cams

We've seen our fair share of Internet video cameras in our time, and the one thing they all have in common is the fact they're all either rubbish, broken in some way or just plain ... sucky.

One Internet video camera that doesn't fall into any of these categories is the Y-cam. Not only is it flippin' gorgeous and built like a brick house, but it's also packed with features and extremely easy to set up--something rival camera manufacturers should note.

The Y-cam connects to networks via Ethernet--you'll have to supply your own cable, unfortunately--or via … Read more

With the success of the Flip Video Ultra, a lot more companies are taking a hard look at the budget video camera market, and Tuesday Creative jumped into the fray with its $99 Vado Pocket Video Cam.

From what we can tell from the news release, the Vado offers features very similar to the Flip Video Ultra. However, the Vado comes with 2GB of built-in memory and a removable rechargeable battery for less money. Creative also claims that the sub 3-ounce Vado is "dramatically thinner and lighter than competing video cameras," which we assume means the Flip Video … Read more

Microsoft introduced a new Webcam today. The LifeCam VX-5000 might have made a thoughtful $50 Mother's Day gift had Microsoft released it last week. Instead, it won't be out until June--perhaps in time for Father's Day. With integrated Webcams showing up in an increasing number of laptops and LCD monitors, who is buying a separate Webcam these days? The only person I know who has purchased a Webcam in the recent past is me--for my folks so they can Skype with the grandkids.

Should you be in the market for a Webcam, you should know that the … Read more

ManyCam is the freeware tool users who need their Webcam for more than one chat program simultaneously. It creates a "virtual" Webcam that replicates your currently installed camera. It then lets multiple applications access the video stream without conflict.

ManyCam is compatible with Yahoo, MSN, CamFrog, PalTalk, ICQ, Skype, YouTube, and more. Once you've installed it, you need to set ManyCam as the primary input for program that you want to use. It'll automatically start when activate your Webcam through that program. The application includes a bunch of gimmicky features that let you change aspects of … Read more

Competition is fierce on the golf course even for amateur duffers, and some will go to practically any lengths to acquire the slightest advantage. And now there's a gadget that can give you a covert peek into your opponent's practice sessions if you can sneak it into his bag.

BrickHouse Security--the crazy outfit that's responsible for such gizmos as the "GPS Mail Logger"--has done it again with the "Micro Orb Spy Camera," a device that it says is the same size as a golf ball. This surveilling sphere records audio as well … Read more

We saw this item a couple of days ago but passed on it because we were certain we'd seen it before--here. But despite the similarities in appearance, there's one big difference: The "Aeryon Scout" is a flying camera, not just a remote-controlled toy.

The Scout is made of four foam rings connected by a rotor in the center, according to Inventor Spot. The camera is attached to the bottom so it can take aerial shots like a miniature satellite--or at least with better range and control than a mini-chopper or rocket cam.

But at an … Read more

Clearly, some researchers at Japan's Okude Laboratory are having too much fun with their work.

Their latest invention, the Tospom, is a ball-shaped camera takes a picture of the receiver when he catches it. The rationale, according to its inventors, is to engage the photographer and his subject while snapping a picture and also to "draw out a more natural and relaxed expression from the subject."

While its Web site gave a demonstration of how to use the ball-cam, it didn't state how it worked. All we can figure out is that you can also hold … Read more

Tech has changed our lives in so many ways. Two areas that interest me are our thoughts about knowledge itself, and our experience of solitude.

I used to like the game show Jeopardy and even tried out for it. I flew to Los Angeles for the day and passed the test when my daughter was five months old, proving to myself that my brain hadn't totally gone to mush. I didn't get called to be on the show, but the tryout was still a good experience.

But now, with Google and smart phones, we have all that information … Read more

I was surfing the Web flipping through my bookmarks Sunday afternoon when I found a great screensaver for both Windows and Mac. SurveillanceSaver cycles through more than 400 surveillance cameras from around the world. Before you begin fashioning a hat from tinfoil and closing all your blinds, I should note these cameras are mostly wide-sweeping live shots from various countries.

SurveillanceSaver cycles randomly through each camera giving you about 2 minutes to take in the surroundings before switching to a new camera. You'll get live streams of a blizzard in Helsingborg, Sweden, followed by a shot of a lonely … Read more