QuickCam Vision Pro Targets Mac Users

By Nick Mokey June 23, 2008

Considering that half of Apple’s computer line, including the MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and iMac all comes with standard webcams, it should come as no surprise that the shelves for Mac-compatible webcams are a little bare. Even so, Logitech cast out its own offering on Tuesday with the high-end QuickCam Vision Pro, a Mac-compatible camera that Logitech claims should surpass the quality of embedded cameras, like the ones found on so many Macs.

At the Vision Pro’s heart lies a Carl Zeiss lens, the same type used by Sony’s Cyber-Shot digital cameras. It’s coupled with Logitech’s own proprietary autofocus technology, which uses a voice coil rather than a stepper motor, and a 2-megapixel image sensor. Although the camera will only perform at VGA resolution during live teleconferencing with iChat or Skype, it can capture 720P (960 x 720) resolution video for storing to the hard drive. The 2-megapixel figure comes from the camera’s still-image captures, which can go up to 1600 x 1200 resolution.

Recommended Videos

Logitech will debut the Vision Pro in the U.S. and Europe this July. The retail price of $129.99 will make it the priciest camera in Logitech’s significant webcam portfolio, alongside the equally priced Orbit AF.

Managing Editor

As Digital Trends’ Managing Editor, Nick Mokey oversees an editorial team delivering definitive reviews, enlightening…

Computing

Apple’s next Vision Pro may send you on a mood-altering trip

The Apple Vision Pro reveals the wearer's eyes on a front-facing display.

It sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, but Apple could be working on a way to let you alter your mood just by telling its Vision Pro headset how you want to feel. That’s according to a recently granted patent (number 11703944) that outlines the whole futuristic idea.

It’s a strange concept and one that sounds woven right out of a Philip K. Dick story. In fact, in the author’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? there is a machine that puts users into whatever mood they desire. It sounds as though Apple’s inventors have been reading a little sci-fi in their spare time.

Computing

Best back-to-school MacBook deals: Save on MacBook Air and Pro

A man sits at his couch using the M2 Macbook Air.

There’s few times of the year better to buy a new laptop than when school is around the corner. With so many people looking for new computers for the school year, there’s always some great savings to be found. Apple makes some of the best laptops on the market. Its MacBook lineup offers a range of features at different price points, and while Apple’s prices tend to lean a little higher than many of the other best laptop brands, some great discounts on Apple laptops can be yours right now. We’ve tracked down the best back-to-school MacBook deals taking place. From the MacBook Air to the high-end MacBook Pros, we’ve tracked down the best savings you can find. Read onward for more details.
MacBook Air M1 (2020) — $899, was $999

The first incarnation of the new Apple processor in a MacBook came in the Apple MacBook Air M1, which is still now a few years later still an incredibly capable laptop. The M1 chip is both powerful and efficient, which is what allows such a slim laptop to be able to handle certain professional-grade tasks. This is the base model, which comes in with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB solid state drive. This should be plenty for most uses, and Apple manages to squeeze the most out of all if its laptops’ specs. The MacBook Air M1 is a great laptop for both students and professionals, as it’s designed to make work, play, and creating easier and more exciting.

Computing

The M3 MacBook Pro may launch sooner than anyone expected

Fortnite running on a Macbook M1.

Earlier this week, we learned that Apple’s next batch of Macs loaded with M3 chips could be set to launch in the fall. Today, a fresh report claims they could arrive ahead of schedule -- but there are reasons to be doubtful.

The idea comes from a paywalled DigiTimes report (via MacRumors), which cites “industry sources” to claim that Apple will introduce a new MacBook Pro -- complete with a 3-nanometer Apple silicon chip that will boast improved performance and efficiency -- as soon as the third quarter of 2023. That quarter runs from July 1 until September 30.