Logitech Inc. announced on Wednesday the Mac OS X compatible QuickCam Orbit. Built for video instant messaging, it boasts a mechanical pan and tilt feature and moves to keep a person’s face automatically centered in the field of view.
The US$129.95 webcam can physically turn 128 degrees side-to-side (for an almost 180 degree horizontal view) and 54 degrees up-and-down (for an almost 90 degree vertical view). The included face-tracking software allows the camera to automatically follow a person’s face, keeping it centered in the field of view, according to Logitech.
Auto-zoom technology offers the option to zoom in up to three times the normal viewing size. What’s more, the QuickCam Orbit can capture up to 1.3-megapixel still photos and 640×480 videos. It includes a 9-inch stand (which means it can be elevated to eye-level) and a built-in microphone for adding audio to instant messages or video clips.
QuickCam Orbit works with video-enabled Yahoo! Messenger for Mac OS X, but isn’t designed for use with iChat AV. It’s compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 connections. The webcam requires Mac OS X 10.1.5 or higher.