Dell has introduced a new UltraSharp webcam that is sure to be familiar to Mac users. The UltraSharp webcam features a cylindrical design that closely resembles Apple’s iconic iSight webcam, which Apple introduced at WWDC in 2003 and finally discontinued in 2008.
As The Verge reports, UltraSharp features USB-C connectivity and supports 4K recording or streaming:
UltraSharp is a USB-C webcam that houses an 8.3 megapixel Sony STARVIS CMOS sensor. It is capable of recording or transmitting in 4K at 30 or 24 frames per second and in 1080p or 720p at 24, 30 or 60 frames per second. You can adjust the field of view (FOV) between 65 degrees for a close crop, 78 degrees, or 90 degrees for the widest crop available. The webcam has a set of automatic light correction functions that aim to make your image look good regardless of its lighting. It supports up to 5x digital zoom and has automatic focus.
UltraSharp is compatible with macOS and Windows, but you will need Dell’s Peripheral Manager software to access many of its features, and this software is only available on Windows. This includes the AI Auto Framing feature, which tracks your movements to keep you focused in the frame, similar to the new Center Stage feature found on the iPad Pro M1. Also for Windows users, it has an infrared sensor that can access the Windows Hello facial recognition platform.
However, there are some limitations, including the price and the lack of a microphone:
But $ 199.99 isn’t cheap for a webcam, and I haven’t even gotten to its biggest omission: it doesn’t have an internal mic. Dell said it focused primarily on optics for this model, so you’ll need to get your own mic, be it a separate USB or XLR mic or a headphone.
For Mac users, the standout feature here is the iSight-like design, which could make it a tempting option despite the limitations. For users who don’t care about design, something like the Logitech Brio might be a better option if you need a separate webcam.
Do you think Apple should make a standalone iSight camera again in 2021? Let us know in the comments!
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