BIOS: Technology Means Business

Creative's WebCam Live! Motion sits at the top of the company's Web camera range and is designed to quietly and smoothly follow your movements during video instant messaging.

Thanks to its MaxView technology, a combination of motorised Pan-n-Tilt and the ViewPlus 76-degree wide-angle lens, the device should also be able to capture high-resolution panoramic stills with a single click, which is useful for e-mailing quick snaps to colleagues and family.

The auto Pan-n-Tilt feature should automatically follow your natural movements during conversations, so you don't have to make constant manual adjustments to stay centred in the field of view. You can select Smart Face Tracking so the USB 2.0-based WebCam Live! Motion follows the movements of one person, or you can use the system in standard mode to include a group of people.

The WebCam Live! Motion features a 640x480-pixel CCD sensor for capturing video at VGA 640x480 pixels and software-enhanced still images of up to 1.3-Megapixels. Its precision motor should also enables the camera to track users without a distracting motor noise.

Available in either pearl white or charcoal grey with a luminescent blue glowing ring on each side, the WebCam Live! Motion also sports a patent-pending Multi-Attach base which should easily and securely attaches the Web camera to any flat panel, CRT monitor or laptop display.

'The WebCam Live! Motion incorporates the most advanced technology yet seen in a Web cam,' says Eoin Leyden, European Business Manager for WebCams with Creative. 'It's a stunning choice for users seeking the ultimate in usability and imaging, or for people looking for an upgrade to a new level of performance.'

Other features include time lapse video, which captures and replays snapshots taken over a period of time, enabling quick replay that would be difficult to capture in real time, and one-click video and still image transmission during conversations on Yahoo Messenger. Also included is SightSpeed software, for video and audio sync over broadband during video calls, video mail and text messaging.