USB 3.0 Webcam HoverCam 3PO

[PaulSaunders]

Did anyone see this? Seems like we will be getting a USB 3.0 Webcam soon

http://www.thehovercam.com/press/product-information/352-3po

Bad news is that its 299 bucks


http://i.imgur.com/OwWP3jE.png

[MovieBuff]

Great news, but 299$, ouch! (Not so much an ouch if the quality is great. I would buy it at that price)

Wait a second, on the image it shows text that says 3K. If it is 3K resolution, they might be on to something very interesting.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VysxM5dxkQc
Source: http://forum.ibroadcastnetwork.org/showthread.php/1642-Coming-soon-HoverCam-3PO-First-USB-3-0-Webcam?p=7965&posted=1#post7965

[PaulSaunders]

I saw that as well. I dont know what it means

Here are some more specs

Sensor Type: 8.0 MegaPixel HD CMOS
Optical Resolution: Optical Format 1/3.2"
Image Resolution: 2592x1944, 2048x1536, 1600x1200, 1280x720, 800x600
Maximum Still-Image Resolution: 8MP
Frame Rate: 3K or 1080P @ 30fps
Video Compression: MJPEG
Focus: Autofocus, Autofocus lock
Compatible with video-chatting programs: Skype, Google Chat, Windows Live Messenger
Swivel / Angle Rotation: 360 degree
Power Requirements: USB Powered, No External Power Required
Port Connection: SuperSpeed USB 3.0
System Requirements: CPU 1.0 GHz Minimum, 1.6 GHz Recommended, 
RAM 512MB Minimum, 1GB Recommended
Dimensions (W x D x H): Camera: 3.07"x 1.27" x 1.50"
Base: 2.05"x 2.44" x 0.82"
Connections Required : 1 USB 3.0 cable to the computer
Warranty: 1 year
Microphone: Built-in
Accessories: USB 3.0 cable, computer mount, protective case
Certifications: FCC, CE, RoH
Availability & Pricing: Q2, 2014 | MSRP $299

[mcphillips]

If it does what they say it will do, I'm in when the price drops. My C910 just died, and Logitech doesn't have any to replace it. The C920 is not as good of a camera, in my experience.

[MovieBuff]

If it does what they say it will do, I'm in when the price drops. My C910 just died, and Logitech doesn't have any to replace it. The C920 is not as good of a camera, in my experience.

I'm surprised Logitech has not come up with anything at CES.

[Dan Ortego]

Seems to be the cat's meow for Skype, so bring it!

[AlBurr]

Damn you technology...stand still for a minute so I can catch my financial breath :) In any case very nice...just need PTZ and I'm set...

[Dan Ortego]

Yeah Al, I hear you on that. 'so many toys and so little time'. :rolleyes:

[CraigJustice]

Wanted to give you an update on the HoverCam 3PO, the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 webcam. We've been showing it at some conferences including ISE - Integrated Systems Europe - in Amsterdam last week. Yes, it's 3K resolution. Yes, the image looks great. Yes, the image is fast. About the price, yes, it's not cheap, but, I can't find anything with this performance and quality for under $1,000, so for prosummers and business users the price is looking attractive. Alas, it's not a PTZ camera - at least not yet. You can do the P & T by hand. My guess is we will include our ASR an adaptive sensor response zoom that will allow the user to zoom with the mouse and do some limited panning when zoomed in. The zoom quality is much better than traditional "digital zoom." We're looking for release in the May time frame. Stay tuned and feel free to contact me with any questions - and for you die-hard enthusiasts who were on this chat initially who want one of these but for whom price is an issue - please contact me directly and I'll make you an offer you can't refuse.

[Podnutter]

Very interesting device. Cool that you guys are on the site giving us info. I would love to see someone over at the IAIB review the product. would it be possible for you guys to send one over to them?

[andrewzarian]

Hi Craig,

I really think you guys are onto something. like Podnutter said I think many people would like to see us review this. Is there a contact email I can reach you at. Would love to get my hands on one and review it for the site.

[CraigJustice]

Of course we'd be delighted to submit a 3PO for review once it's ready. Please email me the details of the reviewer and we'll send one out when ready. Apologies for the delay in responding - it's been a crazy first two months of the year. For any of you interested in the "education" market, we've taken the 3PO engine and put it "on a stick" and bundled it with software for school teachers, who use it to instruct, take photos, scan papers & OCR, record videos for the "flipped" learning classroom, grade papers, and Skype in HD (distance learning). In this format - on a stick - it's called a "document camera" instead of a webcam. Teachers love these things.

[sunkast]

$299 isn't a bad price if the quality is comparable to video cameras that sell for 4 times as much. I was actually just thinking about 3k/4k the other day. 3k/4k could be nice to have if all you have is a single camera to record an event but can create multiple shots from in post production.

[MovieBuff]

$299 isn't a bad price if the quality is comparable to video cameras that sell for 4 times as much. I was actually just thinking about 3k/4k the other day. 3k/4k could be nice to have if all you have is a single camera to record an event but can create multiple shots from in post production.

My school did a test with a 4K camera last week and created several shots from one camera shot (including zoomed shots). It works!

[MovieBuff]

Wanted to give you an update on the HoverCam 3PO, the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 webcam. We've been showing it at some conferences including ISE - Integrated Systems Europe - in Amsterdam last week. Yes, it's 3K resolution. Yes, the image looks great. Yes, the image is fast. About the price, yes, it's not cheap, but, I can't find anything with this performance and quality for under $1,000, so for prosummers and business users the price is looking attractive. Alas, it's not a PTZ camera - at least not yet. You can do the P & T by hand. My guess is we will include our ASR an adaptive sensor response zoom that will allow the user to zoom with the mouse and do some limited panning when zoomed in. The zoom quality is much better than traditional "digital zoom." We're looking for release in the May time frame. Stay tuned and feel free to contact me with any questions - and for you die-hard enthusiasts who were on this chat initially who want one of these but for whom price is an issue - please contact me directly and I'll make you an offer you can't refuse.

Thank you very much for replying.

[mcphillips]

Andrew would be a good one to do a review, if he is willing to do so. He's ADD on video quality.

[MovieBuff]

Andrew would be a good one to do a review, if he is willing to do so. He's ADD on video quality.

Absolutely! (for Andrew. I wouldn't say ADD, I would say "Quality Assurance Inspector.")
So would Stephen Heywood from http://www.thetechbuzz.net/
Mark Johnson and Vance Willis from http://www.studiotech.tv/
Michael Manna and Josh Coleman from http://t4show.com/

Chase Nunes from http://www.geekgamer.tv/ is the person that initially got me interested in this.

[TommySulivan]

Has there been any updates with this product? Its shocking that there have not been USB 3.0 webcams release to the market from Microsoft and Logitech

[AlBurr]

Not encouraging that their website is unreachable...
and it's back... still targeting Q2 2014 release...

Specifications
Sensor Type: 8.0 MegaPixel HD CMOS
Optical Resolution: Optical Format 1/3.2"
Image Resolution: 2592x1944, 2048x1536, 1600x1200, 1280x720, 800x600
Maximum Still-Image Resolution: 8MP
Frame Rate: 3K or 1080P @ 30fps
Video Compression: MJPEG
Focus: Autofocus, Autofocus lock
Compatible with video-chatting programs: Skype, Google Chat, Windows Live Messenger
Swivel / Angle Rotation: 360 degree
Power Requirements: USB Powered, No External Power Required
Port Connection: SuperSpeed USB 3.0
System Requirements: CPU 1.0 GHz Minimum, 1.6 GHz Recommended, 
RAM 512MB Minimum, 1GB Recommended
Dimensions (W x D x H): Camera: 3.07"x 1.27" x 1.50"
Base: 2.05"x 2.44" x 0.82"
Connections Required : 1 USB 3.0 cable to the computer
Warranty: 1 year
Microphone: Built-in
Accessories: USB 3.0 cable, computer mount, protective case
Certifications: FCC, CE, RoH
Availability & Pricing: Q2, 2014 | MSRP $299

[CraigJustice]

We need to write the software for this. The hardware is basically done. We've started shipping this month the Solo 8 document camera, which uses the same engine as the 3PO webcam. Solo 8 is a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 document camera with Four K resolution at 30 frames/sec refresh rate. It's a USB 3 webcam on a stick, with software for scanning and recording video. The 3PO schedule has slipped a bit - shipments should start in June. So, that's an update.

[CraigJustice]

Apologies, our ISP was done all day yesterday - impacting thousands of businesses. Bummer. Thanks for understanding. Feel free to contact me directly at justice at thehovercam.com If you ever need an update. Thanks for posting the specs. Again, first ship of this now scheduled for June. Solo 8 document camera, using the same engine, shipping now - although we are fulfilling backorders until end of May.

[AlBurr]

Thanks for the quick reply Craig. I understand slipping... I am in the software business. Don't ship it until it's right :)

[TommySulivan]

hi Craig

Is there anything new with this camera? would love to get an update. Thanks

[MovieBuff]

hi Craig

Is there anything new with this camera? would love to get an update. Thanks

Same here.

[Richardpell]

Has there been ay updates?

[RobertTheiss]

I am using the Hovercam 3PO for live streaming on Zoom.us. If your not familiar with Zoom, it's similar to Skype but streams at a lower bandwidth, records in video and audio and allows up to 25 panelist to join your podcast for up to 3000 people. The camera is very well made, as is the software. Some of my webinars go for 5 hours so I am streaming at 720p to keep my CPU down(23%; 36% at 1080p). Using the USB 3.0, there is no lag in the video; highly recommend the camera and Zoom!

[andrewzarian]

Hey Robert Thanks for the post. Can you give us some info regarding performance compared to the Logitech c920? Do you have any recorded content we can see?

[RobertTheiss]

I'd be glad too, can post a link to a edited version of one of my webinars this week-end. I bought the camera as an upgrade to the c920, the biggest difference is no lag and my c920 never was able to stream at 1080p. Plus the Hovercam software is state of the art. We live in the country so all of my streaming uses a wireless connection (Verizon at 30mbps up and down) which is why I use Zoom. I 'm on a new 27" imac.

[MovieBuff]

I'd be glad too, can post a link to a edited version of one of my webinars this week-end. I bought the camera as an upgrade to the c920, the biggest difference is no lag and my c920 never was able to stream at 1080p. Plus the Hovercam software is state of the art. We live in the country so all of my streaming uses a wireless connection (Verizon at 30mbps up and down) which is why I use Zoom. I 'm on a new 27" imac.

Very cool RobertTheiss. I can't wait to see the edited video.

[RobertTheiss]

Okay, this isn't the best test I've done with this camera but it will give you some idea of what 720p looks like, ignor my rambling. http://roberttheiss.weebly.com/

[andrewzarian]

Hey Robert thanks so much for this video.

I need to get my hands on a review unit. I know that Craig from the company has been following this thread. :)

[MovieBuff]

Okay, this isn't the best test I've done with this camera but it will give you some idea of what 720p looks like, ignor my rambling. http://roberttheiss.weebly.com/

It looks great (I know Weebly's compression probably doesn't do it justice, but it looks great!). Thanks RobertTheiss. I would love to get a HoverCam 3PO soon.

[RobertTheiss]

Unfortunately I need to update my original review of this product. I discovered some serious issues with the software while using it with Yosemite on my new iMac. Hovercam support offered little help, they did agreed however to schedule a video conference with me to help resolve my issues. Failing to show up at our appointed time did little to enhance my opinion of their support. Perhaps others will have a different experience but I've decided to return the Hovercam 3PO camera and go back to my reliable but not as fast C920.

[andrewzarian]

Robert sorry to hear you are having issues. I have not seen any real world reviews other than yours regarding this camera. Would love to get some more info from anyone out there using it.