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Microsoft announces budget-friendly Lifecam HD-3000 webcam, Comfort and Express mice
Digging the 1080p LifeCam Studio but don't feel like spending $100? Or, maybe you don't need all those p's? Microsoft has, for you and you alone, announced the new LifeCam HD-3000. It tops out at 720p but retails for a more palatable $39.95. Also newly announced is a trio of mice, first and most exciting being the $19.95 Express Mouse (above) which, according to Microsoft, has both the looks and the moves. We're not really sure what that means, but it is kind of funky looking with the offset cord your choice of six colors ranging from "Hibiscus Red" to "Dahlia Pink." For those who'd rather stick with something less-flowery there's the Comfort Mouse 3000 for the same price, similar features in a design less likely to stand out in the conference room. Or, cough up another $10 for the $29.95 Comfort Mouse 6000, pictured below. It gives up ambidextrous pretenses in favor of a more form-fitting shape and five whole buttons. Can you handle that many buttons? Yeah, you totally can.
Microsoft's 1080p LifeCam Studio review
The 1080p webcam party is just getting started, Logitech kicking things off with the $99 C910 earlier this year, and now things are heating up with Microsoft making its appearance. Today the company is announcing the immediate availability of the $99 Lifecam Studio, an upgraded version of the LifeCam Cinema HD that's pushing more pixels and a few other nice features, like a threaded receiver for tripod use. Overkill, or is this the webcam you want? Click on through to find out. %Gallery-101865%
PhotoFast makes iPad work with a Microsoft webcam, cats and dogs live together
We're still thinking there's an integrated camera coming for the iPad, but there's one company out there who must surely be hoping that's not the case. That company would be PhotoFast, flash storage gurus turned to iPad video chat enablers. The company's early prototype is simply a Microsoft LifeCam bodged into the dock port, but when it releases toward the end of the year will be a fully custom two megapixel webcam that manages VGA video and, supposedly, will be compatible with at least some IM apps. PhotoFast is also working on an iPad TV tuner and a dock that reads flash memory, which will also be made available for the iPhone/iPod whenever it is released. As for the cats and dogs thing, no firm date was given there, either.
Microsoft announces three new 720p LifeCams with TrueColor technology
Looking to upgrade that built-in or non-existent webcam in your laptop or LCD monitor? Then Microsoft hopes you'll consider one of its three new LifeCams, which each not only boast a 720p resolution, but the company's new TrueColor technology that promises to provide "superior color and brightness in even the worst lighting conditions." Apart from that feat of optical wizardry, the webcams look to provide all the basic features you'd expect, including auto focus and face tracking, along with a flexible base on the HD-5000 and HD-5001 that can be adapted for use on a desk, or attached to a laptop or desktop monitor -- the HD-6000 is designed for laptop use only. Look for the HD-5000 and Best Buy-exclusive HD-5001 to roll out first later this month for just $50 apiece, while the HD-6000 will be available in April for $60. Hit up the gallery below for a closer look at each.%Gallery-88341%
Microsoft Mobile Keyboard 6000, Comfort Desktop 5000 and LifeCam Cinema HD hands-on
Microsoft has a pretty good track record with its peripheral lineup, particularly when it comes to keyboards and mice, and it seems this latest crop is no exception. We got a quick look at the goods, and we'd say that new Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000 (pictured) could find a place in our hearts with little trouble. It's deliciously thin, but feels closer to a regular Microsoft Comfort keyboard than just another transplanted laptop keyboard. Key presses are shallow, to be sure, but they feel much meatier than on Apple's keyboards, for instance. The Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000 keyboard is less of a surprise, and we're not sure if we'd really find much use for those shortcut keys to taskbar icons, since they're all the way at the top of the keyboard, but it'd take some practice with the board to find out. Lastly, the LifeCam Cinema HD is a fairly nice bit of hardware design for a webcam. From the footage we were seeing, it's not going to make you loathe your laptop's built-in camera, but it's probably a fair step up in image quality. %Gallery-74952%
Microsoft's LifeCam Cinema HD webcam lets you film those YouTube confessionals in 720p
For when the world needs to see with pristine detail your cat playing inside a paper bag in the middle of the kitchen, or every blemish on your face as you regale the exciting story of your day, Microsoft's unveiled the LifeCam Cinema HD webcam. The USB 2.0 device captures life in 1,280 x 720 HD resolution at 30 frames per second, with auto focus, 4x digital zoom, a noise-canceling mic on top, and something called ClearFrame for smoother video, somehow. It's not without caveats, of course, requiring a dual core processor (1.6GHz minimum, 3GHz recommended) and listing for $80, but it does happily tout its Windows 7 compatibility out of the box. Interests piqued? The webcam'll be popping up in stores on September 9th, which as it turns out, is becoming a rather busy day for tech enthusiasts.Update: Looks like the 720p mode is capped at 15FPS. Tsk, tsk.
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. %Gallery-7341%Read -- LifeCam NX-3000Read -- LifeCam VX-7000Read -- Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000Read -- Wireless Notebook Laser Mouse 7000Read -- 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.
