Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Microsoft is touting two new LifeCam models which are uniquely designed to have a bendable attachment base. These new webcams which mold to any surface are the LifeCam VX-5000 and VX-500. In addition, Microsoft is also releasing the LifeChat LX-2000, a full-size headset which is bendable as well.

Both of these LifeCams are affordable, easy to use and come with individual features. The LifeCam VX-5000 which comes a colored ring around its front, which you can choose to have in either Cool Blue, Lucky Green or Fire Red. This LifeCam is equipped with Windows Live optimization as well as the latest version of the LifeCam software. Its features include; Windows LiveCall Button, LifeCam dashboard, advanced VGA optics with VGA sensor at 640 x 480 resolution, built-in unidirectional microphone, 3x digital zoom and pan and tilt features.

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An Apple Store employee whose apartment she was sharing with two roommates was recently victimized by burglars, however they had a happy ending thanks to the help of her stolen Mac’s screen sharing feature and built-in webcam.

After the house was burglarized by thieves, the Apple Store employee received a call from a friend asking if she was online, since it appears that she is online on her friend’s computer. The victim immediately logged on to the Internet and used the Back-to-My-Mac program and found out that her Mac was indeed connected to the Internet. Not wasting any time, the victim quickly activated her Mac’s built-in webcam and the screen sharing feature in order to take a snapshot of the thief who was currently using her notebook. The victim’s friend recognized the man in the picture as someone who had been at her apartment during the recent get together. 

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At first glance, you wouldn’t think that HP’s new Elite Autofocus Webcam is actually a webcam. It looks more like desk lamp minus the fluorescent lighting. But yes, the product spec sheet does say that the odd-looking device is really a webcam, and a powerful one at that.

In fact, the HP Autofocus Webcam touts of a 12-megapixel still image capturing feature using software interpolation. It’s got a 3-megapixel sensor with autofocus and will let users get high-definition video quality which are sharp and focused.

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Creative has released a new group of four webcams. The new webcams all have built-in microphones and are plug-n-play capable. The nicest of the bunch, and not a bad looking webcam either is the Creative Live! Cam Notebook Ultra which can take up to 5-megapixel still images, record video at 1.3-megapixels and has an 80 degree wide-angle lens.

The Creative Live! Cam Notebook Ultra has a PowerGrip clip that offers 240 degrees of swivel and it also comes with a stereo headset for private chatting. The cam retails for around $60.

Via [SlashGear]

What do you get when you “marry” a webcam and a wireless router into one gadget? You get the Linksys WVC54GC Wireless-G Internet Home Monitoring Camera. That’s why you see the relatively large form factor for a typical webcam or wireless router stand alone. The gadget looks rather strange to me but then considering its unconventional name as a result of unconventional marriage of two conventional devices, Linksys ought to be forgiven for that.

The WVC54GC (heck its too long to mention the whole name) however is quite an awesome gadget for its functionalities. It can send live audio and video to a web browser anywhere in the world and does it wirelessly. The gadget has built-in video stream encoder and stand-alone web server so there is no PC required to setup a wireless home security monitoring system for the house that could possibly cost you arms and kegs to own one. And the fact that WVC54GC costs only $120 gives you no reason not to consider this inexpensive solution for your expensive investment.

Key Features:

• Streams high-quality live video and audio over the Internet to a web browser anywhere in the world.
• Built-in video stream encoder and stand-alone web server makes PC unnecessary.
• Supports MPEG4 and MJPEG video encoding up to 640x480 pixels.
• Connects up to 4 users simultaneously.
• Security Mode automatically sends email alerts with video clips upon motion detection.
• Microphone on the front with built-in preamp.

Via [Engadget] Via [eHomeUpgrade] Product [Linksys]

Phillips are another company getting behind the 2008 VoIP trend with the launch of a range of attractive looking webcams and VoIP phones.

VoIP isn’t new but it has certainly gained more acceptance in recent years as a genuine business instrument, rather than a home application that helped people keep in touch, where the cost and novelty made up for the poor quality of the image and the restriction of the typical headset.

“More consumers are relying on Internet communication to stay in touch, so it is essential that reliable and high-performance technology is available for even the longest calls and most demanding callers,” said Glenn McIlmail, vice president, customer marketing Peripherals and Accessories, Philips Consumer Lifestyle North America. “Philips is offering solutions to open the world to clear, low-cost communication, allowing everyone to stay connected with business contacts, friends and family across the globe.”

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Using freeware named DAVID, you can turn your webcam into a 3D scanner. DAVID was developed by computer scientists at the Institute for Robotics and Process Control (iRP) and is available for download (after completing a short form, of course).To make the scan, install the software (read the manual), put the object to be scanned in a corner with 90 degree angles and start the scanning process, and yes, you need to actually wave/move the webcam with your own hand. Unfortunately, the software with the algorithm that will create a complete 360 degree image is not yet available but DAVID still looks like it will show a decent 3D image. DAVID will work with Windows 2000/XP and Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1, and the online manual includes instructions for creating a right angle friendly corner.

Site [iRP] Via [HackAday] Download [DAVID] Download [Manual]

The new Creative 1.3 Megapixel Live! Cam Optia sports a cool and trendy, glossy white appearance reminiscent of a Mac type device. Don’t let its $80 price tag fool you into thinking that you are getting a webcam with limited features.

The 30 fps Optia packs features that higher end webcams give you. Its impressive features include improved software for special effects and backgrounds, multi-axis swivel 270 degree rotating lens, an easy LCD clip-on feature, automatic image flip for upright images, automatic switch off feature, Live! View Auto Tuning Technology and Smart Face Tracking technology to automatically follow you as you move about.

The Optia will also double up as a video phone, to make multi-party video calls and to enable streaming photos/videos through WIFI enabled devices.

This is certainly an impressive webcam and probably one of the best in its price range.

Read [Creative]

Back in July, Microsoft introduced a new webcam, the LifeCam 6000, for desktop users.  Now it’s following it up with LifeCam NX-6000 for notebook.  Will Microsoft introduce its own PC soon?  With Bill Gates at its helm, Microsoft can do anything - and there is nothing that can stop Microsoft from doing it if the boss says so.

The webcam by Microsoft is not that bad after all. At least installing it doesn’t give you nightmares like installing Vista does. The quality is not bad either, based on the first-hand accounts of some reviewers. The gadget also takes still pictures at 7MP which is really good for a webcam.

There is a handy feature on the webcam called Live Call button. Press it and your “Buddys Picker” pops up so that you can see who is online - and make a video call to them.  But being Microsoft, there is always a catch.  You and your buddies have to use Microsoft’s Windows Live Messenger or Yahoo Messenger to enjoy the feature.  What a shame for a webcam that delivers excellent resolutions in both video and image modes.

Read [Tech News World]

Logitech has made PC video conferencing much clearer with its new QuickCam Ultra Vision webcam. The camera lens system comprises five extra-large lenses, several made with glass, providing exceptionally sharp and clear video. Also, by featuring an f-stop setting of 1.6—compared to an f-stop setting of 2 or greater—the QuickCam Ultra Vision webcam is able to capture more light, producing greater image detail in dimly lighted, or back- or side-lighted conditions. Finally, Logitech´s new webcam also has a 1.3 megapixel sensor and supports the “High-Definition (HD) video format"--once you remove the marketing we discovered that this means the video is in a widescreen format, not HD picture quality.

Available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in August, the QuickCam Ultra Vision webcam has a suggested retail price of $129.99 in the U.S.

Product Page [Logitech]
Via [Gizmodo]