Updated June 17, 2019: This is now broken for Nest/DropCam devices. It will still work for anything that has a web accessible image URL. Clint points out in the comments below that you can fix up the URL for Nest cams but it looks like you need to be logged into nest.com so it doesn't work from Apps Script. Google is also retiring Works with Nest because they're "...reimagining how technology and services can deliver simple and helpful experiences in your home..." which apparently translates to only working with Google Assistant. I'll update this post if I figure out a work around.

Here's an easy way to capture frames from a DropCam to Google Drive. This only works if you have a public feed for your DropCam.

Go to the public page for your DropCam (Settings -> Public -> Short URL Link) and then view source for that page. Near the top you can find the still image URL for your DropCam:

<meta property="og:image" content="https://nexusapi.dropcam.com/get_image?uuid=12345&height=200" />

In Google Drive create a new Apps Script (If you don't already have Apps Script you can find it via Connect more apps...). Paste in the following code:

Replace the uuid parameter in the URL with the uuid from the still image URL for your DropCam. Note that the height parameter in the script has been changed to 1280 to get the largest possible image. A timestamp is being used to add a random cache busting parameter to the still image URL and is also used as the filename for the image.

The script will save the images to a folder called DCFrames - either create this folder in your drive or change this parameter to the desired folder.

Run the script and check that it's working. If everything looks good go to Resources -> Current project's triggers in the Apps Script editor. You can now set up a timer to save a frame as frequently as every minute (which I'm using to collect frames to make a daily time lapse movie). You can also ask Apps Script to send you an email when the script fails.

Updated 2015-07-01: DropCam is now Nest Cam - assuming that Nest keep the API going everything should keep working as above for both types of camera.

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(Published to the Fediverse as: Capture DropCam (Nest Cam) frames to Google Drive #etc #drive #google #dropcam Use Google Apps Script to automatically save images from your Nest Cam / Drop Cam. Keep an archive or create a timelapse movie. )

The range of baby technology now available is astonishing. You can load up with a smart sock, smart diapers, smart pacifier, phone connected scales (doppler, ultrasound...), Nespresso for formula, a cry translator and of course a wide range of ultra-sensitive, night-vision stalking, shrieking / vibrating baby monitoring systems.

But all this innovation is mostly being wasted on paranoid first time parents who need to obsessively check that everything is OK every five seconds (not judging, have been there).

What I need is a baby monitor that does one thing: wait a minute per month of age and see if there is still a problem. Stay silent until this threshold is passed.

As usual, billionaire investor readers please call me.

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Here's a list of every house I've ever lived in. It's 32 across four continents - a different one every 15 months or so which is impressive as I lived in one of them for ten years.

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The time on screen for each country is proportional to its Gross Domestic Product.

GDP figures are from the United Nations for 2013 from Wikipedia. Flag images are also from Wikipedia via the handy Google region-flags project. Music is "Money to Burn" by Alex (cc).

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(Published to the Fediverse as: GDP, The Music Video #etc #gdp #video A music video made from flags where the amount of time on screen is proportional to the GDP of each country. )

Two long exposure photographs of the International Space Station passing over San Francisco.

The photograph titled "ISS" captures a serene, cosmic scene where the vast, star-speckled sky dominates the composition. A long-exposure shot leaves a thin, bright streak diagonally across the canvas, signifying the swift passage of the International Space Station. To the right, a luminous orb—the moon or possibly a planet—radiates softly, blurring into the surrounding darkness. The gentle gradation of light and shadow creates a dreamlike atmosphere, with faint wisps of clouds visible, adding texture to the otherwise smooth expanse. The arrangement of stars scattered across the sky provides a sense of depth and infinite space, inviting viewers to lose themselves in the vastness above.

This image employs a minimalist style, focusing on the essential elements of space and light. The long-exposure technique effectively captures the ISS’s path, adding a dynamic element that contrasts the stillness of the celestial backdrop. The composition adheres to a diagonal line strategy, drawing the eye naturally from one corner of the frame to the other. The major strength lies in its ability to convey motion and tranquility simultaneously. However, the brightness of the celestial body on the right slightly overpowers the subtlety of the stars, which could be seen as a distraction from the primary subject. Despite this, the balance between the blurred and the sharp elements is artfully maintained, offering a harmonious visual experience that speaks to the awe of cosmic exploration.

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(Published to the Fediverse as: ISS #photo #iss Photos of the International Space Station over San Francisco, California. )