras couldn't get any better, the newest technology that's come out now allows live, remote viewing capabilities. With this new platform of video surveillance, your desktop PC or laptop now becomes a server and a DVR. The way it works is, the user places the spy camera in any room of his home, office, or other location he wishes to monitor, and the video is streamed live to his computer. As an example, say a guy owns a manufacturing firm in city “A” but has to travel to city “B” frequently to meet with suppliers. He wants to keep an eye on his business and workers while he's away, so he installs a few live, wireless remote-view cameras around the premises. Now, from wherever he is, here and abroad where he can establish an Internet connection, he can log into his laptop and remotely watch live what is taking place at his business in real time. He can also record directly onto his hard drive what the camera is capturing simultaneously 24-hours a day. All that is required is to load the included software program and to connect the receiver directly into the USB port of the computer located on the premises. This technology is also great for mothers who work and want to monitor their child and babysitter during the day while at the office, or for parents of teenagers who are left at home unsupervised, or perhaps for a husband or wife who may suspect the other of cheating and infidelity, or for family members who are responsible for the care and well-being of elderly parents or relatives who are residing in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The uses and applications for remote live viewing spy cameras are virtually unlimited. Next on the Horizon? It seems that every time we think technology can't improve over what we have today, we are continually surprised in the next technological advance. This is especially true when it comes to wireless hidden spy cameras. We are always excited and eager when the next new spy device or camera is introduced to the market. When that happens, you can be sure The Covert Eye will be there to offer the latest and newest covert surveillance product to our customers.