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Microsoft expands BlueTrack line with two new wireless mice, is fully prepared to track more blue

Microsoft's standing by its BlueTrack technology with two new wireless numbers, the Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 and the Wireless Mouse 5000. The Mobile Mouse 6000 includes Microsoft's first "nano" transceiver, which sticks a mere 0.8 centimeters out from its USB port for continual ensconcement, but can also be stashed away under the mouse for safe keeping in the sake of a peripheral plugging emergency. The full-sized Wireless Mouse 5000 also features a snap-in transceiver, and like its mobile brother is ambidextrous in design. In June it'll be available in a Wireless Desktop 3000 package along with the Wireless Keyboard 3000 for $70, and both will be available separately for $40, with the Mobile Mouse 6000 bringing in the "high end" at $50. Microsoft is also announcing the LifeCam VX-2000, a $30 VGA webcam for all five of you who haven't bought a computer within the last five years with one built-in. You are loved.

Microsoft LifeCam Show and LifeCam VX-5500 make the scene


Man, with all these product intros today you'd think the world was going to end tomorrow or something. Anyway, just as predicted, Microsoft just kicked out the new LifeCam Show and LifeCam VX-5500. The $100 Show is a 2.0 megapixel cam that can take 8 megapixel stills, and a built-in mic with noise- and echo-cancellation, while the $60 VX-5500 does VGA video and 1.3 megapixel stills and has interchangeable faceplates. Both include a one-touch Windows LiveCall button that pops open your contact list and new LifeCam software which allows you to send video messages, share photos during calls, and initiate calls with a Vista gadget. Should be out in October -- check the VX-5500 after the break.

Microsoft intros the VX-5000 and VX-500 LifeCams, LX-2000 headset


Microsoft really wants you to do some video conferencing, okay? Why else would they release the LifeCam VX-5000 and VX-500 webcams? Apparently gunning for some of that juicy video-chat market, the boys and girls in Redmond have introduced two models sure to find a home perched atop any monitor. Both cams sport VGA resolution and play nice with Windows Live Messenger -- we assume they're USB 2.0 devices, but Microsoft doesn't seem to want to tell us. The company is also releasing a headset, the LifeChat LX-2000. The VX-5000 will be available in June for $49.95, while the VX-500 and LX-2000 hit shelves this month for $16.95 and $29.95, respectively.

Microsoft unleashes 2 LifeCams and 3 Mice, we've got the hands-on to prove it


It's nearly fall and that can mean only one thing: er, new mice and webcams from Microsoft. Yeah, about as exciting as moms taking you shopping for new big-boy school trousers. Granted, the 1.3 megapixel LifeCam NX-3000 and 2 megapixel LifeCam VX-7000 are decent and all as are the new $50 Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000 and $50 Wireless (RF) Notebook Laser Mouse 7000. But the action, Jackson, comes with the October release of the $100 Mobile Memory Mouse 8000 (pictured). We're talking both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth packed into the transceiver (toggled with a switch) with 1GB of flash baked-in allowing it to pull double-duty as a flash drive. Nice, but the laser mouse itself features a 3-contact, magnetically-held charging cable which automatically senses whether you're using a rechargeable AAA (included) or off-the-shelf Alkaline when in a jam. Snap the transceiver in-place beneath the mouse and everything powers off presto quick. Peep the gallery for a healthy mix of hands-on and glamor-shot action.

Read -- LifeCam NX-3000
Read -- LifeCam VX-7000
Read -- Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000
Read -- Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse 7000
Read -- Mobile Memory Mouse 8000

Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000 reviewed

Our peeps over at PC Mag have gotten their hands on the higher-end of Microsoft's two Live-optimized LifeCams announced last month and, for the most part at least, seem to have dug it, giving it a hefty 4/5 rating. True to Microsoft's claims, they found that the cam was in fact, very easy to use and delivered some nice added features like face-tracking along with the standard pan, tilt, and zoom control. And while they were impressed with the 30 fps, 1,280-by-1,024 (interpolated, of course) video, they found that the audio quality from the built-in mic left a lot to be desired, having to crank up the volume in order to hear each other clearly, resulting in some nasty feedback. An external microphone would obviously solve that problem but, you know, would kinda defeat the purpose. Not surprisingly, the best results also came when using Windows Live Messenger, with some additional audio/video problems cropping up when used with AIM and Yahoo. A deliberate downgrade? Nah, couldn't be.
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