| One of the features unique to AxxonSoft's offering is automatic detection of connected IP devices |
Axxon Next, the new video management software (VMS) platform from AxxonSoft, has received rave reviews, taking first place in comparison testing by Benchmark Magazine, a British publication. The magazine performed independent testing of VMS solutions in its October and November issues. Alongside Axxon Next, the testers carefully examined the other leading VMS options on the market worldwide: Milestone XProtect Express, Exacq Exacqvision, Digifort Enterprise and Luxriot Advanced.
The testing categories were features and functions, installation and use, video management, and security performance. Axxon Next swept the field, taking top marks in every category.
Reviewers at Benchmark Magazine were impressed by the features of Axxon Next. One of the features unique to AxxonSoft's offering is automatic detection of connected IP devices: Axxon Next recognised practically all cameras tested, except for a few which were recognised as standard ONVIF devices and required manual configuration. The closest competitor recognised only half of the cameras attempted.
Other standout features were Time Compressor, for quickly reviewing archive events; the powerful video analytics included for free with every license, and MomentQuest2, a system for forensic search of video archives. As Benchmark Magazine found, "After spending some time working with MomentQuest2, it is certainly worth paying for." Alone among the features of Axxon Next, MomentQuest2 is not included with the free version of Axxon Next, but rather is available as an optional paid add-on. All other features are included in all system licenses.
"It confirms that we have chosen the right direction in designing Axxon Next" |
Another key feature of Axxon Next, as the magazine found, is its well thought-out user interface, which offers quick access to a wide range of options, even in the free version. "It sounds odd, and is a different approach, but it works well and it allows 16:9 and 4:3 images to coexist without any compromise on layout." Benchmark Magazine's praise continues: "With the VMS package being free of charge for up to 16 inputs, you do find yourself expecting a limitation or two to crop up, but they don't (accepting the lack of MomentQuest2 and the 1 TB archive limit)."
Summarising their findings, the magazine pronounced Axxon Next the most refined, feature-rich VMS contender and deemed it "something of a line in the sand for VMS options". They added, "It packages together a clean and intuitive interface with a good degree of functionality and flexibility. Whilst it is free of charge for single-server 16 camera applications (albeit without the forensic search function and with an archive limitation of 1 TB), even adding the license fee for MomentQuest2 plus any additional channels still makes it stand out as the value proposition for credible video management."
In fact, Axxon Next did so well that the testing was not quite fair to its big-name competitors – almost: "In reality, the inclusion of Axxon Next in the test did reduce the overall ratings of the other products, because it offers pretty much everything most sites meeting our specification will need!"
"Emerging victorious in head-to-head testing against the most popular systems, performed by a prestigious security-industry publication, is just the icing on the cake. It confirms that we have chosen the right direction in designing Axxon Next. Our company believes that video management software has to support all the features offered by modern IP equipment. At the same time, it has to have its own powerful video analytics and be easy to use. Nobody should have to shy away from a VMS because of it seeming too complicated. All internal complexities aside, an industry-leading VMS has to be as user-friendly as possible," commented Murat Altuev, President of AxxonSoft.
The online versions of the October and November issues with the test results are available on the Benchmark Magazine website.