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Logitech's Motorized QuickCam Orbit Wins Popular Science Magazine's Best of What's New Award; Innovative Design Changes How People Use Webcams FREMONT, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Nov. 10, 2004 -- Logitech (NASDAQ:LOGI) (SWX:LOGN), the world's leading manufacturer of Web cameras, today announced its QuickCam(R) Orbit(TM) webcam was named one of this year's top 100 tech innovations, receiving Popular Science Magazine's 2004 Best of What's New award in the Computing category. According to Popular Science, the awards featured in the magazine's December issue honor "breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories."With a design that is dramatically different from typical webcams, the highly stylized QuickCam Orbit webcam changes how people participate in video communications over the Internet, making it much more natural. A motorized camera head combined with face tracking software allows the camera lens to follow its subject -- up and down, or left and right -- as that person shifts in a chair or moves freely about the room. The webcam also features a 9-inch stand, so the camera can be at eye level, whether on a desk or resting on top of a monitor. "Best of What's New is the ultimate Popular Science accolade, representing a year's worth of work evaluating thousands of products," said Popular Science Editor Mark Jannot. "These awards honor innovations that not only impact the way we live today, but change the way we think about the future." The QuickCam Orbit webcam has a range of 128 degrees side-to-side (for an almost 180-degree horizontal view), and 54 degrees up-and-down (for an almost 90-degree vertical view); it can automatically follow a person, zooming in or out as the person moves about a room, or it can be manually controlled through the software. Available for a suggested retail price of $129.95 in the U.S., the QuickCam Orbit webcam captures up to 1.3 megapixel (software interpolated) still photos, and true 640x480 videos with its high-quality CCD sensor. "QuickCam Orbit was a bold introduction that we feel changes the way people think about -- and use -- their webcams," said Junien Labrousse, senior vice president of Logitech's Video Business Unit. "To receive this prestigious acclaim from Popular Science is a tremendous honor -- it certainly validates our belief that innovation is the key to leading the market forward." About Popular Science Founded in 1872, Popular Science is the world's largest science and technology magazine with a circulation of 1.45 million and 6.5 million monthly readers. Each month, Popular Science reports on the intersection of science and everyday life, with an eye toward what's new and why it matters. Popular Science is published by Time4 Media, a subsidiary of Time Inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX). About The Best of What's New Awards Each year, the editors of Popular Science review thousands of products in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year -- breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap in their categories. The winners -- The Best of What's New -- are awarded inclusion in the much-anticipated December issue of Popular Science -- the most widely-read issue of the year since the birth of Best of What's New in 1987. Best of What's New awards are presented to 100 new products and technologies in 12 categories: Auto Tech, Aviation & Space, Cars, Computing, Engineering, Gadgets, General Innovation, Home Entertainment, Home Tech, Personal Health, Photography and Recreation. About Logitech Founded in 1981, Logitech designs, manufactures and markets personal peripherals that enable people to effectively work, play, and communicate in the digital world. Logitech International is a Swiss public company traded on the Swiss Stock Exchange (LOGN) and in the U.S. on the Nasdaq National Market System (LOGI). The company has manufacturing facilities in Asia and offices in major cities in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Logitech, the Logitech logo, and other Logitech marks are owned by Logitech and may be registered. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |
