About
GlanceCam is a native Mac app for viewing IP cameras from different brands. It works with standard streaming protocols such as RTSP, HTTP(s) and RTMP, so you can keep an eye on your cameras without juggling multiple web apps, plugins or outdated applications. Available on the App Store since 2018 and actively updated, it supports 4K, H.265 and audio streams, and includes features like Insta-zoom, Always on Top, and a Roll Up mode that shows video only when your pointer enters the window.
Version 4 adds GlanceGrids, which display multiple cameras in a single window with a layout that adjusts automatically as you resize it. Other additions include Alternate Glance for quick switching between streams, customizable authentication requirements (password, Touch ID or Apple Watch) for protecting credentials, keyboard shortcuts, and automation options such as Apple Script, a URL scheme and HTTP GET requests. GlanceCam Pro is an optional upgrade, available as a yearly subscription at $8.99 or a lifetime purchase at $22.99, that unlocks multi-window support, GlanceGrids, a minimalistic interface, Cycle mode, and custom aspect ratios.
The app has 710+ App Store ratings averaging 4.3 stars and 46 free updates over 8 years. It is developed by Cesare, a Mac and iOS developer from Italy.
What's new
All release notesGlanceCam 4.8 is a nerdy update, all about under-the-hood work to improve reliability: cameras that silently freeze are now detected and reconnected automatically in most cases, and the video engine has been updated with targeted stability improvements. 1. Frozen-frame detection "Stuck" frames are really tricky: from a User standpoint, it's hard to tell at a glance that a camera is frozen, and from GlanceCam's point of view a frozen stream can look identical to one that is delivering new frames as expected. Thankfully, this is not a common issue, but in this update I put a lot of work into making GlanceCam capable of monitoring whether a camera that appears to be streaming is actually delivering new frames. When GlanceCam 4.8 detects (usually within 30 to 60 seconds) that a stream is actually stuck on a still image, it reloads it automatically. While no single mechanism can catch every possible way a stream can stall for every camera out there, this update should make an appreciable difference in detecting frozen images for most models. 2. Updated video engine GlanceCam uses an updated version of the video engine, which I've customised with RTSP-cameras specific stability improvements and bug fixes that should make the app more reliable for everybody, and especially for those streaming many cameras or using less reliable network connections. 3. Stability and responsiveness improvements With the help of very patient Users, I've fixed an issue where the app could become temporarily unresponsive when many cameras reconnected at the same time, for instance after a network interruption in a large GlanceGrid. This update also addresses a rare crash that could occur when a camera accumulates a very large number of buffered packets (most likely due to a buggy RTSP implementation from a camera manufacturer). If GlanceCam is useful to you, 5-star reviews, GlanceCam Pro upgrades or tips are very appreciated and keep development going... and if you have any suggestions or need assistance, I'd love to hear from you (Support menu > Contact support via email)! My best, Cesare