Soccer Ball Shaped All-in-One Digicam

For some sports fan, nothing is cuter than this SoccerCam Digital Still Camera. Yet despite its adorable looks, Mustek’s SoccerCam sports a half decent 2.1 megapixel CMOS sensor and it also works as a camcorder, digital voice recorder, webcam and it has a AV jack so that you can view its photos and videos on a TV. All of that is not bad for $39 and makes a great gift for Soccer fans.

Philips Skype Web Cam Review
It’s amazing how the web cam and the technology behind it has evolved over the years; from being a device that produced mediocre video at best to its present day incarnation of delivering crystal clear video and breath taking crisp pictures. It is safe to say, that web cams are very much at the forefront in today’s computing environment. The use of personal web cams is very much embedded into our culture (just look at social networking sites like You Tube or My Space).

Thus, many web cam manufacturers are always looking to incorporate a human element into their technology. Take for instance the Philips web cam with Skype ($39.99). Skype is the wildly popular video/audio service that enables one to talk on the internet using Skype’s video conferencing network via a web cam or a Skype enabled phone.
Sporting silver on black and weighing less than one pound, this device reminded me of a mini observation microscope with its rotund shape. The included head phones were fairly comfortable and light weight. The web cam instructions were straight forward and very easy to follow. This web cam is only compatible with Windows (sorry Apple users). I used Windows Vista in testing out this web cam and the drivers weren’t on the installation CD (information on the CD clearly pointed this out) and directed me to the link to download the Vista Drivers.
Philips claims this web cam is different than most because it can be mounted on a monitor or a laptop and even as a stand-alone on a desktop (I strongly have to dispute the monitor or desktop claim). This web cam did not sit well on top of my 19 inch HP monitor (it slid off) and if Philips thinks that plopping down this legless web cam onto a desktop is their idea of “mounting”, they are sadly missing the point. However, in all fairness to Philips, perhaps this web cam is made to fit desktop monitors that have a thin frame. The saving grace was that this web cam did sit just fine on my laptop screen.

The web cam controls are simplistic at best; the middle cam lens moves up and down and the focus is done by turning the lens. There is one button on each side of the web cam (the right button snaps a still picture and the left button activates video recording).
Vlounge is the multi-media software of choice. This software captures, manages, and prepares video clips or pictures to be emailed and enables one to archive snapshots and video clips. The operation of this software was elemental at best but was a welcomed change because most webcam software is either too innovative in its functionality or does not have enough features. I found the software to strike the right amount of balance in its ease of use and features. However, I found the web cam video operation panel to be dismal at best because I could not get that “grainy” video to go away and the overall response time to live video was a tad bit slow and choppy.
Making a video call was fairly easy and is achieved using the Skype software interface (just make sure you download the Skype software, sign-up for an account and purchase some Skype calling credit prior to making a call). The over-all video and sound quality of my Skype video calls wasn’t that impressive.
Using this web cam won’t exactly make you the Steven Spielberg of You Tube nirvana but it’s a very basic “starter” web cam with a decent software package. Hence, if all you want to do is to record and send video clips via email to your family and friends as well as make video calls, and your not too particular or picky about the video quality, then this web cam is for you. However, there are much better alternatives available if you want to experience faster frame rates and better pixel and video quality. The Philips SPC1300NC/00 web cam should do the trick.
Conclusion:
The Good:Good multi-media software (Vlounge) .
The Bad:Not Compatible with Apple computers, mediocre recorded video and still picture quality (very grainy and pixelated). USB 1.1 and does not mount on a monitor that has a thick frame and needs to include a removable stand.

Boynq Alibi Web Cam Review

The Consumers Electronic Show (CES) ushers in the New Year by giving one a bird’s eyes view of what products will be available in the months ahead. Some of the electronic products offered cover the gamut of being mundane while other products are innovative. Take for instance, the slick and futuristic looking Boynq Alibi Computer Speaker Webcam and Microphone. We jumped at the opportunity to put this gadget to the test.Dubbed, the Alibi, this USB plug and play combination computer speaker, webcam, and microphone, aims to add a bit of style to the way one uses a webcam. What makes this webcam different from other web cams is that the web cam is enclosed inside of the body and is released by pressing on top. Hence, the web cam pops out and the speakers are turned on as well (this is the on/off button). This webcam can also manually tilt and swivels around. The microphone is located to the right of the web cam lens (it’s a small slit), and the speakers are housed on the bottom of this unit (four stands prop up the body of the web cam, thus allowing the sound to emit from the speakers). The volume “control ring” button for the speakers is located in the middle of the webcam and is smartly labeled “volume”, and minimum and maximum buttons are clearly but cleverly marked. Also, the packaging for this web cam is the best marketing presentation that I’ve seen in awhile

BeoSound 5

BeoSound 5


As gorgeous as it is powerful, Bang & Olufsen's new BeoSound 5 looks to merge mainstream media management with high-end style. The system, which is controlled via a 10.4-inch LCD screen and attached control column, offers features such as 500GB of storage, HDMI output, wide format support, and Microsoft XP embedded. Simply stunning.

Nixie Tube Clock

Nixie Tube Clock

Few clocks exude the warm feel of analog technology like the Nixie Tube Clock. This particular model, milled from a solid piece of aluminum, has a great brushed finish, six tubes for down-to-the-second accuracy, and a clean rectangular shape.

Logitech Z Cinéma Advanced Surround

Logitech Z Cinéma Advanced Surround

Looking for a robust desktop audio solution that doesn't consume massive amounts of space? Logitech's Z Cinéma Advanced Surround is one of the most feature rich sound systems currently available for desktops. Although it has only two speakers, it utilizes SRS TruSurround HD to believably simulate a much larger surround environment. What's more, those speakers own up with a tri-amplification design and digital crossover EQ. Conveniently, no sound card is required, as the system connects via USB and all components are built-in. It also includes a fully featured remote control that's optimized for media center, so if you're looking for an audio solution for your HTPC and need a remote, you, as they say, could kill two birds with one stone

Pagani Stereo System

Pagani Stereo System

If you happen to have a Pagani parked in your driveway, you might have the dough it will take to pick up this Pagani HI-FI. Made from aluminum and carbon fiber, the system's main control unit is designed after the radios found in Pagani cars, and the four-pipe bass port recalls the Zonda's exhaust system. Other features include two turntables (one for 33s and one for 45s), twin 350 watt tower speakers, a CD player, and a dedicated amplifier.