As Internet connections have matured to faster and faster broadband pipelines, webcam manufacturers have been keeping pace with higher resolutions and improved optics to take advantage of the larger bandwidth. And more than just communicating over chat and VoIP, webcams are increasingly used to broadcast Truman Show-esque live video feeds of one's every move (such as at Justin.tv) as well as high-quality mini-movies uploaded to sharing sites. And that's where the Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 really shines, with its 2-megapixel image sensor, smooth-tracking autofocus, high-end Carl Zeiss optics, and HD video capabilities (with the capability of recording video at 960 by 720 pixels).
The combination of Logitech's RightLight technology and 2-megapixel Carl Zeiss optics produce improved clarity and lighting (Pro 9000 on the left, MacBook integrated camera on right--both captured in the same lighting conditions).
Add a variety of special effects from filters (above) to facial accessories (below).
First, a little about Logitech's touted technological and optical advantages. Designed by Carl Zeiss (known for high-end film and digital camera lenses), the Pro 9000's optics use a five-element lens arranged into four optical elements. As a result, the lens focuses the light onto the sensor with maximum detail and minimal aberrations. The 2-megapixel lens also offers an autofocus mechanism that automatically adjusts as your face moves about. It also incorporates Logitech's RightLight and RightSound technologies, which improves the webcam's image quality under difficult lighting conditions and provides noise cancellation, respectively.
We found the autofocus feature to be much smoother than another similarly specced webcam from Creative that we previously reviewed (which felt stuttery to our video chat partners), and the RightLight feature was able to render an image of our face in both highly backlit and low-light situations--something that other webcams we've tested have completely failed at. And the combination of RightLight, Carl Zeiss optics, and the two-megapixel sensor helped to enrich both the clarity and the color of our images.
While it's true that broadband Internet has gained speed, unfortunately none of the major chat or VoIP programs are can stream the high-definition video (960 by 720 pixels) that the Pro 9000 can capture. Thus, this feature is really only usable for recording video to your hard drive and either uploading to a video sharing service like YouTube or for inclusion into a movie project to be burned to disc. The Pro 9000 also enables you to take still images at larger than its native 2-megapixel sensor via software interpolation (up to an 8-megapixel resolution). Note, however, that shooting at a higher resolution causes a lengthier shutter lag.
The Pro 9000 offers easy plug-and-play operability on either a Windows PC or a Mac--just slide in the USB 2.0 plug, select the camera from your chosen video chatting program (it works seamlessly with Skype, Yahoo!, Windows Live, SightSpeed, and iChat), and you're good to go. While the Pro 9000 works brilliantly right out of the box, you'll only be able to take advantage of software add-ons such using the included QuickCam software (which is for Windows users only).
The QuickCam Control Panel is where you can select from a host of special effect add-ons that range from a selection of avatars (such as a dinosaur or cat) to facial accessories (including a crown and Borg hardware), and a variety of filter effects. The avatars didn't seem especially responsive unless we were overly hyperactive, but the limited face add-ons and filters were more successful (with our favorite being the rotoscope animation effect).
The double-hinged clip on the back of the lightweight Pro 9000 can be articulated to fit both the thinnest notebook screens to thicker LCD TV/monitors. A rubberized is placed right below the camera housing to help prevent slippage, and the camera itself can smoothly tilt up and down about 90 degrees. The Pro 9000 has a single microphone on its right side, and while the left side has a control button that automatically opens the Logitech QuickCam software. And in the middle is a Logitech logo, which is given a red glowing halo when the camera is recording. It uses a single USB connection that does not require external power.
With its arsenal of optical advancements combined with an invitingly affordable price tag and easy portability, the QuickCam Pro 9000 is a great alternative to the standard VGA/1.3-megapixel cams built into notebooks. --Agen G.N. Schmitz
Pros:
2-megapixel sensor helps to improve both clarity and color
Automatic autofocus smoothly readjusts as you move around the screen
Double-hinged clip easily fit on a variety of laptop and monitor surfaces
Cons:
While capable of capturing HD-quality video, you can only utilize this for video saved to hard drive
About this product: Your binocular or telescope uses highly precise optics. It's important to keep them as clean as possible to assure the best performance. Nikon makes it really easy and simple with the Lens Pen Cleaning System.
About this product: The Griffin 9501-TRIPCB iTrip Auto FM Transmitter and Auto Charger for iPod combines Griffin's renowned FM transmitter technology with an integrated charger. Designed specifically for use in the car, the iTrip Auto powerfully transmits clear music from your iPod through your car stereo, while the large, easy-to-read backlit LCD screen affords quick, precise station selection and status at a glance.
The Griffin 9501-TRIPCB is the most versatile iTrip to date, accommodating every dock connector iPod, including the iPod Nano and 5th-generation iPods videos. The iTrip Auto uses the audio line out from the iPod's dock connector and optimizes the output volume, allowing speaker volume to be controlled solely from the car stereo controls, without having to adjust the iPod's volume level. This unit features all the innovations of its predecessors, including selectable LX and DX modes for best-quality audio under real-world conditions, best-possible RF technology, and Griffin's world-class industrial design.
The Griffin iTrip Auto is constructed with a built-in FM stereo antenna and a high-stability crystal oscillator with phase-lock loop control. This unit can operate anywhere from the 88.1 to 107.9 MHz frequencies, with a frequency response ranging from 50 Hz to 15 KHz, at a range from 10 to 30 feet. The 9501-TRIPCB is powered by an included 12-volt cigarette lighter power adapter that features an easily replaceable fuse through which it also charges your iPod. This unit comes in black, weighs 0.6 ounces, measures 0.49 x 2.84 inches (W x D) with a total length of 33.47 inches including the cord, and it's backed by a manufacturer's limited 1-year warranty.
About this product: Putting the power of Windows Live Messenger at your fingertips, the Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 takes instant messaging with family and friends to a new level of sight and sound by offering great video and crystal-clear audio with acoustic noise cancellation. Plus, you get advanced features, such as automatic face tracking software and low-light adjustment, so you feel like you're right there.
Get great video and crystal-clear audio during your Windows Live Messenger chats.
A universal attachment base fits on most monitors, including flat screens.
The Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 is optimized for Windows Live Messenger, which is used by the largest worldwide instant messenger community with over 200 million users. Three key features give you a superior Windows Live Experience. First, the Windows Live Call Button makes it easy to start a video call. Simply press the button to see who's online, and you're on your way to a video call. Second, with the LifeCam Dashboard you can access video effects and control your webcam from the Windows Live Messenger window. Lastly, with One-Touch Blogging, a single click allows you to upload to Windows Live Spaces, an "online scrapbook" that lets you easily post blogs, photo albums, and personal music lists.
The VX-3000's automatic face tracking software, which takes advantage of the camera's pan, tilt, and zoom controls, follows you so you don't disappear off-screen. Meanwhile, the camera automatically adjusts for low-light conditions for improved video quality, and a built-in unidirectional microphone with acoustic noise cancellation provides crystal-clear audio. Video effects give you a fun way to express yourself, and last but not least, the camera's universal attachment base fits on most monitors, including flat screens. Alternatively, the camera can sit directly on your desk.
Note that while the VX-3000 is optimized for use with Windows Live Messenger, Microsoft LifeCams also work with other instant messaging programs, such as Yahoo Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger.
If you want the next level of performance from your LifeCam, consider the Microsoft LifeCam VX-6000, which adds high definition video capabilities, a wide angle lens, a 3x digital zoom, and a high-speed USB connection. View a comparison of the LifeCam VX-3000 and VX-6000.
About this product: With 80GB or 160GB of storage, iPod classic gives your music and video room to move. It also has plenty of energy (up to 40 hours of audio playback), good looks (a sleek, all-metal design), and a great personality (a brand-new interface with Cover Flow). In other words, iPod classic makes an ideal companion.
Cover Flow If a picture says a thousand words, think of what all the album art in your collection might say. With Cover Flow on iPod classic, you can flip through your music to find the album you want to hear. Use the Click Wheel to browse music by album cover, then select an album to flip it over and see the track list.
With 80GB or 160GB of storage, iPod classic gives your music and video room to move. View iPod classic dimensions.
Up to 40 hours of audio playback in the palm of your hand. View larger.
Thinner and more compact than ever.
Music Use the Click Wheel to adjust volume, navigate songs, browse in Cover Flow, or explore the Music menu by playlist, artist, album, song, genre, composer, and more. Want to mix things up? Click Shuffle Songs. iPod classic makes your music look as good as it sounds, thanks to its big, bright, color display.
Movies Buy movies from the iTunes Store and you can sync them to your iPod classic to watch anywhere, anytime. The gorgeous 2.5-inch display makes your movies pop. And iPod classic keeps you entertained for up to 7 hours. Long flight or darkened room? Adjust the brightness for even more video playback time.
TV Shows There's always something good on iPod classic. Browse thousands of episodes of your favorite TV shows on the iTunes Store, buy them for just $1.99 each, then sync them to iPod classic. Watch last night's episodes this morning, or buy a whole TV series and play a pocket-size marathon.
Podcasts The iTunes Store features thousands of free video and audio podcasts, including indie favorites and offerings from such big names as ABC News, Comedy Central, ESPN, PBS, NPR, and many more. Browse and subscribe to podcasts, then sync them to your iPod classic. You can even play video podcasts on TV using an optional Apple component or composite AV cable.
Audiobooks The digital shelves of the iTunes Store are stocked with thousands of audiobooks--including exclusives like the entire Harry Potter series--so you can catch up on your reading wherever iPod classic takes you. iPod classic recognizes where you left off and bookmarks your place. You can even adjust the reading speed to suit you.
Games Put hours of fun at your fingertips. iPod classic comes with three games--Vortex, iQuiz, and Klondike--and you can download more from the iTunes Store for $4.99 each. All iPod games are designed specifically for the iPod interface. And all of them look great on the 2.5-inch color display.
Photos iPod classic holds up to 25,000 photos you can sync from your Mac or PC via iTunes. Use the Click Wheel to scroll through photo thumbnails the same way you scroll through song titles. To see a photo full screen, click the center button. You can even view photo slideshows--complete with music and transitions--on iPod classic or on a TV using an optional Apple component or composite AV cable.
Search With up to 40,000 songs on your iPod classic, you need an easy way to search your collection. A built-in search function lets you use the Click Wheel to type out the name of the song, artist, album, audiobook, or podcast you're looking for. iPod classic returns results instantly as you select letters.
Extras Calendars, contacts, and a clock appear in the Extras menu, along with a few more handy items. Take the screen lock, for example. Spin the Click Wheel to choose a four-digit combination and protect your iPod classic from prying eyes. If you forget your combination, just reset when you sync. Or use the built-in stopwatch to log your best times.
About this product: I really like this armband alot, it is comfortable and I forget i have it on. I also really like the earbud cord coil. There is just one thing, the glue between the loops for the hook and the band comes apart pretty easily. Otherwise, I like it.
About this product: An anodized aluminum top and polished stainless steel back. Five eye-catching colors. A larger, brighter display with the most pixels per inch of any Apple display, ever. iPod nano stirs up visual effects from the outside in.
And it'll wow you for hours. Play up to 5 hours of video or up to 24 hours of audio on a single charge. All that staying power and a wafer-thin, 6.5-mm profile makes iPod nano one small big attraction.
Cover Flow If a picture says a thousand words, think of what all the album art in your collection might say. With Cover Flow on iPod nano, you can flip through your music to find the album you want to hear. Use the Click Wheel to browse music by album cover, then select an album to flip it over and see the track list.
In addition to listening to music you can now enjoy TV shows, movies, video podcasts, and more. View iPod nano dimensions.
The iPod nano comes in a host of exciting new colors.
Play up to 5 hours of video or up to 24 hours of audio on one charge. View larger.
Music Use the Click Wheel to adjust volume, navigate songs, browse in Cover Flow, or explore the Music menu by playlist, artist, album, song, genre, composer, and more. Want to mix things up? Click Shuffle Songs. iPod nano makes your music look as good as it sounds, thanks to its bright color display.
Movies Buy movies from the iTunes Store and you can sync them to your iPod nano to watch anywhere, anytime. Up to 5 hours of video playback means you can watch two movies back to back. And for your viewing pleasure, the 320-by-240-pixel display--with a whopping 204 pixels per inch--is 65 percent brighter than before.
TV Shows There's always something good on iPod nano. Browse thousands of episodes of your favorite TV shows on the iTunes Store, buy them for just $1.99 each, then sync them to your iPod nano. Watch last night's episodes this morning, or buy a whole TV series and play a pocket-size marathon.
Podcasts The iTunes Store features thousands of free video and audio podcasts, including indie favorites and offerings from such big names as ABC News, Comedy Central, ESPN, PBS, NPR, and many more. Browse and subscribe to podcasts, then sync them to your iPod nano. You can even play video podcasts on TV using an optional Apple component or composite AV cable.
Audiobooks The digital shelves of the iTunes Store are stocked with thousands of audiobooks--including exclusives like the entire Harry Potter series--so you can catch up on your reading wherever iPod nano takes you. iPod nano even recognizes where you left off reading and bookmarks your place.
Games Put hours of fun at your fingertips. iPod nano comes with three games--Vortex, iQuiz, and Klondike--and you can download more from the iTunes Store for $4.99 each. All iPod games are designed specifically for the iPod interface. And all of them look great on the 2-inch color display.
Photos iPod nano holds up to 7,000 photos you can sync from your Mac or PC via iTunes. Use the Click Wheel to scroll through photo thumbnails. To see a photo full screen, click the center button. You can even view your photo slideshows--complete with music and transitions--on a TV using an optional Apple component or composite AV cable.
Extras Calendars, contacts, and a screen lock appear in the Extras menu, along with a few more handy items. Take the world clock, for example. Spin the Click Wheel to choose different clocks for cities all over the world. For workouts, use the built-in stopwatch to log your best times.
About this product: The Pure-Fi Anywhere speaker system uses a unique combination of speaker drivers to deliver clear sound with maximum bass and minimal distortion. Its compact size and long battery life make it the ideal companion to your iPod. Plus, the system comes with a 2-year limited hardware warranty.
The Pure-Fi Anywhere's slim design makes it easy to use it, well, anywhere.
Your iPod connects easily via the iPod dock. View larger.
Performance Thanks to the Pure-Fi Anywhere's advanced acoustics, you'll experience exceptionally clear sound with maximum bass. A set of 2-inch Max-X active, high-excursion drivers delivers full, balanced audio, while 3-inch pressure drivers maximize the bass response. StereoXL technology widens the stereo image dramatically, creating an immersive audio experience.
Convenience Enjoy your music longer with a 10-hour rechargeable battery and a battery-level indicator, which eliminates surprises. An included travel case protects and stores the speakers, remote, and streamlined AC adapter. The Pure-Fi Anywhere also charges your iPod and it supports all iPod models with dock connectors--including iPod nano and iPod with video. The system also supports the 1G and 3G iPod models, and other portable music players, via the 3.5-millimeter auxiliary input.
Control Use the included wireless remote to control your iPod and browse your content from anywhere in the room. One-touch controls on the remote allow you to enjoy instant access to shuffle and repeat functions.
What's in the Box Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere speaker system, international voltage (100-240V) AC adapter, advanced wireless remote, protective travel case, and installation guide.
About this product: Extend your relationship with your iPod. iHome is the leading manufacturer of clock radios with built-in iPod docks. iHome's iH9R Dual Alarm Clock Stereo Radio for your iPod has a built-in dock for your iPod so it can play through the radio's stereo speaker system. Listen to tunes any time, or fall asleep and rise to wakefulness with them too. There's also a digitally-tuned AM/FM radio. Adjustable controls let you customize the sound. Several alarm modes help make life easier too. If you don't have an iPod, you can listen to MP3 players of other brands through the auxiliary input port. Control your radio and iPod menus using the convenient remote control. With the iH9R, your dockable iPod can now play a more prominent role as a music provider at home. Enjoy your iPod at all times. Programmable sleep timer with 120, 90, 60, 30 or 15 minute scheduled shutdown Adjustable separate sleep volume lets you set a comfortable sleep volume without affecting wake to or regular listening levels 7-5-2 Alarm settings (everyday, weekdays, weekends) Programmable snooze feature with intervals from 1 to 60 minutes Full function remote control controls unit and iPod menu functions Dual alarm with AM/FM presets - Preset buttons to save 4 favorite AM, 4 FM1 and 4 FM2 radio stations Bass, Treble, 3D and balance controls so you can adjust for best sound Extra-large, backlit custom LCD Display with dimmer DST switch for quick daylight-savings time adjustment 6-Watts total audio output Made for iPod - iPod is not included (must be a dockable iPod) - Universal dock with inserts to fit docking iPod models Power AC power adaptor (included) for radio; Battery - 2 ?AA? (included) for remote control
About this product: Enjoy image-perfect detail and clarity plus motorized tracking. Ultra-wide field of view and intelligent face tracking keeps you right in the middle of the action. Get more detail and clarity from Logitech's glass lens designed in collaboration with Carl Zeiss, the global leader in camera optics. Your images stay razor sharp, even in closeups. HD video and images have never looked so real at 960 by 720 pixels. A true 2-Megapixel sensor, with up to 8-megapixel photos. RightLight 2 Technology adjusts intelligently to produce the best possible images in dim or poorly backlight settings. Integrated microphone with RightSound Technology lets you enjoy crystal clear conversations, free from annoying background noise. A 12" desktop stand puts your webcam at eye level when you're not on the go. Color depth - 24-bit true color Video capture - Up to 1600 by 1200 pixels (HD quality, Video 960x720 pixels) Frame rate - Up to 30 frames per second Still-image capture - 8-Megapixels with software enhancement Built-in microphone with RightSound Technology System Requirements - Windows XP, Pentium 4 or compatible processor 1.4 GHz, 128 MB RAM, 200 MB free space, 16-bit color display adapter, Windows-compatible sound card and speakers (full-duplex sound card recommended), USB port and CD-ROM drive
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