WebCam Live! Ultra CNET Review

CNET editors gave the WebCam Live! Ultra a 7 out of 10 rating, writing that it was especially suitable for new users who usually perform basic video and photo editing, and use basic setting options. The software included with the webcam was also easy to use.

The webcam has a 1.3-megapixel snapshot resolution and a video resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. Able to rotate 360°, they felt the webcam was highly adjustable. Installation was also easy. You only need to drop in the installation CD to install drivers, and have the option of installing a multitude of software that comes included.

In the webcam's useful software bundle, you can choose to install Creative WebCam Center , Yahoo Instant Messenger, and a detailed WebCam Live! Ultra user guide. The camera also comes with the following features:

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  Smart Face Tracking: lets the camera follow and zoom in on your face as you move.
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  Remote monitoring: takes photos of your home or office and sends them to an FTP for you to check in on.
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  A motion detector: when set, lets the camera start recording as soon as motion is detected.
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  Time-lapse video: takes a still shot at a set interval and play the shots back as a video.

An additional ArcSoft software CD includes: VideoImpression, which lets you do simple edits to video; PhotoImpression, for doing simple edits to photos; Multimedia e-mail, which lets you create e-cards; and Collage Creator, for creating scrapbook-style collages. All of these programs are relatively easy to use and provide basic cropping and editing tools, but more-advanced users may crave more editing, color, and settings options.

Lara Luepke writes, "Using WebCam Center, the video performance is of good quality. You can capture between 176x144- and 640x480-pixel resolution video at 30 frames per second (fps) with RGB 24 or I420 video formats. In our tests at each size, the video was smooth, with a well-synchronized audio track. Audio quality with the camera's external headset and microphone is clear; there's no built-in microphone."

Adapted from the CNET review of WebCam Live! Ultra