I'm in no position to discuss the amount of technical wizardry in play here, but I do think the interface is really great. Look at how it overlays scanned textures on the person's hand to create a transparency effect. Neato!

It's definitely a whiz-bang application, but like augmented reality, I'm not sure how much I need it. Someone needs to figure out how to scan and print a sandwich. Now that would be something. [Pro Forma via Boing Boing]

The 2.0-megapixel Point to View USB 2.0 camera—which also has a macro mode for 2-inch close ups—goes for $69. [iPevo via Gizmowatch]

In other words, this would be a great, inexpensive home surveillance cam. It's supposed to be a snap to set up, and you can access the feed and control the pan and tilt of the camera from any PC or internet capable cellphone. For $300, Astak also throws in motion detection, night vision, two-way audio and a built-in DVR. I have to believe this is as good a feature set as you will find on a webcam at this price point.

ASTAK INTRODUCES WORLD'S FIRST SELF-CONFIGURING, STANDALONE INTERNET CAMERA IDEAL FOR KEEPING AN EYE ON HAPPENINGS AT HOME

YouTube, Twitter and iPhone ready, the affordable and easy-to-use Mole is the first "do it yourself, view from anywhere" solution for remote viewing and sharing

SAN JOSE, Calif.–October 28, 2009–The lowly mole is a victim of poor PR, but that's about to change with Astak Inc.'s innovative new product, the Mole — a standalone Internet camera for consumers who need an easy and affordable way to capture, view and share unattended video over the Internet. Featuring automatic network configuration, the Mole makes it simple for home or business users to remotely view and share video in real-time from any web browser, social networking site, or Internet-capable cell phone, including the iPhone.

Unlike current webcams that require a PC for use, or IP cameras that are complicated to set up and often require customer software to view, the Mole is the first "do it yourself, view from anywhere" solution for home or business surveillance, health and family care (elder or children), social network sharing, pet or , bird watching, and other unfolding events such as social gatherings. The Mole is also an ideal way to keep an eye on business or home while traveling.

"The Mole will redefine home and business surveillance, and it also opens the door to using a remote camera for sharing unattended video, since it's Web 2.0 ready," said Jason Hsia, CEO of ASTAK. "Internet citizens are already uploading over 20 hours of video to YouTube every minute. When interesting or important events are underway, you can't always be there to see or record them in person. That all changes with the Mole, where motion-detected events can be auto-uploaded to YouTube and a tweet auto-sent to your Twitter feed."

A standalone Internet camera with advanced built-in software, the Mole provides auto-configuration so that the user can set up the camera in just a few easy steps and access their video privately without any network knowledge. Once set up, the Mole allows users to adjust the pan remotely to change the view instantly. While easy-to-use and affordable, the Mole camera includes high-end features such as motion detection activation, night vision, two-way audio, and a built-in DVR. The Mole also features both Ethernet or Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Mole is designed for direct access from any web browser, which lets users watch their video instantly, from anywhere, including the iPhone. The onboard software is specifically tailored for seamless Internet sharing including auto-uploads to YouTube. Users can also choose to receive real-time alerts via email or Twitter sent to their mobile phone or any IP-enabled device.

Available in early November 2009, the Mole will be distributed through Astak's network of retail and distribution partners, including Fry's, Costco, Amazon.com, Walmart.com and Astak.com, with an MSRP of $299.00.

[Astak]

The camera, shown today at IDF, is just a prototype, made up of a few components form other companies (a Sony IMX036 CMOS image sensor, for one), but it's damn impressive. Due to the speed of USB 3.0, the webcam is capable of streaming and displaying its 1920x1080 video without compression, which makes for huge files but also extremely sharp image quality. The camera lacked autofocus but manual focus let it capture incredibly crisp images, even all the miniscule elements of a PCI-Express card. Of course, as USB 3.0 isn't exactly widely available, you have to run it through that PCI-Express-to-USB-3.0 card, but Point Grey says it'll be ready for release in either very late 2009 or early 2010. [Point Grey]

Demoed today at TechCrunch 50, the start up showed software that works with webcams to detect how you feel deep inside or at least how you show it on your face. It can detect smiles, frowns and, I assume, tears.

How are they going to use this? It looks like they have handed it right over to The Man himself. It will be used by ad companies to test responses to ad content. The software can gather data and then create reports on reactions to whatever individuals were looking at. Yes, the ASPCA ad with Sarah McLachlan makes me freakin cry. Do you feel better now Affective Interfaces!?

Beyond ads, it could be used as a "social tool" or to detect when drivers get sleepy behind the wheel. Am I the only one here that sees the dirty in all this? [Techcrunch via Venture Beat]

I'm the sort who gets excited about 3D, augmented reality, and holograph technology really quickly (I still dream of having a holodeck one day), but Best Buy's 3D ad experience left me disappointed.

The principle behind Best Buy in 3D is that you go to the website with the latest Best Buy flyer in hand and point it at your webcam in order to see the advertised gadgets pop out in the on-screen video. That's great in theory, but the latest flyer only has one single laptop with the 3D experience triggering icon on it. Even such a limited selection wouldn't be so bad if it actually worked properly.

As you can see in the video, the Best Buy in 3D website is prone to lagging and inconsistent in how and when it picks up on the 3D icon. Sometimes it would allow me to rotate the laptop and other times the same motion would cause it to close and disappear back into the flyer. Since the idea is to have multiple advertised gadgets with similar trigger icons, I tried out holding two flyers up to see what happens. Apparently this confused the site and resulted in a funky back-and-forth jump between the two laptops. Could anyone actually aim a flyer well enough to select the correct icon if something like this happens? For that matter, wouldn't attempting to rotate a gadget result in another being selected? Even if you manage to select the gadget you want, what's the point? Seeing it in 3D with funky sliding effects doesn't give you any new information such as comparable size.

Despite all my whining and moaning about Best Buy in 3D, it actually has the potential to create a whole new user experience when it comes to online shopping. If instead of a flyer filled with trigger icons that might conflict with each other the user was given a card-sized doodad to use as a tracking point, things might be different. The user could select which gadget he or she wants to play around with through the website and then use that doodad to manipulate the 3D image. Along with that the 3D images should be life-size and without the weird pop-out effects. Add a slightly more stable interface and ta da! No more fretting about whether that new laptop will make you look fat or if that TV would be too big for the wall.

Check out the Best Buy in 3D website and see if you can make it do something fun or funky. You can capture the results with an application like Camtasia and upload the results to the comments.

PS: Screw you, Mr. Terrifying Loss-Prevention Guy for giving me funny looks for walking into the store to grab nothing but ten flyers. [BestBuyin3D via Coolest Gadgets]

The Vid, which we tested out last month, is basically Skype, minus all the complexities of signing up and configuring and adding users. Just enter your email, enter the email of the person you want to talk to and you're done. Anyone with a Logitech webcam has access, and anyone that someone with a Logitech webcam invites has access. It's not meant to be a replacement for IM or anything like that, just a very, very easy way to video chat.

Here are the webcams that it's included with.

The Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 (SRP: $99.99 U.S.), Logitech Portable Webcam C905 (SRP: $99.99 U.S.), Logitech Webcam C600 (SRP: $79.99 U.S.), Logitech Webcam C500 (SRP: $49.99 U.S.), Logitech Webcam C300 (SRP: $49.99 U.S.), Logitech Webcam C250 (SRP: $39.99 U.S.) and Logitech Webcam C200 (SRP: $29.99 U.S.) are expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in August.

Premium Webcams: Logitech Webcam Pro 9000, Logitech Portable Webcam C905
With the award-winning Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 your world never looked better. Zeiss® optics with autofocus lets you enjoy razor-sharp images even in extreme close-ups. A 2-megapixel HD sensor delivers fluid, true-to-life video up to 720p and snapshots at up to 8 megapixels (software enhanced). Logitech® RightLight™ 2 technology intelligently adjusts to produce the best possible images, even in dim or backlit settings, and with Logitech® Video Effects™, you can personalize your conversations by choosing from hundreds of avatars, face accessories, and masks that mirror expressions and movement.

Offering all of the benefits of the Webcam Pro 9000 for those occasions when you want a webcam when you're on the go, the Logitech Portable Webcam C905 features an easy-to-transport design so that you can make a video call no matter where you are.

Mid-Range Webcams: Logitech Webcam C600, Logitech Webcam C500

Because you delight in the details of your loved ones' lives, the Logitech Webcam C600 delivers fluid HD-quality video and 8-megapixel snapshots (software enhanced), thanks to its 2-megapixel sensor and glass lens. You can even capture HD video at up to 720p – that's TV-quality resolution. For those challenging lighting situations, Logitech RightLight 2 technology intelligently adjusts to give you the best possible images. Logitech Video Effects make it possible for you to personalize your conversations.

When you want to show your distant friends and family how you really feel, the Logitech Webcam C500 offers a glass lens and 1.3-megapixel sensor for sharper images and fluid video. Its 5-megapixel photo capture lets you take high-resolution snapshots (software enhanced). Logitech® RightLight™ technology automatically adjusts the image, so you look your best, even in dim light, while Logitech Video Effects allow you to personalize your conversations.

Basic Webcams: Logitech Webcam C300, Logitech Webcam C250, Logitech Webcam C200

For a rich video calling experience, the Logitech Webcam C300 gives you up to 5-megapixel photo capture (software enhanced). Additionally, Logitech® Video Effects™ Fun Filters let you add some fun to your video call with neon splashes, fish-eye distortions, and more.

Seeing is believing with the Logitech Webcam C250. Featuring a VGA sensor, the ability to take snapshots at up to 1.3 megapixels (software enhanced), and Logitech Video Effects Fun Filters, the Webcam C250 makes it easy to share your life as you live it.

The Logitech Webcam C200 lets you see the people you care about in lifelike color with a VGA sensor and snapshots at up to 1.3 megapixels (software enhanced).

Because making sure your loved ones can hear your voice clearly is just as important as clearly seeing your face, Logitech's newest webcams include a built-in microphone with Logitech® RightSound™ technology for clear, headset-free conversations without background noise.

Thanks to a universal clip, the Logitech® Webcam Pro 9000, Logitech® Webcam C600, Logitech® Webcam C500, Logitech® Webcam C300, Logitech® Webcam C250 and Logitech® Webcam C200 can attach securely to LCD monitors and notebooks. The Logitech® Portable Webcam C905 can attach to notebooks or sit on a shelf or desk with the included desktop stand. In addition, the Portable Webcam C905 comes with a convenient carrying case.

Well, isn't this heartwarming and adorable. Japanese band Sour had fans use webcams in intricate, unexpected ways to create this lo-fi music video for their song "Hibi no Neiro." We promise you'll crack a small, satisfied smile. [Vimeo, thanks Jack!]

Just hold up the symbol on the back of the bag to your webcam—webcam not included in Doritos bag—and visit doritoslatenight.com. You'll get the option of Choosing Blink182 or Big Boi, and they'll magically POP out of your bag, onscreen, and do a little dance for you.

Unless you're four years old or really, really love Doritos, this'll be interesting for about 10 minutes. But when it's done, you have a bag of Doritos that taste like Taco Bell tacos. Score.

If you're trying to decide between the bag of Doritos that doesn't let you do something with your webcam and the one that does, the choice is obvious. [Doritos Late Night]

In "A Future for the Past," a swiveling iMac superimposes buildings and text onto two large pictures/murals. Tricks like this one are not new to advertising, but rarely have we noticed the principles of augmented reality making their way into public spaces.

But while the museum's application is promising from a technical standpoint, from what I can tell in this clip, the user isn't getting much information from the computer screen that couldn't have been placed into the original image. Still, the exhibit is far more interactive than if its visitors were just reading a sign. [Allard Pierson Museum via Engadget]

We assume the car is controlled over the PSP's Wi-Fi connection. The user steers by seeing what the car sees, with the PSP's display showing the car's POV webcam feed. This video feed could be recorded, making for a kind of ultimate upskirt device.

But in addition to all this fun stuff, Sony hints at racing games with "augmented reality zones." In other words, software could superimpose/replace objects in the video feed, adding a little arcade action to the toy car. Who knows if the design will ever see the light of day, but I really love the idea. [Siliconera via Joystiq]

The pieces would be capable of "listening and talking" to one another in an effort to decide the best possible move. The human player would also be part of this discussion and would be responsible for the final decision. So, it would seem that one of two outcomes is possible: it could result in a lot of bickering among pieces and players until the whole system grinds to a halt or the decision will effectively be made for the human player, making the game a pointless endeavor.

At any rate, Marcovici claims that the "technology is working already" and that a working prototype should be ready within a "couple of weeks." [Democratic Chess via The Design Blog]

Built by Dutch designer Ivo Vos in 2006, this is one of the coolest robots I've ever seen. It's amazing in its simplicity, and its ability to stare at a screen and respond with its little fingers just like we do.

Once a robot can out-solenoid me at Street Fighter, though, then we might have a problem. [Ivo Vos via BBG via Gizmowatch]

Ecamm's BT-1 connects to your Mac via Bluetooth and can wirelessly transmit video from up to 30 feet away. This gives you more mobility and flexibility as to where you can aim your webcam, and it also doesn't confine you to your computer when you are video chatting or doing whatever else it is you need a webcam for.

However—calling all exhibitionists and porn stars—if you're looking for a webcam that you can keep on all night, look elsewhere because this webcam's battery can only last up to four hours. If you're still interested, you can purchase one of these in late March, or if you just can't wait: Pre-order it now. [Ecamm via GearLive via OhGizmo]

The Spyball™ spy-cam is a remote controlled, Wi-Fi enabled, transforming robotic ball that introduces an element of play to telepresence functionality. Affordable, easy-to-use, and rechargeable, the Spyball spy-cam captures video and still images and is equipped with sleek wheels for fast, smooth mobility and 360-degree turns. Transforming from ball to camera and back again, the Spyball spy-cam moves with stealth and in disguise – perfect for spying on siblings or peeking into the kitchen. There is no need to access the Internet to see what the Spyball spycam sees – users can make an Ad hoc connection via any Wi-Fi-enabled device including a PC, laptop, video game console or even a cell phone. The included USB cable allows users to configure a simple home network setup process that will allow the Spyball spycam to be controlled from any remote location via the Internet.

About WowWee
WowWee, an Optimal Group company, is a leading designer, developer, marketer and distributor of innovative hi-tech consumer robotic and entertainment products. The WowWee group of companies maintains operations in Hong Kong, Carlsbad, California; Brussels, Belgium; and Montreal, Quebec.

For more information, please visit the Company's web site at www.wowwee.com.

What appears to be little more than a black and white advertisement in three recent German automotive magazines becomes a 3D holographic model of the Mini Cabrio through a webcam and the Mini website. Sure, it still takes a good deal of effort on the user's part (they have to go somewhere other than the main ad to really see the ad), but I'd do it for the next year or so before the novelty wears thin. [MediaPost via technabob]

With a resolution of 800x600 pixels, the webcam will serve your basic Skype needs, even though I'm sure that's not this gadget's most useful trait. I could use a little bit of "Happy every day!" in my life as long as it makes me forget about the other monkey who managed to leave the country with a $1 trillion deficit. Still the monkey-webcam's adorable smile/pencil holder/webcam combination for $25 propels the product into "lets-buy-it-for-kicks" territory, even though you know you really don't need it. [USB Geek via Craziest Gadgets]

Available now as a free universal binary, FluidTunes is a simple creature; despite what looks to be a solid gesture recognition engine, it can only control iTunes, and only in a specific Coverflow mode. Still, if all you want to do is indulge your moderately lame futuristic interface fantasy for a few minutes, well, FluidTunes can probably grant you that. [Cult of Mac]