Microsoft’s VX-2000 Has Its Eye on You

By Geoff Duncan Published May 19, 2009

Microsoft

Microsoft has been in the peripheral and accessories business for a while, although the company is not necessarily known for targeting its consumer products at low price points. After all, most computers come with standard peripherals like a keyboard and mouse, and consumers on a budget aren’t very likely to upgrade: better for third-party hardware makers to target the mid- and high-end market with specialized (and higher-margin) products that differentiate on the basis of features and quality.

Well, this time around, Microsoft is bucking the trend with its new LifeCam VX-2000, a straight-up basic USB Webcam at a straight-up, basic price: $29.95. The LifeCam VX-2000 offers a VGA-resolution sensor—that’s a mere 640 by 480 pixels, although software can interpolate images up to 1.3 megapixels—along with a built-in noise-reducing microphone. The VX-2000 can handle 3 fps video, and is optimized for use with Windows Live Messenger by offering a Windows Live Call button and a LifeCam dashboard for easily managing video calls. The camera will work with AIM, Yahoo Messenger, Skype, along with Windows Live and Microsoft Office Communicator, and also offers a 3× digital zoom, plus the camera can be set on a desk surface or clipped to a monitor or notebook display.

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The VX-2000 should be available in June at a suggested price of $29.95.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Smart Home

HomeKit Secure Video: Why it’s great and why you should use it

Customers inspect the new Apple HomePod at an Apple Store on February 9, 2018 in San Francisco, California.

Apple's HomeKit Secure Video is a year or two late to the smart security party, but the company made sure it arrived with plenty of skills, customizations, and algorithmic expertise.

Jumping on the HomeKit bandwagon, HomeKit Secure Video is an Apple-exclusive monitoring suite that you can get access to through an iCloud+ subscription. Offering a range of impressive surveillance features, instant notifications, and geofencing abilities, HomeKit Secure Video checks all the boxes when it comes to safeguarding your home, business, and personal data.

Deals

Lorex has the Black Friday smart home security deals you need

Lorex Smart Home Security Center on table.

When it comes to smart home tech, it's best to buy from a single provider, or as much as you can. That reduces how many different apps you'll have to access and deal with, especially if you're planning to outfit your entire home. Unfortunately, that's not always possible, as some offer smart lighting solutions, others smart security, and still, others various smart home products. It's very easy to end up with a piecemeal configuration, loads of apps and services to deal with, and plenty of hassle. When it comes to smart home security, Lorex offers an excellent and varied selection of products from video doorbells to complete analog IP camera systems. Even better, they're offering some amazing pre-Black Friday deals, so you can get everything you need at fantastically-low prices.

From now until November 21st, you'll get 35% off sitewide when you use coupon code PREBF2021 at Lorex. We'll dive into some of the best deals available below, but just to provide an example, Lorex's wired 2K Wi-Fi Video Doorbell with Person Detection
is $150 thanks to that offer, normally $180. Alternatively, the Lorex 2K Wire-Free Battery-Operated Security System
-- which includes 2 cameras -- is $250, normally $300. Indeed, those are awesome deals! You can check those out below, or keep reading for some more info!

Deals

Amazon started its Black Friday deals early, but should you shop them?

Laptop on Amazon surrounded by boxes of tech gear.

While we won't begrudge you the claim that retailers seem to kickstart holiday shopping events earlier every year, and it's certainly warranted, this year it makes a lot of sense why. There are supply chain issues, there's a lot of demand on certain items and products -- like electronics -- and shippers may be seeing more delays than usual. It means that when the holidays do kick off, we may be seeing a lot of problems leading to a lower stock selection, so it's a good idea to start shopping early, or at least start planning. Luckily, there are quite a few Black Friday deals that are already live, along with a ton of Amazon Black Friday deals available now.

Speaking of Amazon, the retailer is one of the few that has already started offering some excellent holiday and Black Friday deals, far ahead of the renowned event. As part of the sale, there are discounted tablets, laptops, headphones, wearables, Amazon's Echo devices, and much more. If you already have your shopping list put together you'll be in the best position, but if you don't, and you need a little more help deciding what to get, that's okay. We're going to explore whether or not this early event is worth browsing. We'll also tell you whether or not you should be on the lookout for sales from other retailers. If you just want to dive in and take a peek at what's available, you can do that below, as well.