Graham
on
Cameras don’t have to be the kind you take with you, and they can do more than just take pictures! Logitech’s new TV Cam HD is a new device that’s bringing a smart feature to almost every TV out there.
Smart TVs are all the rage, but you may not want to add one to every room in the house. Still, wouldn’t it be great if you could do some of the smart stuff, like video conferencing, from any HDMI-enabled TV? That’s the question Logitech asked, and they’ve answered it themselves with their TV Cam HD. It’s a Skype camera that adds Skype functionality to any TV with HDMI.
This is a pretty big deal; it means that almost any TV from the last five or six years can connect up to this device and make video calls with high quality video and audio. All of the heavy lifting is done by the device itself, and it outputs an HD picture to your HDTV.
Setting it up is pretty simple: you plug it into your TV’s HDMI port, and either connect up a wired ethernet cable, or connect to your wireless N network. Don’t try this on Wireless G or below, you’re just asking for tears.
Unlike a lot of computer-based webcams, this thing has a wide-angle lens that’s built for living rooms. A high quality Carl Zeiss® lens made from real glass is what helps it deliver a higher quality picture. There’s a 2x optical zoom built in, something else that you generally won’t find on webcams, and you can pan around your space digitally using the remote. The remote is just as simple as the camera itself, with only the buttons you need to confirm and navigate on its face.
If you’ve already got a Skype account you can sign in with that, if not you can sign up right on the device. Calls, both audio and video, are free to other Skype users anywhere else in the world. As an avid Skype user, I relish the idea of kicking back on my couch and chatting with friends and family right on my TV!
Skype arrives for your TV with the Logitech TV Cam HD. Plugging right into an HDMI port on your TV, the TV Cam HD doesn't need a computer to work. Instead, Skype is built directly into the device. Featuring a built-in ringer and even voicemail for when you aren't home, the TV Cam HD lets you stay in touch with friends and family easier than ever before.
