The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

Choose text size: Select small text. Select medium text. Select large text.

You're viewing an article in TMO's historic archive vault. Here, we've preserved the comments and how the site looked along with the article. Use this link to view the article on our current site:
Logitech Announces Mac HD Webcam Compatible with iChat, Skype

Logitech Announces Mac HD Webcam Compatible with iChat, Skype

by , 6:00 PM EDT, June 24th, 2008

Logitech announced Tuesday the Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro, a webcam for the Mac platform that supports up to 720p resolutions, and will work with both iChat and Skype for video communications. The device also includes Logitech's LightRight 2 technology, which allows the image from the webcam to adjust itself to dimly lit or harsh lighting conditions.

Logitech showed the device to The Mac Observer at a media briefing held last week in San Francisco. While we have not yet subjected the webcam to independent testing, the company demonstrated the LightRight 2 technology and the 720p widescreen resolution.

The LightRight 2 technology was able to present a solid image onscreen with a variety of fore and background lighting conditions.

The company is aiming the higher resolution of the device (960 x 720 when recording, VGA-quality at 30 frames per second when streaming video) at those wanting a higher quality image than that offered by Apple's built-in iSight camera (maximum of 640 x 480).

Logitech also said that the device uses a voice coil motor in the autofocus system, and that this delivers better performance than the stepper motor system in other webcams. It can also focus on objects as close as 10cm away from the camera.

The QuickCam Vision Pro is scheduled to ship in July, and the device will be priced at US$129.99.


AThe Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:Guest
Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:29 pm Subject: stupid marketing

720p is NOT 960x720, it's 1280x720. And fleecing Mac users an extra $50 for what is essentially just a '9000' is just rude, considering Logitech doesn't even need to create a driver for the device, or include any Mac applications. Why isn't the Mac version $50 less than the Windows version, as they need to create/license a boatload of applications and drivers for it to be useable with Windows.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Tue Jun 24, 2008 9:08 pm Subject: True

Not only $50 more expensive, but less features as well. A bargain!


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:41 am Subject:

Agreed--it should be less expensive than the Windows version. Wise up, Logitech.


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:vanfruniken Posts: 8 Joined: 22 Mar 2003
Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:13 am Subject: OSX will support "any" UVC camera out of the box

UVC=USB Video Class.
MacOSX (10.4.3 and later) has built-in support for UVC but imposes some minimum standards for USB(2) cameras before it will detect them. After all the built-in cameras in recent MacBooks and iMacs are USB2 devices, NOT firewire.
When you look at the packaging or feature sets of various cameras, compliance with the UVC standard is almost never advertised,
You may see "Windows Vista compatible" or "no drivers required". If any drivers are supplied for Vista, you can bet that the camera isn't UVC compliant. IMHO USB camera suppliers are not doing the customer a favor by not specifying the simple words "UVC compliant" in the specs.

In addition one should also consider other features (speed, resolution,...) when comparing "compliant" cameras.

BTW Leopard seems to be more picky (where it will detect the camera but show a blank image) about UVC camera features than Tiger.

In recent months at least some info on the subject has appeared on the web.


Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:23 am Subject: LightRight 2

LightRIGHT is a trademark for LightRIGHT photo reflectors. www.lightrightreflector.com
I wonder if they did a trademark search.

GB


 Reply | Quote
Close Name:Guest
Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:55 am Subject: Thanks !

Thanks for the heads UP!! I want another cam for my Tiger OS because the iSight on fw is just NOT working as it once did. I've no idea why the audio always drops out but it sickens me.--Allen


 Reply | Quote
Comment on this Article


Guest Posts Visible. Hide Them.
Back to top  Page 1 of 1    

You cannot edit your comments.   You cannot delete your comments.

Comments are currently closed. Please email the author instead.


Recent Headlines - Updated March 18th

Thu, 10:42 AM
Dave Hamilton's Blog - SXSW Music Festival Survival Guide
9:54 AM
Product News - CheckUp 2.6 Improves Core i5, i7 Support
9:35 AM
News - Apple Adds Price Change Scheduling to App Store
8:56 AM
News - HTC Ready to Take On Apple in Patent Suit
8:15 AM
News - Amazon Releases Kindle for Mac Public Beta
Wed, 7:26 PM
News - Apple Director Jerome York Hospitalized, in Critical Condition
5:20 PM
Mac Geek Gab Podcast - MGG 250: SXSW, Time Machine, Mail Tips, & Network Performance
4:54 PM
iPhone - iPhone Fails to Make a Top 20 List For a Good Reason
3:47 PM
Editorial - Six Really Good Reasons to Buy an iPad - Right Away
3:39 PM
News - Fake Steve Jobs Takes His Shtick to TV For ‘iCon’
2:35 PM
Games - Mac Game News: Civ III Complete at GameAgent, Bob Came in Pieces Arrives
2:15 PM
Editorial - How Apple Seized Mobile Advertising from the Advertising Industry

The Mac Observer Reader Specials
  • __________
  • Buy Stuff, Support TMO!
  • Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
  • Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
  • TMO on Twitter!