WebCamera Review
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WebCamera Review

Our Review by Chris Hall on January 19th, 2011
Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar :: HANDY
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Built in web cams are all the rage these days, but WebCamera gives you the freedom that your video chatting deserves.


Developer: Shape Services
Price: $2.99
Version Reviewed: 2.0.1

iPhone Integration Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
User Interface Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar
Re-use / Replay Value Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar

Overall Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar

Before that HAL9000 looking camera was built into Mac computer screens, we all had to deal with the dreaded web cam. Their problems were many, but people mainly disliked them because they never quite worked right, used silly drivers, and were typically eyesores on the tops of most desks. One thing that they did do well though is movement. If something was going on around me that I wanted to show online, I would just aim the web cam at the target instead of having to aim my entire MacBook Pro at something.

The past is the past though, and the fact is that built in web cam use far outweighs the traditional web cam, at least on the Mac platform. There is an app for that though, and this one is quite nifty. WebCamera, from SHAPE Services, turns your iOS camera into a web cam extension. WebCamera works with a slew of messaging services (find them all at the iTunes description page) and replaces your internal Mac camera with your built in iPhone one. The trick is to download their free desktop software, then to follow their setup instructions, and BAM; you've got yourself a brand new cordless web cam.

WebCamera works in three different resolutions, 192x144, 480x360, and 1280x720, with the higher resolutions showing a noticeable drop in frame rate. The only resolution that seemed to work in real time was 192x144, which looked much more like an average Skype for the iPhone connection than a crisp connection through iChat. Even with the not-so perfect resolution though, having the ability to move around with a portable camera was oddly exciting.

The only real downside is that WebCamera doesn't support audio at this time (it's said to come in a future update), but the sound will still work as it would with your computer.

If you are in need of a web cam for some added freedom in your video chatting world, be sure to pick up WebCamera today. Seeing your iPhone capture on your computer screen is a whole lot more entertaining than you could ever imagine.

iPhone Screenshots

(click to enlarge)

WebCamera screenshot 1 WebCamera screenshot 2 WebCamera screenshot 3 WebCamera screenshot 4

iPad Screenshots

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WebCamera screenshot 5 WebCamera screenshot 6
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