webcams

When you hear the words "Fake Webcam," you might picture a cheesy plastic gadget that does nothing more than sit on top of your computer screen, pretending to be a Webcam, but most of the time it means software that simulates a Webcam feed using video files, images, screen captures, and other sources. Perfect Fake Webcam is such a tool. It can play video and still images over a simulated Webcam feed. Templates let you add backgrounds, frames, and animated themes to your video chat feeds, too. Perfect Fake Webcam is free to try for 30 days, though … Read more

If you truly want to expand the functionality of your Android device, then this app is worth your attention. With IP Webcam your mobile device can easily turn into a useful Webcam for online Skype sessions or even a video baby monitor. This app delivers exactly what it promises, it's easy to use, and it functions without much hassle.

IP Webcam offers a pretty straightforward and functional layout. The setup is very easy and there are a few options in the main menu, such as which camera to use, and whether sound will be streaming or not. To stream … Read more

Fake Webcam isn't a lump of plastic that looks like a Webcam but isn't; it's software that simulates a Webcam feed with video. It can capture your desktop, screenshots, and real Webcam feeds, too, and overlay videos with text and effects. You can use Fake Webcam like a real Webcam's feed, but this interesting tool has other capabilities, such as creating presentations, promotional materials, training videos, and manuals, and broadcasting them like your regular Webcam via social media and IM clients. It's free to try for 30 days with a nag screen and watermark on … Read more

Welcome to my underground lair, Mr. Bond! How clever of you. But perhaps you didn't realize that I am watching your every move on multiple cameras at once, thanks to PY Software's Active WebCam? It monitors and displays multiple video capture streams simultaneously, and it records video at up to 30 frames per second. And I can use it to stream live video of your impending doom on the Internet! Too bad you didn't know that this versatile Webcam manager is free to try with nothing more than a nag screen, and affordable to any international supercriminal!… Read more

As the old adage goes, seeing is believing, which is why we've seen such an abundance of screen-capture tools. But what if you want to capture video instead of a static picture? That's where Webcam Video Capture comes in. As its name suggests, it offers users a means to capture video and save it to their computer. Sadly, however, in practice, we found it clunky to use and glitchy to the point that it crashed on us, requiring reinstallation.

Webcam Video Capture's user interface is small and seemingly straightforward at first glance. Buttons labeled New Session, Record, … Read more

Video2Webcam lets you share video clips with others during online sessions, even when you don't have a webcam attached. If you do have a webcam, you can switch between the live feed and file playback easily. Video2Webcam installs quickly.

The Video2Webcam interface is simple to use. A small dialog shows video clips in a folder you choose, and lets you play them, pause, loop, and stop playback from a small control panel; a small preview window underneath lets you see what the video file looks like (and position playback, if necessary). There are also controls for your webcam to … Read more

CyberLink YouCam 5 is a Webcam manager that not only manages your installed Webcams and feeds but also lets you jazz them up with cool effects, avatars, gadgets, and so on. YouCam includes productivity tools for making presentations, tutorials, and instructional videos. It records HD video, and its TrueTheater feature enhances them. You can add special effects to your Webcam feed, and even download unlimited free effects from DirectZone. New features include Face Login, which uses facial-recognition technology to access your PC and Web sites like Facebook and Amazon. CyberLink YouCam 5 is free to try for 15 days.

CyberLink … Read more

Do you suffer from Webcam Paralysis, the fear that you'll miss something good the instant you look away from the Webcam you're watching? Help is available from Solent Software in the form of WebCam Recorder, a compact but versatile shareware utility that can monitor and record almost any Webcam, even those that use plug-ins. It can record Webcams and Webcam feeds in your system or online -- in fact, any Webcam that can display its feed on your desktop. With a wizard-based setup process and a simple interface, it's easy to use yet flexible enough for a … Read more

Wi-Fi Webcams can be really cool, allowing you to stream live video to, say, a laptop or phone without having to run cables all over the place.

But many, if not most, of them are expensive, unattractive gizmos requiring complicated setup and delivering iffy results.

They're getting better, though, and for today at least, more affordable: Ben's Outlet has the Stem Innovation iZon Wi-Fi Webcam for $64.99 shipped. That's half the list price, and definitely the best deal I've seen on this product.

The small, white, cylindrical iZon stands about 4 inches high on its … Read more