QuickCam

Last updated
This 1996 picture was taken with the original Connectix QuickCam for Macintosh. Although its picture quality is today considered primitive, it was the first widespread webcam-like device FirstQuickCam.GIF
This 1996 picture was taken with the original Connectix QuickCam for Macintosh. Although its picture quality is today considered primitive, it was the first widespread webcam-like device

QuickCam is a line of webcam video camera products by Logitech.

Contents

The original QuickCam was developed by Connectix in 1994 for nationwide commercial sale and was the first widely marketed webcam-like device, although its original advertising did not use the term "webcam" or refer to the World Wide Web, then in its infancy. Video conferencing via computers already existed at the time, and client-server based video conferencing software such as CU-SeeMe was gaining popularity. Eventually, it evolved from an RS-422 connector to a parallel connector then eventually to a USB connection. It is now considered one of the top gadgets of all time. [1]

The initial model was available only for the Apple Macintosh, connecting to it via the serial port. It produced 16 shades of gray at a resolution of 320×240 pixels, and could record video at about 15 frames per second; it cost $100.

The software that originally shipped with the camera included QuickMovie for recording motion pictures and QuickPICT for capturing still images.

The QuickCam product line was acquired by Logitech in August 1998. [2] The company has gradually decreased support for the Macintosh platform, with only one current model officially supporting Mac or including Mac drivers. [3] This could largely be the result of Apple building webcams into their laptop and desktop computers, negating the need for external third party devices [ dubious ]. Many recent models implement the USB video device class standard and work under Mac OS without additional drivers.

Today, Logitech QuickCam is one of the world's most recognized webcam brands.[ citation needed ]

In October 2010, QuickCam was elected to Time Magazine's Top 100 Gadgets of all Time [1]

Cameras

This list is non-exhaustive.

CameraModel #Part #ImageYearCategorySensor resolutionFocusRRP (USD)Notes
Connectix QuickCam1994General320 × 240 4bpp Greyscale$100Sold over 500,000 units from 1994 to 1997. [4] Serial model with built-in microphone and Parallel model. [5]
Connectix Color QuickCam1996General320 × 240 24bpp$199Serial model with built-in microphone and Parallel model. [5]
Connectix Color QuickCam 21997General320 × 240 24bpp$199Improved sensor and optical system, optimised for indoor use [4] Parallel model only. [5]
Connectix QuickCam VC QuickCam VC.jpg 1998General320 × 240$99 – $129VC for "Video Conferencing". First USB QuickCam; also supports parallel ports. [6]
Connectix QuickCam Home1998General320 × 240 [7] $130Only USB. [8]
Connectix QuickCam Pro1998High-End640 × 480$150USB and Parallel. [8]
Logitech USB QuickCam Home Logitech USB QuickCam Home.png 1998General352x288 [9]
Logitech QuickCam Express Logitech QuickCam Express -8477.jpg 1999General320 × 240 @ 30 frame/s, [10] 640 × 480 @ 15 frame/s$49. [8]
Logitech QuickCam Web1999High-End640 × 480 @ 30 frame/s [11] Only USB. [12] With built-in microphone. [13]
Logitech QuickCam Pro 30002000High-End640 × 480
Logitech QuickCam 30002001Business640 × 480 [14]
Logitech QuickCam Traveler Logitech QuickCam Traveller-P4191212-white.jpg 2001Notebook640 × 480 @ 30 frame/s [15] $99 – $149First "laptop" QuickCam. [16]
Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks961404-04032001Notebook640 × 480 video, 640 × 480 still photoManual
Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Pro961398-04032001Notebook1.3 Mpixel resolutionRealLight lighting correction. f=3.85 mm
Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 Logitech Quickcam Pro 4000.jpg 2002High-End640 × 480 @ 15 frame/s [17] Can take interpolated 1280 × 960 stills.
Logitech QuickCam Zoom2002General640 × 480$99Features a digital zoom that focuses on the user's face. Re-released as "QuickCam Zoom Silver" in 2003, then "QuickCam Zoom Refresh" in 2004.
Logitech QuickCam Sphere Logitech QuickCam Sphere.jpg 2003Flagship640 × 480First motorised pan/tilt QuickCam. Known as "QuickCam Orbit" in North America
Logitech QuickCam Messenger2004General
Logitech QuickCam Express 22004General
Logitech QuickCam Communicate MP997-000078

960-000240

2004General960 × 720 video, 4.0 Mpixel still photoFixed183 cm USB cord. Adjusts lighting in dim light.
Logitech QuickCam Cordless2004Speciality
Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks DeluxeV-UBU49860-000070

960-000095

Logitech QuickCam for Notebooks Deluxe with label.jpg 2005Notebook640 × 480 video, 1.3 Mpixel still photoManual78 cm USB cord
Logitech QuickCam Chat2005GeneralManual
Logitech QuickCam Fusion2005General
Logitech QuickCam Pro 50002005High-End
Logitech QuickCam Sphere MP2005Flagship640 × 480Motorized pan/tilt. Known as the "QuickCam Orbit MP" in North America
Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision2005High-End640 × 480 @ 30 frame/s
Logitech QuickCam Connect2006General640 × 480 [18] video, 640 × 480 still photo
Logitech QuickCam Communicate STXV-UBK45

V-UAM14A

961410-0403

961443-0403

961464-0403

961687-0403

2006General640 × 480 @ 30 frame/s, 1.3 Mpixel still photoFixed
Logitech 720p Webcam C905V-UBU48860-000108 Logitech 720p Webcam C905 with label.jpg 2007Notebook/General1600 × 1200 video, 8.0 Mpixel still photoAuto78 cm USB cord. Comes with 30 weighted base and mounting stalk. RightLight2 lighting correction.
Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000V-UBM46860-000109

960-000313

Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 with label.jpg 2007High-End1600 × 1200 @ 30 frame/s video, 8.0 Mpixel still photoAuto210 cm cord
Logitech QuickCam IM2007General640 × 480
Logitech QuickCam Sphere AF2007Flagship1600 × 1200Known as "QuickCam Orbit AF" in North America.
Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro960-0002542008Macintosh1600 × 1200Auto

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Webcam</span> Video camera connected to a computer or network

A webcam is a video camera which is designed to record or stream to a computer or computer network. They are primarily used in video telephony, live streaming and social media, and security. Webcams can be built-in computer hardware or peripheral devices, and are commonly connected to a device using USB or wireless protocols.

GeoPort is a serial data system used on some models of the Apple Macintosh that could be externally clocked to run at a 2 megabit per second data rate. GeoPort slightly modified the existing Mac serial port pins to allow the computer's internal DSP hardware or software to send data that, when passed to a digital-to-analog converter, emulated various devices such as modems and fax machines. GeoPort could be found on late-model 68K-based machines as well as many pre-USB Power Macintosh models and PiPPiN. Some later Macintosh models also included an internal GeoPort via an internal connector on the Communications Slot. Apple GeoPort technology is now obsolete, and modem support is typically offered through USB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logitech</span> Swiss multinational electronics and technology company

Logitech International S.A. is a Swiss multinational manufacturer of computer peripherals and software, with headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, and Newark, California. The company has offices throughout Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas, and is one of the world's leading manufacturers of input and interface devices for personal computers (PCs) and other digital products. It is a component of the flagship Swiss Market Index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connectix</span>

Connectix Corporation was a software and hardware company, noted for having released innovative products that were either made obsolete as Apple Computer incorporated the ideas into system software, or were sold to other companies once they became popular. It was formed in October 1988 by Jon Garber; dominant board members and co-founders were Garber, Bonnie Fought, and close friend Roy McDonald. McDonald was still Chief Executive Officer and president when Connectix finally closed in August 2003.

Amiga software is computer software engineered to run on the Amiga personal computer. Amiga software covers many applications, including productivity, digital art, games, commercial, freeware and hobbyist products. The market was active in the late 1980s and early 1990s but then dwindled. Most Amiga products were originally created directly for the Amiga computer, and were not ported from other platforms.

The Fujifilm FinePix A345 and A350 are entry-level digital point-and-shoot cameras. They feature 3x optical zoom, a resolution of 4.1 and 5.2 megapixels respectively, and 320x240 movie recording with sound capabilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xbox Live Vision</span>

Xbox Live Vision is a webcam accessory that was developed as an accessory for the Xbox 360 video game console. It was announced at E3 2006 and was released in North America on September 19, 2006, Europe and Asia on October 2, 2006, and Japan on November 2, 2006.

Various accessories for the PlayStation 3 video game console have been produced by Sony and third-party companies. These include controllers, audio and video input devices like microphones, video cameras, and cables for better sound and picture quality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eye-Fi</span> Company producing Wi-Fi enabled memory cards

Eye-Fi was a company based in Mountain View, California, that produced SD memory cards with Wi-Fi capabilities. Using an Eye-Fi card inside a digital camera, one could wirelessly and automatically upload digital photos to a local computer or a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet computer. The company ceased business in 2016.

The Archos Generation 6 (Gen6) product series is represented by misc "Internet Media Tablets" or "IMT", e.g. the Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet This series of tablet computers developed by the French company Archos that features a resistive touchscreen for video, photo, audio, internet browsing and other multimedia applications. The individual numbering of the distinct models seems up to now to roughly resemble the length of the display diagonal in inches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IEEE 1394</span> Serial bus interface standard, also known as Firewire

IEEE 1394 is an interface standard for a serial bus for high-speed communications and isochronous real-time data transfer. It was developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s by Apple in cooperation with a number of companies, primarily Sony and Panasonic. Apple called the interface FireWire. It is also known by the brand names i.LINK (Sony), and Lynx.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nokia N8</span> 2010 smartphone model manufactured by Nokia

The Nokia N8 is a touchscreen-based smartphone developed by Nokia. Announced on 27 April 2010, the Nokia N8 was the first device to run on the Symbian^3 mobile operating system and it was the company's flagship device for the year. It was released on 30 September 2010 at the Nokia Online Store before being released in markets around the world on 1 October 2010. There were two version made, the N8 and the N8-00. The N8 was made for Vodafone and locked to its networks, and the N8-00 was made by Microsoft and open network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic Camera</span>

Magic Camera, sometimes known as Magic Camera virtual webcam, is an application for Microsoft Windows to generate virtual webcams on windows, which can be used to stream files/screens as webcam, or create webcam effects on physical webcam. Since the first release of Magic Camera on 20 March 2006, its author ShiningMorning Soft has maintained and kept the product shareware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logitech Unifying receiver</span> USB wireless receiver

The Logitech Unifying receiver is a small dedicated USB wireless receiver, based on the nRF24L-family of RF devices, that allows up to six compatible Logitech human interface devices to be linked to the same computer using 2.4 GHz band radio communication. Receivers that are bundled with a Logitech product are paired with the device at the factory. When purchasing a replacement receiver or connecting multiple devices to one receiver, pairing requires the free-of-charge Logitech Unifying software, available for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. On Linux the Solaar software can be used to adjust the configurations. Although not compatible with Bluetooth, devices pair to Unifying Receivers in a similar way. Peripherals remain paired, and can then be used on systems not supporting the software. Logitech receivers compatible with the Unifying protocol can be identified by the orange Unifying logo, which distinguishes them from Logitech Nano receivers of similar appearance, which pair in a similar manner but only with a single device, without using the Unifying protocol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apple QuickTake</span> Digital camera

The Apple QuickTake is one of the first consumer digital camera lines. It was launched in 1994 by Apple Computer and was marketed for three years before being discontinued in 1997. Three models of the product were built including the 100 and 150, both built by Kodak; and the 200, built by Fujifilm. The QuickTake cameras had a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels maximum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guvcview</span> Free and open source webcam application

Guvcview is a webcam application, i.e. software to handle UVC streams, for the Linux desktop, started by Paulo Assis in 2008. The application is written in C and is free and open-source software released under GPL-2.0-or-later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logitech Harmony</span>

Logitech Harmony is a line of remote controls and home automation products produced by Logitech. The line includes universal remote products designed for controlling the components of home theater systems and other devices that can be controlled via infrared, as well as newer smart home hub products that can be used to additionally control supported Internet of things (IoT) and Smart home products, and allow the use of mobile apps to control devices. On April 10, 2021, Logitech announced that they would discontinue Harmony Remote manufacturing.

References

  1. 1 2 Connectix QuickCam - All-TIME 100 Gadgets - TIME Archived January 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Logitech Buys QuickCam Unit Of Connectix". techweb.com. 11 August 1998. Archived from the original on 3 Feb 1999. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  3. Webcams Archived April 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  4. 1 2 Connectix Ships Color QuickCam 2 for Windows: Next Generation of Best-Selling Digital Camera; Connectix QuickCam 2 Delivers Sharper Images, Enhanced Software, and Easy Applica... Archived November 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  5. 1 2 3 QuickCam Technical FAQ
  6. JSOnline.com News Archives Archived August 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Review: Logitech USB QuickCam Home Archived January 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  8. 1 2 3 Pioneer Press: Search Results Archived August 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Logitech Quickcam Home Webcam Specs". CNET. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  10. QUICKCAM EXPRESS USB 50PK - WebCams - CNET Archive Archived October 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  11. QUICKCAM WEB DIGTLCAM USB 640X480 PC 30FPS S/W 5PK - WebCams - CNET Archive Archived October 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  12. JSOnline.com News Archives Archived August 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  13. NewsLibrary.com - newspaper archive, clipping service - newspapers and other news sources Archived August 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  14. Logitech QuickCam 3000 Reviews Archived October 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  15. Tech cool for back to school Archived June 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  16. Newsweek Archives Archived August 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  17. Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000 Review - WebCams - CNET Reviews Archived January 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  18. "QuickCam Connect (E2500) Technical Specifications - Logitech FAQ". logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com. Archived from the original on 24 November 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2022.