Logitech's Digital Camera/Internet Video Devices

OK, maybe this is yet another of my pet peeves, but why is it that ads for little "internet cameras" nearly always seem to imply that you're going to do something sneaky, illegal, or pornographic with them? The one that's really chafing my hide of late is the little "porn popup" ad I get every day for something called The Amazing XCam. Both the name of the product and the ad (which features a scantily clad young lady) seem to imply the little gadget will be used for something covert. In fact, the website of the company that makes the things offers a software package called Xray Vision (nudge,nudge, wink wink). I understand everyone's got to make a living but still think someone should start a campaign to rid the earth of those little unrequested pop-ups.

Putting aside that little aside, Logitech, a company that doesn't seem to stoop to cheesecake ads to sell its products, introduced two new DualCams called the ClickSmart 310 and ClickSmart 510. The new products are intended to combine web communication with the functionality of a digital still camera. Both cameras can be used attached to or detached from a personal computer, so you can take your covert digital photography operations mobile (just kidding - really). The ClickSmart cameras will be available in U.S., Canadian, and European retail outlets, as well as online at Logitech's website in early November. The ClickSmart 510 has a VGA (640 x 480) sensor that allows a still image resolution up to 1.3 Megapixels, a built-in microphone, automatic strobe flash, SmartMedia port, and self-timer. With an 8MB SmartMedia memory card supplied, Logitech says it can store up to 480 pictures or 90 seconds of video. You can also pick up additional standard SmartMedia cards to expand picture-taking capacity. The 510 is powered by four AAA batteries and will retail for $149.95 (399 DM - but this is Logitech's currency conversion, not mine, so please don't ask for pricing in every single type of currency).

The ClickSmart 310 is "pocket-size" DualCam that Logitech says can store up to 160 photos and 15 seconds of video captured away from the PC. It features a CIF (352 X 288) sensor that allows a still image resolution up to VGA (640 x 480 pixels), a self-timer, and a protective lens cap. It too is powered by four AAA batteries and will retail for $79.95 (199 DM). Both cameras use a USB connection and are compatible with Windows 98/2000/ME/XP and include a two-year limited hardware warranty.