Natural Ergo Keyboard 4000
“The only keyboard for me”

“This split keyboard took a short time to ‘catch on to’ but now I find it difficult to type on a straight keyboard. It is slightly sloped & has a good rest to elevate the heel of your hands. I find the split keyboard actually improves the speed of my typing as well.”
—Zilla

The Natural Ergo Keyboard is consistently a hit with users, and rates 4.6 out of five stars. In some studies ergonomic keyboards have been found to reduce the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. In addition to comfort and support, enjoy easy access to files, folders, and web pages with handy hot keys.

Check out more features and reviews: http://bit.ly/wHhJBf

Arc Touch Mouse
“Best Mouse Ever!”

“I’ve used this mouse daily for almost a year and can honestly say it’s the best mouse I’ve ever used. Works great on ANY surface, feels great in your hand, and the fold-flat feature is perfect for traveling. And it looks fantastic too!”
—Trailrider

You don’t have to sacrifice style for performance with this gorgeous Arc Touch Mouse. You can use it just about anywhere, even on a rough wood surface or carpet, thanks to BlueTrack Technology. Portability is a breeze—flatten to turn it off, and slip it into your pocket or bag as easily as a cell phone.

Check out more features and reviews: http://bit.ly/zLLwtW

LifeCam Studio
“Extremely Impressive”

“This webcam is of extremely high quality. The picture quality is impeccable and it has a great built in microphone. It has a huge wide-angle view and is perfect for video chats with multiple people in front of this camera. It also features non-digital zoom.”
—davekats

We really mean it when we say this first-class product is the closest thing to being there. And our customers agree, rating LifeCam Studio with 4.8 out of 5 stars. Not only will you enjoy the amazing clarity and detail of HD video, thanks to Auto Focus your video is always crisp. Add TrueColor technology and the High-Fidelity Microphone, and you’ve got yourself a dream machine.

Check out more features and reviews: http://bit.ly/y3APDF

- Hardware Team

First of all, Microsoft has a product line of 5 HD LifeCams. Each LifeCam also has very different features with different benefits. Let’s take a look.

Occasional Users

• If you video chat with your buddies once a month and need just basic HD video then the LifeCam HD-3000 is a good option for you. This LifeCam includes a 720p HD Widescreen Sensor and TrueColor technology, which automatically adjusts the video to your room lighting conditions.

• If you chat more often and you usually show small objects in front of the webcam, like your new watch, engagement ring, or even hand written notes, then you need to add AutoFocus to your webcam. The HD-5000 has that, as well as all the great things on the HD-3000. And don’t forget the sleek design!

Mobile Users

• Are you traveling constantly and need a webcam that’s easy to carry around? Then consider the HD-6000 for Notebooks. The difference is that this webcam has a shorter cable and a carrying case. It is perfect for laptops as it rotates 180 degrees each direction so you can show what is happening around you. This webcam comes loaded with a 720p HD Widescreen Sensor, TrueColor technology, and AutoFocus.

Intermediate

• You are getting more serious about video chat and recording HD video. It’s evident that you need our LifeCam Cinema™. This popular webcam includes a 720p HD Sensor, TrueColor Technology, AutoFocus, Glass Element Lens, and ClearFrame Technology. All this means that you will have better video quality in various lighting situations.

Advanced

• If video chatting or recording video is a hobby for you, then you need the best webcam in our product line, LifeCam Studio™. This webcam is like having a recording studio at home. It features a bigger sensor with a 1080p resolution – which is twice the size of the 720p sensor- and provides a sharper and clearer video than other LifeCams1. A cool feature is that you can mount this webcam on a standard tripod, the same one you use for your regular camera.

***Popular video call services support 720p HD resolution or lower—not 1080p. 1080p HD recording and playback require commercial video software (sold separately).

Text messaging – everyone’s doing it. Teens are sending texts nonstop to their BFFs. College students are sending texts to friends on other campuses. Even baby boomers are starting to follow the trend. But what people can add when video chatting is personality, emotion and seeing the faces of the ones they love. An image is worth a 1000 texts!

That’s why today I’m excited to announce the newest webcam to join our LifeCam line, the LifeCam HD-3000. This new webcam delivers bright and colorful HD video, perfect for video chats or uploading content to your favorite social networking sites like Facebook and YouTube, and it’s so easy to use that anyone can do it. The HD-3000 also features a 720p HD sensor, TrueColor Technology for great performance in virtually any lighting condition and a universal attachment base for use on a flat-screen monitor, notebook or even your desk – all for the affordable price of $39.95.

So try it out starting next month and experience all the fun that video calls have to offer, because a video is worth 1,000 texts.

Don’t worry, even if your friends aren’t set up for video chat , you can send them video mail that can be opened at any time. Or, with Microsoft LifeCam software installed on your computer, you can do some fun things with video, sound, and picture capture. Like what?

Here’s a list of fun and creative things you can do:

1.Practice a speech. The best way to prepare for a speech is to record yourself. It’s hard to watch a recording of yourself, but it will help remove any visual or verbal tics. With the LifeCam software, you can record and watch yourself, then delete all of the practice sessions before anyone else sees them.

2. Practice answering interview questions. The best way to prepare for a job or school interview is to see what you look like when you answer the questions. Make a list of questions you’re likely to get asked, and then record yourself answering them. It will help with your nervousness and it will help you answer questions more thoroughly and confidently.

3. Record a meeting. Plug your webcam into your notebook computer and use it to record a meeting instead of taking minutes. You can place the camera to get a shot of the whole room, or just record the audio.

4. Create a love note for someone. Create an audio or video recording telling someone how you really feel or how much you appreciate them. The file is saved in WMV format (video) or WMA format (audio), which can be left on their computer desktop, emailed, or even synchronized with devices like Zune. Imagine surprising them by popping up in their playlist!

5. Make a personalized greeting card. Take a picture of yourself using the video effects in the LifeCam software and send it in a greeting card. For example, for Valentine’s Day you can use the special effect that puts a heart in the picture with you, or you can get crazy and give yourself an animal nose, a mask, or a total hair makeover. The picture is saved in a jpg format that you can import into most any graphics program.

6. Make a time lapse. Take a picture every day for several days and create a time-lapse slide show of yourself. This can be especially interesting with children, young pets, or even growing plants.

7. Check your hair or make sure there’s nothing stuck in your teeth. Who needs a mirror to do a quick check when you have a webcam? Check your make-up, fix your hair, check your teeth, or get that smudge off your nose, just by watching your image in the webcam. With a webcam, you can see what the back of your head looks like (this is much harder to do with mirrors).

8. Amuse a baby or child. Make a video of a baby and play it back for the baby. Babies love to watch themselves on video, and small children love it even more. Just make sure they can’t get their little hands on your monitor. And if it’s a video of a child, you’ll be practicing how to say “No,” because they’ll keep asking for more!

9. Practice your dancing, baton twirling, or marching. Watch yourself dance before anyone else has to.

10. Tweet a 12-second video over twitter.com/12seconds. Update everyone on where you are and what you’re doing.

11. Make your own TV show and post it on YouTube or your blog. Have you ever wanted to talk about your favorite toy collection, give cooking lessons, critique films, show off your bike moves, teach people guitar, or entertain people with your antics? Build an online audience of people across the world.

12. Become a voice actor. Record audio samples narrating commercials and samples of character voices, and then send them to animators and directors everywhere in the world.

13. Add a video entry to your blog. With Microsoft LifeCam, it’s fast and easy to do! It could even be faster than writing a long blog post.

14. Send a video thank you note. When someone sends you a gift, thank them so they can see you using it. If you prefer, you can use Video Mail so you can do several takes until you get just the right level of gratitude.

If you have a friend set up for video chatting, here are some additional things you can do.

15. Save money on long distance by chatting over Windows Live Messenger. Assuming you’re already paying for high-speed Internet access, the call won’t cost you a dime.

16. Get fashion advice from a friend. Rather than risk wearing that belt with those pants when you aren’t quite sure or wearing something that clashes with your friends’ outfits, get on a video
chat with your favorite fashionista and get a second opinion.

17. Get decorating advice. Along the same lines, show your remote friends your domestic decorating challenges and get a consultation. Or get some advice on some remodeling you’re in the middle of.

18. Take a lesson. Learn to play an instrument, dance, speak a language, juggle, or cook something. There are lots of things that can be taught remotely.

19. Have a conversation in sign language. Or if you don’t know sign language, you could learn and practice with someone.

20. Share a celebration. Before you open presents or cut the cake, set up the video chat and let everyone share in the moment.

21. Read a story. Even if you are far away, you can still read a bedtime story to your child or share a story with a special kid in your life.

This is just the beginning. Unlock the power of a webcam and you’ll find many ways to share your life.

Whether you’re looking for something to excite a busy mom on the go or the teenaged gaming enthusiast who barely breaks from the computer for meals, our team has done the research and is here to help!

For the Visionary Designer or Early adopter…

• If only hardware could take the runway, the Arc Keyboard would steal the show. Weighing in at less than a pound, the Arc Keyboard throws the standard keyboard a chic curve. It’s small enough to move easily around the house, with sleek lines to fit in seamlessly with any stylish home accessory. Best of all, the domed keyset of the Arc Keyboard is comfortable to use whether resting on a lap or on the kitchen counter.

• Find a new level of elegance in the Arc Touch Mouse: With clean lines and edges, the Arc Touch Mouse is made for the way we live today. Its flat shape makes it easy to throw in a bag or stack on a notebook. When you’re ready to work, just pop it up into its curved form. And a touch strip with vibration feedback means easy, controlled scrolling.

For the Mobile Maniac…

• Boldness and sophistication bring life to the selection of colors and patterns found with the Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500 and 4000. Both of these mice provide portable, wireless freedom in a comfortable, compact shape – a must for the mobile enthusiast on your gift list.

For the Well Connected…

• The LifeCam Studio is the perfect gift for someone who wants the next best thing to being there in person.  Keep in touch with family and friends across the country or chat with the BFF you rarely see because of work, school, or other commitments. 

• Even better! Pair LifeCam Studio, which offers a 1080p sensor for the best possible image at any resolution, with the latest version of Windows Live Messenger, the first consumer IM program with HD video calling.
• And if you’re looking for a webcam under $50, the LifeCam HD-5000 offers a 720p HD sensor and Auto Focus—it’s the only cam to do this for the price.

For the Ultimate Gamer…

• Call the shots and don’t miss a minute of the action with the SideWinder X4 Keyboard. A virtual command center at your fingertips, this new keyboard gives you powerful programming and versatility to enhance your work or game play. But it wouldn’t be complete without a gaming mouse as the perfect partner in crime!

• Do you know someone who feels the need…the need for speed? Keep the action fast and furious by giving the SideWinder X3 Mouse. With features that put you ahead of the competition, this versatile gaming mouse delivers speed, performance, and comfort for either hand.

Sound too good to be true? We promise it is.

Check out these and other great gifts at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/ and let us know if you get BIG smiles for bringing Microsoft Hardware home this holiday.

-Microsoft Hardware Team

And you’re in luck because major retailers are discounting a variety of Microsoft hardware devices for every special person in your life. Here’s a look at this year’s Black Friday/Cyber Monday discounts:

• Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 3500: 50% off brings the price to just $14.99 at OfficeMax. Exclusive Colors Jade & Gold as well as Poppy Red, Imperial Purple, Sea Blue, Dragon Fruit Pink

• OfficeMax is also running a “Your Choice $9.99” special on the VX700 Webcam (save $10), Wired Keyboard 200 (save $5) and Optical Mouse 200 (save $5). Take your pick!

• LifeCam Cinema Webcam: $20 off at Newegg.com. With true 720p HD video, it delivers smooth, detailed video and crystal clear audio.

• LifeCam VX-3000: $14.99 online at Tigerdirect.com, Nov. 26-29.

• LifeCam VX-5500: $20 off at Newegg.com.

• Wireless Media Desktop 1000: $24.99 online at Tigerdirect.com, Nov. 26-29 (regularly $49.95 MSRP). $26.99 at Newegg.com. Sit back and enjoy fast, easy access to all your favorite digital pictures, music, videos, and more!

• Natural Ergo Keyboard 4000: $24.99 online at Tigerdirect.com, Nov. 26-29 (regularly $59.95 MSRP). Also discounted at Amazon.com. Make day-to-day tasks comfortable and easier with a more natural wrist alignment.

• For the gamer in your life! Take home the SideWinder X4 Keyboard ($30 off), SideWinder X8 Wireless Gaming Mouse ($35 off) or SideWinder X5 Mouse ($25 off) with specials from Newegg.com.

• WNOM 3000 Winter Blue: Just $9.99 online at Tigerdirect.com, Nov. 26-29.

• Cooling Base for Notebooks: $20 at Amazon.com (regularly $29.95 MSRP)

All of these deals are only available while supplies last. We hope you enjoy shopping.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

-Microsoft Hardware Team

Check out this video to hear more about the development of the webcam and what Studio means to the team that helped create it:

• Kurt Wrisley, Program Manager
• Maribel Figuera Alegre, Hardware Developer
• Tyler Gleghorn, Design Verification Engineer
• Jan Raken, User Experience Designer
• Andrew Juenger, Senior Design Verification Engineer

Have you had a chance to test out LifeCam Studio for yourself? Let us know what you think!

Q: Tell us about your role on the Windows Live team and what you’re most excited about in the new Messenger updates.

A: I’m a product manager for Messenger, responsible for driving business and product strategy, marketing, and evangelism for Messenger. My goal for Messenger is to enable consumers, to stay better connected with the people closest to them through the power of technology. The richer interactive real-time features like playing games and sharing photos while HD video chatting with the new Messenger excite me the most because they are giving consumers new ways to maintain a deeper connection to these important people.

Q: How has the web cam/video chat experience evolved in the past few years?  Any major industry trends or consumer demands?

A: Over the past few years, webcams have become more widespread. Nearly 90% of laptops today ship with embedded webcams. And instant messaging applications like Messenger are making it easier for people to use their webcams and start video chatting. The consumer demand for simple, easy to use video calling is rising. On the Messenger network alone, we already serve over 420 million video chats monthly, with the average video chat session lasting over 12 minutes, and nearly 10% of these longer than 1 hour. And, worldwide video chat volumes are expected to more than double by 2013 due to more capable and accessible endpoints on PCs, mobile phones and even TVs. With the new Xbox Kinect for example, video chatting capabilities now come into your living room. You can video chat with your Messenger friends and family from your TV set to their PC or Mac with a webcam. I made a video of this TV to PC experience with Kinect just last week for our Windows Experience blog.

Q: What are some of the new video chat features that were added to the Messenger to help meet these customer needs?

A: First, and most important, was to make it easy. This isn’t just about the one-click option to start a video call, but also about making it just work.  The new Messenger makes smarter use of your computer’s resources and internet connection bandwidth to maintain a high quality video chat experience for both participants. Second, was to make video chatting richer and more interactive. The new Messenger now provides HD video chat, and lets you share photos, watch videos, and even play games while video chatting so you can see your friends’ reactions in real time.

Q: How can people get the most out of their Messenger and video chat experience? Any tips you would like to share?

A: First, start with a good HD webcam. Microsoft LifeCams work very well with all the new Messenger features, including HD video chat. The inherent compatibility with Messenger and features like auto focus make the new LifeCams very easy to setup and use. Second, make your video chats more meaningful by inviting friends and family to interact with photos and videos or play a game with you in real-time while you are video chatting. Finally, if your friend isn’t online to video chat, send them a video message which is like video voice mail that they will receive directly in their email or next time they log in to Messenger.

Stay tuned for more on LifeCams with Messenger, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter for the latest Hardware news and other exciting updates!

PCMag awarded us with their Editor’s Choice Award, commenting that, “The Microsoft LifeCam Studio is a sweet upgrade from a built-in VGA webcam, and good enough for high-definition Internet video chats and even home movies.”

Engadget also posted a review, calling LifeCam Studio, “a looker” and the video quality “bright and colorful despite dim and gloomy lighting.”

Here’s what others had to say:

• CrunchGear: “The new Lifecam Studio is easy to review, because A: it’s a webcam and B: it’s probably the best webcam out there.”
• TECHLAND: “Even in relatively poorly-lit spaces, the picture looks good thanks to the camera’s large sensor.”
• Neowin: “LifeCam Studio is great for recording HD video right onto YouTube, since it supports 720p video recording directly from your webcam.”

Have you picked up a LifeCam Studio from Best Buy? If so, let us know what you think!

What sets this webcam apart from its predecessors is Microsoft’s first true 1080p HD widescreen sensor, delivering detailed, clear video across different resolutions – from VGA to HD. It’s paired with a high-precision glass element lens and TrueColor Technology to make your video as realistic as possible. TrueColor software makes sure that the picture looks great no matter your lighting conditions – in a bright sunny room or in a dimly lit office – so your face looks bright and clear.

Along with great video performance comes a great design; every piece of this webcam serves a purpose. The elongated hood stops harsh light from hitting the sensor and washing out colors, and the flexible base and 360 view range will let you to share what’s happening around the computer, not just in front of it. Finally, we have included our first tripod thread on the LifeCam base so you can get the best angle to shoot video.

(Check out this video to see the LifeCam Studio in action.)

Whether you’re chatting with a friend, your mom, or your coworker, it just makes sense to pair LifeCam Studio with the new Windows Live Messenger to be there like never before. You can download the beta here to get HD widescreen video chatting today, along with photo and video sharing.

You can get a LifeCam Studio today at BestBuy.com, so give it a try and let us know what you think!