Microsoft announces two Live-optimized webcams

Xbox 360 owners aren't the only ones who have a Microsoft-brand webcam to look forward to later this summer, as Redmond will also be gifting Windows Live Messenger users with models of their very own. First in a planned series of cams designed to dumb-down the videoconferencing experience, the LifeCam VX-6000 and VX-3000 both feature built-in noise-canceling microphones, a "Live Call" button which brings up the Buddy Picker window, and software integration with Messenger for camera control and one-click photo uploads to Windows Live Spaces. Consumers looking for better image quality will want to go with the $100 VX-6000, which offers 1.3 megapixel video and stills up to five megapixels (using interpolation, obviously), while the $50 VX-3000 should suffice for those who need only standard VGA resolution. Pre-ordering has already begun on Amazon, but neither of these products will ship until sometime in August.

[Hamson @ Jun 13th 2006 11:15AM]

Wait, so where are you guys getting this info from? I wasn't able to find this in the Xbox 360 accessories page.

[Jeffler @ Jun 13th 2006 11:19AM]

Live isn't just Xbox 360 anymore Hamson. This is live as in Windows Live Messenger.

[jc @ Jun 13th 2006 11:23AM]

windows live is not part of xbox live as such... Microsoft has just pulled more products under the 'live' branding.

These cameras are for your PC, not the X360.

[Fuzz @ Jun 13th 2006 11:25AM]

See, this is a good looking camera! Compare it to the ugly POS that is the official Xbox360 camera. Was that so hard Microsoft?

[PEZ @ Jun 13th 2006 11:33AM]

Oh, this looks neat.

[Chris McDowell @ Jun 13th 2006 11:34AM]

Most people play with their xbox or watch movies in the dark and sit on a sofa or bed. I dont think setting this on your desk or on top of your tv will work out to well. I am sure the live one will attatch somewhere else.

[DT @ Jun 13th 2006 11:40AM]

Fuzz:
THAT'S a "good-looking camera"?! No, THIS is a good looking camera!
http://www.apple.com/isight

[RazorElite @ Jun 13th 2006 11:59AM]

Yes this camera looks quite nice. Wtf couldn't they design something like this for the Xbox Live Vision one! Not to mention, Xbox one doesn't have a mic. Yes, we have headphones, but why not just let us be completely free. Ah well, at least it has gesture recognition technology.

[X Budd @ Jun 13th 2006 12:07PM]

Why use VX-####??? That is LG's Model names for Verizon cell phones? Any idea what Micro$oft's reason is???

Looks like a "futuristic" camera from 1998!

WOOOOOW! LOL

[Hamson @ Jun 13th 2006 5:06PM]

Ah, thanks guys. Seems to me like it's just a scam to get you to buy another new product. Why wouldn't they make the Xbox 360 cam look like this?

[Adam @ Jun 13th 2006 5:24PM]

I'd like to see any of you design critics do better, especially with reasonable price tag.

Much as we'd like, we can't all afford to make Apple products with perforated aluminum extrusions, high scrap-rate polished polycarbonate, and spin-polished screw heads. Sorry kids, it's just brass tacks.

[Darren @ Jun 13th 2006 8:23PM]

Regardless of how good the thing looks, the video quality will still not hold a candle to the iSight. Why is it that we, and we I say we I mean mac users, can get such amazing video quality when conferencing and yet no one has figured out how to get that same quality with a pc.

[Booger @ Aug 14th 2006 11:14PM]

Wow! Lots of haters! You Mac users are such sore losers when Microsoft comes out with something better, you guys like to bitch! Anyway, I Tried out both cams, isight is unreal when it comes to quality and the vx-6000 blows it away. The looks of both cams, isight looks like a telescope and the vx-6000 looks like a traditional camera/webcam. Anyway this isnt about how the vx-6000 is better then the isight. I recomend the vx-6000, the webcam delivers in crisp clear video and very good audio. I had a logitech 4000 video was good, audio sucked! The vx-6000 is unreal I recomend it.

[Richard Davidson @ Sep 11th 2007 8:15AM]

Just another really cool gadget. Please I want it. I will use it with all respect to Engadget.

[Julio @ Sep 11th 2007 8:24AM]

thanks, engadget!

[Kazu @ Sep 11th 2007 9:01AM]

Oh! I love it!

[Stefanie Moy-Zobus @ Sep 11th 2007 12:05PM]

I wish, I wish upon a star
to win this cam
For the grandparents who are afar
so they can see the new baby in her tram

[Sudheer @ Sep 11th 2007 1:19PM]

Great site!

[Su Multani @ Sep 11th 2007 1:55PM]

Who doesn't like a free lunch (: Engadget = extraordinary new gadgets. It's my home page!!