Microsoft announces two Live-optimized webcams
Xbox 360 owners aren't the only ones who have a Microsoft-brand webcam to look forward to later this summer, as Redmond will also be gifting Windows Live Messenger users with models of their very own. First in a planned series of cams designed to dumb-down the videoconferencing experience, the LifeCam VX-6000 and VX-3000 both feature built-in noise-canceling microphones, a "Live Call" button which brings up the Buddy Picker window, and software integration with Messenger for camera control and one-click photo uploads to Windows Live Spaces. Consumers looking for better image quality will want to go with the $100 VX-6000, which offers 1.3 megapixel video and stills up to five megapixels (using interpolation, obviously), while the $50 VX-3000 should suffice for those who need only standard VGA resolution. Pre-ordering has already begun on Amazon, but neither of these products will ship until sometime in August.
