Microsoft Introduces Three More 720p Webcams

There aren't many webcams around that deliver real HD performance (i.e. at decent frame rates), so MS introducing three new models is certainly welcome. The LifeCam HD-5000, HD-5001 and HD-6000 for notebooks all follow on from the previous release of the LifeCam Cinema last year and appear to carry similar features to that camera. The main addition is that of Microsoft's new TrueColor Technology, which makes use of both software and firmware along with face detection to ensure video isn't over or under-exposed. It's worth noting that LifeCam Cinema owners will also be able to make use of TrueColor Technology through a firmware and software update.

Pricing for the new webcams also comes in at less than for the Cinema, with the HD-5000 and HD-5001 carrying recommended retail prices of $49.95, while the HD-6000 for notebooks gets a recommended price of $59.95. Note that the HD-5001 is simply a special edition of the HD-5000 carried only by Best Buy and has a design with a white faceplate rather than black. Of course, you are going to need a computer with a decent specification to get the best from these cameras at high resolutions, with the recommendation being an Intel Dual-Core 3GHz processor and 2GB of RAM. It would have been nice to see h.264 hardware encoding added so this wasn't as much of an issue, but the new cams do appear to offer good value for money. You should expect to see the HD-5000 and HD-5001 available later this month, with the HD-6000 coming in May.