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Everyone loves the beach – the sun, the sand, the surf… But not everyone can be there all the time.
Fortunately, The Tides hotel on Folly Beach, South Carolina, has a high tech solution for those of us who can’t get to the beach as often as we’d like, or even for folks who just want to see what the surf’s like before heading out!
In partnership with Surfchex, The Tides has set up a 720p HD webcam which pans and zooms along the beach, providing 15 frames per second of live beach imagery 24 hours a day, so now you can get your fix of Folly Beach from just about any internet-connected computer or mobile device.
Check out the Folly Beach Webcam here.
Yosemite Falls, the fifth highest waterfall in the world is a stunning sight. Now fans of nature’s amazing handiwork can view this breathtaking spectacle from anywhere in the world via a new high-definition webcam.
Maintained by the generosity of Yosemite Conservancy donors, Yosemite Falls cam updates approximately every 30 seconds and is well worth a look.
You can check out the cam here.
The Gainsville Sun reports that a police have arrested a 25 year old man on a charge of burglary to a dwelling after a series of strange events prompted a a Gainsville resident to set up a webcam to monitor her apartment.
The woman, of Looking Glass Apartments, told police that, on several occasions, someone had knocked at the door and then stood out of view of the peephole. Her roommate also told police that she had woken up to find a man in her bedroom on April 16th. Unfortunately, she wasn’t wearing her contacts, and couldn’t identify the intruder beyond saying he was a white male.
Following these incidents, one of the roommates – both students at the University of Florida – set up a motion activated webcam on her computer. The webcam soon captured an image of a white male inside the apartment without the roomates’ consent while both occupants were out.
They were able to identify the man as the complex’s maintenance man, and, when police told him there was a video of him inside the residence, he admitted entering the apartment and stealing $10. Police are looking into whether there could be any connection to other burglaries in the area.
The Logitech C270 HD Webcam is a low-cost, high definition web camera that isn’t quite inexpensive enough to qualify as being a cheap webcam.
That said, it certainly isn’t expensive, either, and it stands up well when compared to other webcams in its price range.
Featuring a maximum resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, a 3 Megapixel sensor and built-in microphone, this webcam provides all you need to get started with Skype or other video chat software.
Amazon users who have bought and reviewed this product are generally satisfied with their purchase, praising the outstanding video quality offered by this HD webcam. Recurring criticisms seem to suggest that some of the software supplied with the device may be unstable, and, perhaps, not particularly useful, and that the camera, although functionally good, is extremely light and prone to being knocked, effectively putting the user out of shot.
Although a little annoying, the camera’s excellent sound and video capture functions are unaffected by these minor inconveniences; the application software supplied is not needed to use the camera for video chat, and fixing the camera in place is not a difficult task given a piece of Blu-Tac or Velcro etc.
For anyone looking for an an inexpensive HD webcam capable of providing a superior video chat experience at a very reasonable price, the Logitech C270 HD should be pretty high on their list of candidates.
Click here to see the Logitech C270 HD Webcam at Amazon
Fans of construction project webcams will want to check out the New Zealand Transport Agency’s Atiamuri Bridge Replacment webcam.
According to Voxy, the web camera, provided by EarthCam, automatically captures a new, high resolution image from the construction site every half hour.
Bryce Carter, Project Management Services Manager, told Voxy that the webcam allowed the wider project team, other NZTA staff and the general public to watch progress on the $24 million project in “close to real time”, and that it was a valuable tool in helping to manage the project.
Construction of the new bridge got underway in November 2011, and, when it is complete, a time lapse video will be created from the webcam pictures to show how the project was undertaken.
You can check out the project’s webcam here.
This wireless network camera from Surepromise is surprisingly capable for a relatively low-cost model, offering a useful range of features at a price that won’t break the bank.
Network cameras are almost always used for remote surveillance, either as part of a security system or, perhaps, to keep an eye on your children or pets when you have to be out of the room. For these purposes, a webcam that connects to your network is almost always more convenient than one that attaches to your computer via a USB port, and usually offers a number of extra features, too.
This Surepromise model offers both wired and wireless network connections, making it easy to set anywhere in your home or office – just supply a power connection, and you should be up and running in minutes. You should note, however, that it may be necessary to adjust the camera’s default network setting first, and for this purpose you may need to temporarily connect to it via an ethernet cable instead of by Wi-fi. Rest assured, once this initial setup has been done, you’ll be ready to take advantage of all the features this network camera (sometimes referred to as an IP camera) has to offer.
Probably the most immediately obvious of those features are the infrared LEDs mounted on the front of the network camera, enabling the camera to see in the dark. This night vision facility is particularly useful if you intend the camera to form part of a security monitoring system, but may be less important if you have other uses in mind.
The camera is supplied with a mounting bracket, and provides pan and tilt functionality, greatly extending its field of view. The embedded web server supports multiple users, each with their own password, making it easy for you and your trusted staff or family to watch real-time images from the camera, live in your web browser, from any computer on your network, or even over the internet. It has been suggested that you need to be using Internet Explorer to get the most from the on-board web server, but that other popular browsers are capable of accessing most of the system’s functions.
Motion detection is a must in any security application, and this IPCam offers both in-built detection and a connection to receive input from an external alarm system. In either case, the camera will begin recording, and, if configured to do so, send an email alert to your inbox.
Fortunately, you won’t need to be at your desk to see what your network camera is looking at. Dynamic DNS is supported for users wishing to access their camera over the internet, thereby avoiding the problem of changing IP addresses common to Internet Service Providers that don’t issue static IPs – most of them, these days!
Overall, this network camera offers just about everything you could wish for in a basic but functional device, making it ideal for home or office security on a budget. It’s strictly for indoor use – exposure to the elements is definitely not supported! – and, reportedly, works best with Internet Explorer, but, within these minor limitations, it fulfils its function admirably.
The vast majority of Amazon user reviews are positive, and strongly suggest that anyone seriously considering a low-cost network camera should have this device on their list.
Click here to see more details of this Wireless Network Camera at Amazon
TrueSystems, the name behind the TrueSentry line of surveillance and security tracking products, and TrueLook, the industry leading group of construction webcams, timelapsing and resort webcams, amongst other interactive webcam products, announced yesterday (April 30th 2012) that it would be changing its name to TrueLook Inc., according to a PRWeb Press Release.
The move is intended to strengthen recognition of the TrueLook brand amongst the general public, and forms part of an ongoing drive to focus the company’s direction towards professional webcam solutions. However, the change of name does not signify a change in the company’s team, or ownership, nor will there be any impact upon existing customers, product lines or support arrangements.
TrueLook specialises in interactive webcam systems, particularly destination, hospitality, event-marketing and construction webcams. It has been deploying webcams all over the world – including the NASA webcam at the South Pole – for more than 15 years. TrueLook expects to continue this tradition by releasing a range of as yet undisclosed features throughout 2012.
The Kinobo B7 Laptop USB Webcam is a cheap web camera, positioned very much at the budget end of the market, yet with some features that its more expensive competitors would do well to study.
In particular, the Kinobo B7 is designed to be simple to set up. You don’t have to install drivers from a CD, along with a raft of other software of dubious benefit – this webcam just plugs into your computer’s USB port and works – simple!
The camera has a built-in microphone – which is also designed to work without need for extra software – enabling you to start using video chat software straight away, even if your computer doesn’t already have a microphone.
But, most importantly for a webcam, the Kinobo B7 produces sharp, clear images and video, thanks to its improved graphics chip. Indeed, in the consistently favourable reviews posted by Amazon customers, this webcam is often commended for offering great image quality at a low price.
The camera also incorporates a clip which is designed to attach the device to a laptop or flat screen monitor, or, if desired, can closed and used as a desk stand. Although this sounds like a great idea, some users have suggested that, in its desk stand configuration, the camera is too lightweight to stay were it is put. The least knock to the camera, or the USB cable connected to it, could be enough to point it away from you – great, low-cost video capture isn’t much use if the webcam is pointing at the ceiling!
That said, this is a minor complaint that could, no doubt, be easily addressed with a blob of Blu-Tac or a strip of Velcro – or even duct tape, at a pinch.
Aside from this flaw – which, it is claimed, will be addressed in any upcoming revision of the B7, and which may even be on sale by the time you read this – the Kinobo B7 looks to be a promising beginner’s webcam.
While not laden down with features, as some of its competitors are, it offers solid basic functionality in the form of good video and sound quality for a device in its class, ease of setup and an attractively low price.
For someone looking to take their first steps with a webcam – perhaps an elderly relative without a firm grasp of computers and their occasional tantrums – this product is well worth considering.
See the Kinobo B7 Webcam at Amazon
This cheerful and cheap web camera is definitely at the budget end of the webcam spectrum, offering simple, no frills functionality at a bargain price.
Although billed as a 5 megapixel web camera, the product’s technical details explicitly state: “Up to 5.0 Mega pixels resolution, Image Capture: 2560*1920 Resolution(using 1.3M Hardware, Enhanced by the software).” and goes on to confirm in the product description, “Please do not expect the picture quality will be equal to your 5M digital camera.”
Clearly, this low-cost webcam is never going to compete with premium, high-resolution models, and nor does it pretend to. Even so, its image quality is more than adequate for simple video chat, and its built-in microphone is up to the task of voice chat, with an effective range of 1 – 2 feet.
The camera offers support for low light levels via 6 bright white LEDs mounted on the front of the unit, with brightness adjustable via a control on the cable. Although, again, not as sophisticated a solution as may be found on high-end web cameras, this is a perfectly adequate approach for a cheap webcam, as is the camera’s manual focus, which is operated by turning the ring around the lens.
This budget webcam is easy to set up, is self contained and will at least work, if not to the best of its capacity, without the need to install any software or drivers. For this reason alone, it may be a good choice as an introductory web camera for users unfamiliar with computers or webcams.
It is, however, extremely lightweight, and some users have complained that it is easy to accidentally knock the camera out of position by touching it or the cable connecting it to their computer. This is unlikely to pose a serious problem for most users, but it’s worth being aware of in advance.
Overall, then, this a reasonable webcam within the limits you’d expect for a budget product. If you’re looking for a cheap web camera that does the job without frills or fuss, this one is well worth a look.
See the TeckNet USB Webcam Camera at Amazon
The Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 HD sports an impressive array of features, making it a strong contender for anyone’s webcam of choice.
As its name suggests, the 9000 HD supports 720p video capture at a consistently high frame rate, giving you the benefit of high definition webcam video without the slow, jerky performance common to some other HD webcams.
With its Carl Zeiss lens system, responsive autofocus and intelligent face tracking, this webcam is designed to keep you in shot, in focus and looking sharp, whether you’re leaning into the camera for an extreme closeup, or standing back for a long shot. The camera’s 2 megapixel sensor is capable of capturing video at up to 50% greater resolution than the more common 1.3 megapixel cameras, and it’s great for still photos, too, offering snaps of up to 8 megapixels at the touch of a button.
And, for good measure, its RightLight2 technology automatically compensates for poor lighting conditions, including back and side lighting that would otherwise hide your face in shadows.
But this web camera doesn’t stop at providing a great, high resolution image – its RightSound technology aims to make you sound great too. As anyone who’s used a webcam with built in microphone before will know, hearing echos of your own voice during video chat sessions can be a real problem. Fortunately, this web camera attempts to automatically cancel out echos and other distracting background sounds, making your video calls a much more pleasant experience.
The Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 HD also features a built-in universal clip, making it easy to attach the webcam to your laptop or a desktop monitor. While this is hardly vital to the cam’s performance, it’s a nice touch that helps you get up and running with the device in next to no time, as do the included 6 foot (1.8 meter) USB cable and Quick Start Guide.
Amazon customers have consistently awarded this camera 5 stars in their online reviews, noting time again the overall view that it is a high quality product that is easy to set up and use, meeting or exceeding their expectations. Although it is not the cheapest webcam on the market, it is often to be found for considerably less than it’s recommended retail price. This, together with the features on offer make the Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 HD a very tempting prospect for anyone in the market for a good quality webcam at a reasonable price.
Click here to see the Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 at Amazon
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