Ecamm announces BT-1 Bluetooth webcam for Macs

It looks like Mac users tired of their built-in webcams and concerned about the clutter caused by regular USB cams will soon have another option to consider, as Ecamm Network has just announced what it's claiming to be the world's first Bluetooth webcam. Apparently, you can expect to get some standard 640x480 H.264 video out of the thing, along with 48 kHz AAC stereo audio and a promised four hours of talk time before you need to pull out that dreaded USB cable. None too surprisingly, you'll also have a pay a bit of a premium over your run-of-the-mill webcam, with the so-called BT-1 set to demand a hefty $150 when it rolls out sometime late in the first quarter of the year. No word on Windows support just yet, but we'd presume that'd follow shortly thereafter, officially or otherwise.

[kamakaze @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:45AM]

too much money for a device that does too little.

then again, it IS for macs....

[loocas @ Jan 3rd 2009 8:44AM]

Yet none of the Mac users would ever consider buying such a hiedously designed thing.

[KAIKAI @ Jan 3rd 2009 10:23AM]

@loocas
is it because its not sterile white ??

[loocas @ Jan 3rd 2009 11:24AM]

It's exactly because it's not sterile white and it has those three hideous legs and is obnoxiously huge and it doesn't have the letter "i" in front of its (obvious) name, something like "iCamm" or "iEye".

[Christian Martin @ Jan 3rd 2009 12:23PM]

It's exactly what my wife paid for her external iSight when they were just released.

People WILL somehow justify paying this much money, especially if the quality is good and they work in porn. Which my wife does not. Which is sad, because if she did we could afford to justify another webcam purchase.

[Christian Martin @ Jan 3rd 2009 12:22PM]

@loocas:

Shhh! You're not supposed to say his name out loud!

[collide007 @ Jan 3rd 2009 1:35PM]

Surely it would work with bluetooth equipped PCs also? Albeit with the correct driver of course, of which I'm almost certain someone will write if not supplied by the manufacturers. But your right $150 is ridiculous, but being the first (correct me if I'm wrong) they have a monopoly. When other manufacturers develop their own, prices will come down.

BTW, I'm a mac user, and the price aside, I wouldn't buy this. 1 because my inbuilt cam is just fine and 2 as those have said, its a little ugly. All Black is so 2005.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Jan 3rd 2009 2:07PM]

I may have paid this much for the original iSight, but given the larger aperture and fact that it's not wireless, I bet the image quality is way better.

[sdwells @ Jan 5th 2009 8:37AM]

Am I the only one suprized that a bluetooth webcam hasn't been released yet...

Marketing it for Macs when every new mac comes with a built in camera is a bit confusing. Assuming it will also have PC drivers released, this is a gadget that anyone who has bluetooth but doesn't have a webcam needs.

[Metkis @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:46AM]

I guess the support for laptop users is pretty much lost by the form of the device. I also think the device is kinda wasteful (having torecharging it, and also losing charge life over time), of course I don't use webcams except for pretty near my computer/laptop so a cord isn't much of a bother. Still Blutooth isn't very long range.

[Pretol @ Jan 3rd 2009 4:47AM]

that's one ghetto looking webcam. No self respecting apple owner will buy that. They need to hurry up with MS support.

[XIYL @ Jan 3rd 2009 7:29AM]

Self respecting Apple owners? And here I always thought they were masochists.

/sarcasm

[d0n0vAn @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:01AM]

It needs to work with Linux and cost less than $25 USD or 20 EUR and I'll buy it.

[Andre @ Jan 3rd 2009 9:27AM]

Good luck with that, their existing USB webcam retails for ~$70.

[FILA @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:21AM]

It'll be great for the home porno business, you'll be able to get this little guy into all kinds of shots being wireless while your friends sits on the other end of the network watching you, while she has no idea.

[Tony @ Jan 3rd 2009 12:10PM]

That was disturbingly specific.

[Stuart @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:57AM]

Mobiola has a bluetooth webcam product. It works with your mobile phone's camera and I've used it for a while. A bluetooth webcam is a nice change of pace. http://www.mobiola.com/mobiola-web-camera

[L.Rawlins @ Jan 3rd 2009 8:54AM]

Mobiola Webcam 3 also supports Wi-Fi alongside USB/BT. I upgraded my N82 to it last week. Great bit of software.

[Patriks7 @ Jan 3rd 2009 5:54AM]

Or just go with the hype, and get the new Mac screen, which has one built in!
It's just like $750 more! (Apple logo included!)

[rumblejazz @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:48AM]

What's the range for Bluetooth devices again?

Cos this would go great in my bathroom.

[Opss2005 @ Jan 18th 2009 9:50PM]

If you want to spy, try watching the video on your cell phone using the OptiEyes. They are selling it at USD149 at their website www.genie-gadgets.com. Is a world first bluetooth camera that stream real time video to your cell phone

[dale1v @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:55AM]

[ - ] button for you.

[Boards of Canada @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:56AM]

Dont be a fool, get a cheap pc with a logicam... nothing is as sharp and smooth!

[Cheddar @ Jan 3rd 2009 9:14AM]

"tired of the built-in webcam" what are the Engadget guys smoking...the built-in webcam is one of the slickest features on a Mac. Not having to deal with the clutter of some big fat eyeball clinging to the top of the laptop or on a table is excellent.

Silly idea for all but a few that are looking to setup a webcam to spy on people...

[Josh @ Jan 3rd 2009 11:40AM]

Yeah i was wondering about that.. given that the vast majority of mac users are notebook users.

Aaaaand all those notebooks have iSights anyway.

Market research? FAIL.

[Paul Chapel @ Jan 3rd 2009 11:41AM]

I guess Engadget needs to start using sarcasm tags. Or perhaps YOU are being sarcastic about Engadget's sarcasm. Oh my, my head is spinning!

[M. @ Jan 3rd 2009 1:49PM]

guess sarcasm is kinda hard to understand for some people

this thing btw is fugly!

[Brandon @ Jan 3rd 2009 10:39AM]

If this is to be used with the mac, any way of someone tweeking it to work with the Iphone? Maybe an App that you can use to control it?

[chris @ Jan 4th 2009 1:37PM]

Re: Brandon @ Jan 3rd 2009 10:39AM

That will never happen, why?

B/c the iPhone is the single most restricted smartphone platform lacking many features that even the most basic dumb phones have. Case in point, most smart phones support the following bluetoooth features A2DP (music streaming), file transfers, internet sharing w/ laptops or other devices, bluetooth keyboards and mice, and much more... the iPhone ONLY supports bluetooth phone headsets (not even a carrier branded, free, bottom of the line, Nokia is that bad)...

[Eric @ Jan 3rd 2009 10:29AM]

Didn't I see that on Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back?

[Troy @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:39PM]

How is this expensive? A decent wireless cam plugged into a wall for it's power source like Axis or Panasonic is more than $300. And no one here has a clue on it's video quality.

[MacGizmoGuy @ Jan 5th 2009 5:13PM]

Ecamm's only other webcam product is the decidedly mediocre and rather so-so iMage USB webcam. It was one of the first widely available UVC compliant USB webcams for Mac or PC. Altho the iMage has good color-balance and light-sensitivity - it's image is visibly GRAINY (I tried 2 different cams, and other reviewers agree: Grainy.) **So let's hope Ecamm has a hellofalot better sensor and lens in the BT-1 Bluetooth cam** - Or it'll just be another overpriced product that under-delivers.

MacGizmo - http://www.mac-compatible-web-cam.com

[Gee @ Jan 3rd 2009 3:44PM]

iSight needs to be plugged into a Mac. This is a wireless cam that apparently connects to bluetooth and no wired power source. The price is okay. I've seen alot of cam costing 2-3 times as much.

[Cheddar @ Jan 3rd 2009 6:50PM]

iSight is no longer sold...Apple has been incorporating cameras into their Mac's since 2006. No need to buy an external webcam now.

[gee @ Jan 3rd 2009 11:46PM]

Do you follow? iSight, logitech, or whatever or built in cam. The BT-1 Bluetooth webcam is different. No wires. It can be placed in another location and it's controlled by bluetooth

[Ernie @ Jan 3rd 2009 11:49PM]

Apparently, people don't read the articles and specs of new products. This is different from a built-in webcam or some webcam that is wired to a computer.

[Tony @ Jan 4th 2009 9:32PM]

I could see it to be fun to put on remote controlled toy car etc.

Or anywhere the use of a usb-cable would be bad or a tangled mess,
and the slightly short 30feet limit is OK.

[Varun @ Jan 7th 2009 3:15AM]

If they do a version of this for the PC, I hope they have the good sense to make it emulate a standard USB webcam (i.e. be recognized as a webcam and not as a COM port device with yada yada settings... think market size reduction of 95% in one shot!).

I can certainly see how this camera would be useful in conjunction with easy-to-use home surveillance software like HomeCamera (www.homecamera.com). But yes, they do need to work on bringing the price point below $100... preferably well below $100. Unless they paint it glossy white or sheath it in aluminum, in which case price really isn't an issue, is it...... ;-)

[Scott Z. @ Mar 25th 2009 7:47AM]

this could actually be great for apples new iPhone os 3.0 which supports USB and Bluetooth hardware. you could just pair the camera with your phone and be able to video chat anywhere you go right from your phone. hopefully some new apps for iPhone like iChat or skype will be developed for iPhone 3.0's new hardware capabilities utilizing Bluetooth webcams like this.