Have you ever wished that you could conduct video calls in the comfort of your own living room over your large screen HDTV? That’s now possible with the Logitech TV Cam for Skype.
The Logitech TV Cam for Skype is a plug & play device that promises easy user setup with no computer or software required. To begin using it, all you need is a compatible TV, a Skype account, and a broadband internet connection.
“Just plug it in, sit back, relax and video call your loved ones in widescreen HD 720p—right from your couch.” the product page on Logitech’s website touts.
The TV Cam features a Carl Zeiss optics 78-degree wide-angle lens, autofocus, and a duo of directional microphones designed to reduce ambient noise and pick up your voice clearly from as far as 10 feet away.
Once set up, the Logitech TV Cam for Skype is designed to always be ready to receive incoming or make outgoing calls. Those calls can be TV-to-TV Skype, TV-to-PC or Mac, or TV to Skype-enabled mobile devices.
While this all sounds pretty cool, there is one catch: The service is currently only compatible with certain Panasonic Internet-enabled televisions. But don’t lose hope yet. Logitech says that they are “working with other TV vendors and manufacturers to make it compatible with additional internet-based TVs in the future.”
The Logitech TV Cam for Skype is currently available for pre-order on Logitech’s website for $149.99, and is expected to ship later this month.
For me, this would be a great way to better stay in touch with loved ones who are thousands of miles away. It’s just too bad that there isn’t a way to use it with older television sets, since even the smallest currently compatible model would be a hefty investment.
