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From The Entertainment Depot - http://www.entdepot.com Ramblings
- Pentium III 1Ghz CPU or higher The Look 313 Media combo from Genius is an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to peripherals. Primarily a web camera, the Look 313 also includes two side speakers that swivel to face forward, two 2.0 USB ports, and jacks for both a microphone and headphones. This doesn’t quite cover it all, because there are also external conveniences as well: the camera lens is embedded into a piece that swivels up and down, with turning sides to allow for focusing, and there is a snapshot button on the top for quick use. The unit also comes with a travel bag that also doubles as an excellent carrying case for one’s Nintendo DS, or any other slightly bulky electronic device. A USB cable and disc with drivers and software are also included.
The unit was tested on a custom-built desktop and a Dell Inspiron 6000 notebook, both systems running Windows XP SP2. The notebook was the primary review machine used, partly because the sound could not be channeled back to my desktop’s speakers, no matter what options I chose, and partly because the speakers, and the unit itself, lend themselves to such a setup.
Oddly enough, the 313 is somewhat difficult to use on a notebook. The difficulty doesn’t come from installation, which was a breeze, but from the size of the unit: it’s too big. There are no clamps to stabilize the 313 on my system and, as I type out this very review, it sits in a precarious position and is one wobble away from falling off. There are some grips on the bottom that do the trick when placed with Indiana Jones Temple of Doom-style care. I’ve dropped it once and despite it being lightweight and seemingly flimsy exterior, it held up well.
It just fell.
Let this be a lesson: once you have it situated, do not move it unless absolutely necessary. The ability to move the lens vertically does allow for the unit to be on a surface near the system, but it has to be on an elevated surface, unless the user’s chair is short or their desk is high. It’s ridiculous that there wasn’t something else to help stabilize it on portable systems – it is such a portable device, after all other than a few overworked grips.
The camera functions as a low-
One unique feature of the suite is a security system feature that activates the camera whenever there is movement in front of the computer. If no movement is detected after a few seconds, then the camera automatically shuts off. The camera is capable of recording until the computer's hard drive is filled. Having a setup that appropriately hides the camera, or the fact that it's recording, is more difficult than setting the system up. The software comes with the ability to sound one of a number of sound effects to indicate movement has been picked up, though why you want someone to know you're filming them is beyond me, and a sensitivity slider. A schedule can also be set to record, but the software is always on top of other programs so, almost no matter what you do, someone is going to recognize that something's not right and that lit-up webcam is possibly on and recording. If you can get everything set so that it’s hidden, in spite of the default settings, then you will have a nice, cheap security system on your hands.
DD PlayCam 2.0 is a software suite is also included on the disc, which consists of ThemeParty, PlayCam @LivePlayCam@Live, and DD PrintCenter. ThemeParty is the star here: it is like Genius’ offering but more refined. One big plus for ThemeParty is that it actually tells you where your images are stored – the Genius’ one puts them in /Windows/Album/ without giving you any indication in-software – and has themes that are not only more varied and vibrant than Genius’ but animated as well. The package has a decidedly less valueware feel, too; however, Genius’ package lets you switch between both software packages, its plethora of options are unavailable when in ThemeParty, and offers resolution above DD PlayCam’s 320x240 limit.
One of the standout features, despite my initial problems with it with my desktop, are the speakers. I tested the speakers with Icewind Dale II and Guild War – the unit just fell again; I think I’ll leave it until I’m done – the orchestral tunes in Icewind Dale II and environmental effects in Guild Wars sounded great. It goes without saying that the speakers won’t push the kind of sound you need if you have a pair already for a desktop, but for a notebook they act as an adequate replacement.
The rest of the package seems to be an attempt to fit everything humanly possible into the space to make the product worth the asking price. It definitely fits the bill as a hub, with the extra USB ports (2.0 comp. with 1.0 and 1.1) and the jacks for the mic and headphone. Unless your speakers come with a remote that has the jacks for the mic and headphones built on it, then you realize how much of a pain it can be to access them with any sort of regularity, as well as on some laptops, making the 313 is very convenient alternative. It’s not easy to tell someone that the Look 313 is worth their $50 (below MSRP at most places) if they do not want at least two of the features; after all, a comparable webcam can be bought for around $30 and the rest outside of the speakers really is lagniappe. The package does have the sort of inconvenient idiosyncrasies that one expects from a budget unit: having to scour a PDF manual to find out where in the world the files are actually saved – why it isn’t in My Pictures is beyond me – and having to prop the unit up in a jury-rigged system when used with a laptop. It does pack quite a punch though, lacking refinement more than anything else, and it’s both very easy to use and stylish to boot. It also helps that there isn't much else out there quite like it. If you are looking for a form factor all-in-one solution, then the Look 313 should be at the top of your list.
Specifications
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end webcam that gets the job done, and accessorized by some extremely tacky borders that come with the software provided by Genius. It does, however, take pretty good video; though without a built-in microphone, despite what has been reported elsewhere, you will need to plug in a headset for there to be sound. There are a number of options given in the software to adjust the settings for optimal picture quality, including low light, brightness, contrast, saturation, and auto balance sliders. The same panel is where the effects and borders are accessed, the later include Christmas wreathes and jungle surroundings that are imposed on the image so that the user appears with them when a picture is taken. The option is presented for owners to provide their own bitmap frames, which I would advise due to the included ones being shoddy clipart; though I did have some fun messing around with them because they border on being ‘wacky’ they are so bad. 