WebCam Live! Effects
Though Webcams have been available for the better part of a decade, the local boost in broadband uptake means that only now are they becoming truly practical for communicating with friends and family from around the world.
Pros
- Tracks subject movement, includes lapel microphone
Cons
- Windows only, some effects are gimmicky
Bottom Line
Creative’s Live! Effects WebCam is great for chatting with friends and family. However, some of the bundled effects are not practically useful.
-
Price
$ 159.00 (AUD)
Creative's Live! Effects WebCam is packed with useful features, such as the ability to track a subject and keep a face in the centre of the screen. A lapel microphone is also bundled in the packaging to boost audio quality.
The small silver and grey webcam includes a four way stand that allows it to sit on a flat surface or attach to a CRT, flat panel or notebook screen. A USB 2.0 port allows a video frame rate of up to 30 frames per second at a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. Still image capture is supported at a resolution of up to 1.3 megapixels, but this is achieved via software interpolation and the we found the high-res images appeared a little grainy.
Creative's main selling point for the Live! Effects is the ability to add video effects to your footage. For example, it's possible to morph an image or adjust the background to brighten up Webcam conversations, and the webcam ships with a number "Advanced Video FX" straight from the box. Registered users can download more from the Creative website, and it's even possible to get "Stik-on" Webcam covers to personalise the unit.
All versions of Windows are supported from 98SE onwards, but there's no support for Mac users. The packaging includes a copy of Yahoo! messenger, and the device is compatible with MSN messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, and Windows messenger applications. A one-year warranty rounds out a capable Webcam, though most users will find the effects a gimmick.
Most Popular
Best Deals on PCWorld
- Digital VideoView all »
- Digital CamerasView all »
-
-
Olympus Pen E-P3 + 14-42 & 40-...
$899.95 -
Nikon D7000 + 16-85mm VR
$2099.95 -
Nikon D7000 + 18-200mm VR
$2399.95 -
Samsung NX100 + 20mm & Flash
$299.95 -
Nikon D7000 + 18-55mm VR
$1399.95 -
Nikon D3100 + 18-55mm VR & 55-...
$899.95 -
Canon EOS 600D Body
$499.95 -
Samsung NX11 + 18-55mm OIS
$299.95 -
Nikon D3100 + 18-55mm VR
$549.95 -
Canon EOS 600D + 18-135mm IS S...
$899.95 -
Nikon D3100 + 18-55mm VR & 55-...
$749.95 -
Nikon D3100 + 18-105mm VR
$799.95 -
Nikon D7000 Body
$1299.95 -
Canon EOS 600D + 18-55mm IS & ...
$799.95 -
Olympus Pen E-P3 + 14-42 & 40-...
$749.95 -
Olympus PEN E-P3 + 14-42mm Sil...
$749.95
-
- NotebooksView all »
-
-
Dell Alienware M17x Laptop
$2798.99 -
Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook
$1398.99 -
Dell Alienware M18x Laptop
$4299.00 -
Dell Laptop Precision M6700
$3799.00 -
Dell Laptop Precision-M4700
$3599.00 -
Dell Vostro 2520 Laptop
$449.00 -
Dell Alienware M14x Laptop
$2299.00 -
Dell XPS 15 Laptop
$1364.34 -
Dell Inspiron 15R Special Edit...
$998.99 -
Dell Alienware M18x Laptop
$3299.00 -
Dell Laptop Latitude E5430
$1999.00 -
Dell Inspiron 17R Laptop
$1298.99 -
Dell Inspiron 15 (Touch) Lapto...
$598.99 -
Dell XPS 15 Laptop
$2298.99 -
Dell Laptop Latitude E5530
$1979.00 -
Dell Inspiron 15 (Touch) Lapto...
$1099.00
-
- Desktop PCsView all »
-
-
Dell Inspiron 660s Slim Tower ...
$998.99 -
Dell Desktop OptiPlex 9010 All...
$1449.00 -
Dell Precision Desktop T5600
$5248.99 -
Dell Alienware Aurora R4 Deskt...
$2698.98 -
Dell Alienware Aurora ALX R4 D...
$3498.98 -
Dell Inspiron One 2330 (Touch)...
$1298.98 -
Dell Inspiron 660 Mini Tower D...
$798.99 -
Dell Inspiron 660 Mini Tower D...
$798.99 -
Dell Vostro 270SFF Desktop
$1199.00 -
Dell Inspiron One 20 (Non-Touc...
$698.98 -
Dell Inspiron One 2020 (Non-To...
$698.98 -
Dell XPS 8500 Desktop
$1698.98 -
Dell Desktop Precision T1650
$1399.00 -
Dell Desktop OptiPlex 9010 USF...
$1098.99 -
Dell XPS One 2710 (Touch) Desk...
$2698.98 -
Dell Precision Desktop T3600
$3099.00
-
- TabletsView all »




Be the first to comment.