Oh! Gizmo

By Chris Scott Barr

I recall just a few short years ago that webcams were these little balls that sat on your desk and recorded fuzzy video at low frame rates. They weren’t really good for much, other than choppy video conversations with long-distance friends thanks to slow internet connections. However, with faster internet speeds, and the immense popularity of YouTube, webcams are quickly catching up with the times. This new Dualpix HD 720p cam from Hercules would be one such device.

The Dualpix HD 720p is one of the latest webcams to offer full 720p HD resolution to the average consumer. Hercules is targeting the notebook crowd with its small size, secure attachment system and a pair of rotational axes. The rotational axes would be a nice addition, allowing you to place it on either the side or top of your screen without shooting video on its side. If you’re looking for technical specs, hit the jump to check them out.

• 1 megapixel CMOS sensor (1280×800 pixels) for perfect image quality, even in low-light conditions
• Photo resolution: 5 megapixels! (interpolated mode)
• Video resolution: HD720p (1280×720), up to 30 frames/second for perfectly fluid 16/9 HD videos
• USB 2.0 Video Class (UVC) interface for high-speed transfers and ultra-simple driverless installation (in Windows® XP SP2, Vista® and Windows® 7)
• Autofocus lens with a wide viewing angle. Awesome! Now you can be seen from head to toe!
• High-quality built-in microphone

The Hercules Dualpix HD720p will be available for $60 starting next month.

[ Hercules ]