The Weekly Daily Giz Wiz, Week of October 10th, 2011. Netcast 1335
October 8, 2011 Post a Comment A five year old web cam that is still a big seller!
If you’re a fan of the Weekly Daily Giz Wiz you know we’ve been having some audio and video problems for the past month or so. John and Alex at TWiT and I ran some tests off-air and found out the problem starts when Skype automatically increases my video to high def. I explained the problem to an engineer at Logitech asking if there was anything I could do to stop the problem. Here’s his reply: “Once Skype has detected your CPU spec, available internet speed, model of webcam for both the sender and receiver of the Skype call: Skype will start the video call in VGA (4x3 aspect ration, 640x480) after completing the system check mentioned above, if you meet the specs, then Skype increases your video to widescreen mode, first 480p and then 720p. (I was using the Logitech C615 which has amazing HD video quality.) There is no way to stop this from a webcam Hardware, Logitech Software or Skype Software settings. Its all Skype.” – Fortunately, Nick at Logitech said they’ve had one webcam in their line for about 5 years now, their biggest selling webcam ever, that should be able to solve the problem. It offers excellent video with a 2-megapixel sensor and Carl Zeiss lens. But it won’t go into the higher quality Skype modes. It’s the Logitech Pro 9000 Webcam. So I could check it out for myself, Nick sent one on to me. Set up was very easy, just plug and play. But if you want to make high quality video calls with 30 second-per-frame video, you and the person you’re calling via Skype should both have dual-core equipped CPUs. And yes, you need a fast broadband connection too. The Logitech Pro 9000 has some other nice features too, including RightLight 2 technology (to handle low-light situations), auto focus, and a built-in echo-canceling mic. I don’t use the built-in mic. Instead I have a Heil PR 40 studio mic. I did a test run with Alex at TWiT and that went well, with excellent video and no audio problems. The big test is recording an entire episode of The Weekly Daily Giz Wiz with this camera. By the time you read this, we will have done that. And you can see the results by click the show link below. MSRP for the Logitech Pro 9000 is $79.99, but it’s on the web for about $50. I haven’t shopped at this link, but it’s $49.99 here:
See or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1335
This link usually goes live on Sunday afternoon, the day after we record the Netcast.
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