Los Angeles — Software behemoth Microsoft Corp., on Wednesday unleashed the latest entry into its LifeCam series of Webcams, the LifeCam Studio, which brings full-frame 1080p video to the platform, which is also a perfect for Windows Live Messenger 2011, with HD video calling and a 16:9 widescreen format.
This is Microsoft’s first full-HD 1080p sensor webcam, the LifeCam Studio has a lot to prove and it was built to give a very sharp, high quality image, being over twice as large as the 720p HD sensors that are currently available on the market — but its specifications certainly seem to be uniquely impressive.
Full 1080p HD is now de rigueur for televisions, Blu-ray players, and other home entertainment devices. But Webcams are a different breed, and 1080p HD Webcams are only now just starting to filter through. Also, it is has configurable resolutions from 640×480 right up to 1920×1080, a high-precision glass element lens provides a clarity that previous models have not quite been able to match.
Microsoft’s LifeCam Studio is not the first 1080p Webcam, with Logitech having beaten Redmond to the market with its 1080p C910. But the Microsoft offering looks pretty impressive, and has an array of features which should lift it above the competition.
One of its major benefits is the great video quality in any lighting conditions, whether it is sunny, or the user’s face is lit only by the light from the computer monitor. The Redmond Voles latest HD LifeCam will be used at its full potential this fall, when Windows Live Messenger will support HD video calling.
Michael Chang, group product manager for Windows Live Messenger said that “with Windows Live Messenger, customers can now have richer, more meaningful conversations by sharing photos, playing games and, of course, instant messaging all while video chatting in HD”.
“We are delighted to deliver HD widescreen video calls with Windows Live Messenger 2011, giving LifeCam users a more vivid and clear image for their video calls,” he adds.
Not only this new webcam delivers a high-quality video image, it also includes a 360-degree view range, so users do not have to pick up or move their laptops to get a view of the entire room. The elongated hood, meanwhile, was modeled after a high-end camera to help protect the lens from stray light, Microsoft said.
Nevertheless, the LifeCam supports 1080p, Microsoft cautioned that popular video-calling services like Skype only support 720p. To activate 1080p HD recording, users will need commercial video software that is not included, an Intel Quad Core 3.0 GHz or higher, and 4GB of RAM. The enclosed software supports 720p HD video recording, Microsoft said.
Interestingly, Microsoft has also included a tripod thread on the base, which is very useful for recording long videos from several angles. Additionally, this super webcam also has premium optics with its improved Auto Focus that keeps objects focused, regardless of their distance from the LifeCam, and a high-precision glass component for extreme clarity.
As for color quality, two technologies make sure that it always remains like the real thing, in any given circumstances. The bright and colorful video stays this way in any lighting and the TrueColor Technology makes sure that the face is properly exposed, and the video remains smooth and detailed even in low light, thanks to the ClearFrame Technology.
And as in life everything comes with a price, the LifeCam Studio will be available later this month, exclusively in Best Buy stores, but for those who cannot wait any longer, it can already be bought on BestBuy.com, at $99.95.