A NEW-GENERATION WEBCAM GIVES VIDEO A SMOOTHER LOOK
The latest model in Logitech's QuickCam series of Webcams is the Ultra Vision, and as is usually the case with Logitech products, some thought has gone into design. The Ultra Vision looks nothing like more conventional round Webcams. Instead, it is a cylinder that is brushed silver on one side and iPod white on the other.
But what stands out with the Ultra Vision is the picture it produces. One reason is a higher-quality five-element glass lens. Another is a 1.3-megapixel sensor that produces a higher-resolution picture than most Webcams. Logitech has also developed technology that enhances the picture in low light and improves audio quality.
The Ultra Vision camera, which sells for about US$130 at major online and offline retailers, supports the most popular Internet video calling systems, including Skype, AIM Triton, Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live Messenger and Logitech's own VideoCall.
The Ultra Vision and other new Webcams are coming closer to TV-quality pictures and sound. That means less of the herky-jerky movement that can induce motion sickness in viewers, giving you a better shot at Web stardom.
PORTABLE VIDEO PLAYER WITH PLENTY OF SCREEN
The Creative Zen Vision W looks like a cross between a portable TV and a mini-laptop, and its 4.3-inch screen is big enough to share movies and photos with your subway seatmates.
The 275g player, which will come in 30-gigabyte and 60-gigabyte models when it is released this month, can also output video and pictures to a television using the included cable. It plays MP3 and Windows Media files, works with TiVoToGo software to play back recorded shows, and has a flash card slot on the side for transferring photos from a digital camera.
The Zen Vision W can hold up to 240 hours of video or about 15,000 songs, and its screen displays widescreen video at a resolution of 480 by 272 pixels. It has a built-in FM radio and alarm, allowing it to double as a bedside clock. There is also a microphone for recording live audio.
Don't fret if you do not have a lot of widescreen video to watch — the Zen Vision W expands standard-definition video to fill the screen, offering a cinema experience in the palm of your hand. Be sure to lean back a bit, though, to let the guy next to you get a good look.
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