Philips flaunts webcam trio
With Creative recently adding auto focus to its face-tracking Live! Cam Optia to create the Optia AF, the bar has been raised yet higher for webcam ki
With Creative recently adding auto focus to its face-tracking Live! Cam Optia to create the Optia AF, the bar has been raised yet higher for webcam kind.But confidently stepping up to the plate is this trio from Philips. Borrowing the plug-and-play mantra from Creative, the SPC620 base model works with all popular IM services out of the box. It only boasts a VGA res but hopes to pull in the punters with its ease of use charm.For the same money, though, you can scale up to the SPC1000 (pictured) which bumps the video res up to an interpolated 2MP and still shots up to 5MP. Audio gets a tweak too with the directional mic doing its best to filter out the unwanted.For Philips ultimate ride though it has to be the SPC1300, which manages 6MP stills (again, only by cheating with interpolation) and two built-in directional mics to spot unwanted background murmurs and eradicate them with killer-like precision.All three get wide-angle lenses, and face tracking capabilities to centre your mug in the frame and, if your bedroom detritus isn’t for broadcast, you can handily change the background for something more palatable. Sadly the beach background is only an effect, not a secret portal to the Caribbean.Essentials Philips SPC620, SPC1000, SPC1300 Price: €50, €50, €100 On sale: August Contact: Philips Related stories: PlayStation Eye – no longer a mere Toy Mustek webcam has more metal Turn on, plug in, zoom out
Dan Grabham
Editor-in-Chief