Milestone Systems has released Device Pack 8.4 for partners and customers using Milestone XProtect video solutions.
The bi-monthly device packs contain software updates for supporting new hardware. With this Device Pack Milestone reached a landmark 5,000 supported cameras and now supports 5,171 devices in total.

Bosch Aviotek was announced as camera number 5,000 at the annual Milestone partner conference in February. The camera comes with analytic algorithms that identify smoke and flames. The embedded technology provides earlier detection of fires. There is also the ability to add visuals to fire detection, giving better situational awareness than traditional smoke or fire detectors.

Helping customers to more flexibility with connected NVRs
This Device Pack enables Dahua Network Video Recorders to be networked with XProtect. This means that cameras connected to NVRs will be accessible to the Milestone VMS software, just like cameras connected to an encoder. Customers using supported NVRs now have the option of centralized control in addition to their existing ability to do local recordings on the recorder. The cameras connected to the NVR are seen by the VMS as ONVIF devices.

The ability to network NVRs will help customers using Dahua-supported NVRs increase efficiency. This increased efficiency is a result of heightened situational awareness. In this instance retailers get greater opportunity to prevent losses by being alerted to behavior that traditionally points to theft incidents. Since camera feeds from the NVR are recorded using XProtect the video can now be used for video analytics. This opens new possibilities for business optimization.

ONVIF support signals Milestone dedication to standards
Milestone has always promoted driver standards like ONVIF and remains dedicated to supporting the broadest range of cameras and devices on the market. In this Device Pack nearly 50 percent of all the cameras added to the Device Pack are ONVIF-based cameras.

Milestone works closely with device manufacturers in the Camera Partner Program (CaPP) to achieve optimal interaction between their devices and the XProtect VMS. Before ONVIF-supported devices are listed in the supported hardware list, they have been tested to ensure 100% functionality with the XProtect open platform technology.