Windows 10 Anniversary Update is reported to cause millions of webcams to stop working

Microsoft decided to exclude both H.264 and MJPEG codec support for millions of webcams. This includes cameras from manufacturers like Logitech.  According to Microsoft-focused blog Thurrott.com, this was supposedly a decision the company made to prevent performance issues now that certain Windows apps have more direct webcam access post-update.

Members of Microsoft’s Windows Camera team are performing damage control in support threads, and Thurrott.com reports an official fix may be in the works for a September release. Unfortunately, that may only remedy the MJPEG format. Those who rely on H.264 may be waiting even longer to make use of their webcams. If you recently installed the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, you can revert to the prior version of the software within 10 days.

Logitech C920–1080p video calling

This could be really scary, Logitech is introducing their C920 Webcam with 1080P video calling. Hook this up with Skype and you are going to be able to display to whomever is hooking up with you, every detail that it is pointing at. This could be good, this could be very, very bad! Priced at around $100 it

Technical Details

• Full HD 1080p video calling (up to 1920 x 1080 pixels) with the latest version of Skype for Windows
• 720p HD video calling (up to 1280 x 720 pixels) with supported clients
• Full HD video recording (up to 1920 x 1080 pixels) with a recommended system
• Logitech Fluid Crystal™ Technology
• H.264 video compression
• Carl Zeiss® lens with 20-step autofocus
• Built-in dual stereo mics with automatic noise reduction
• Automatic low-light correction
• Hi-Speed USB 2.0 certified (USB 3.0 ready)
• Tripod-ready universal clip fits laptops, LCD or CRT monitors

Logitech webcam software:

• Video recording: Up to Full HD 1080p video capture
• Photo capture: Up to 15 megapixels (software enhanced)
• 1-click Facebook®, Twitter™ and YouTube™ HD upload (registration required)

Multiple Uses for Camtasia Studio

I love my Camtasia Studio. If you have visited my Blog before you will have noticed some of the videos that I have posted to support my How To Video submissions. This is a great application for creating support videos for your organization as well as educational materials for employee’s or if you are an Educational Organization this is a great teaching aid for that as well. The retail cost of this product is $299.00, educational and volume discounts are available as well. It is available for both Windows and Mac. If you want to try it out you can download a trial version here.

Here are the recommended set of system specifications to get the most out of the product. Any current computer that is essentially purchased to work with graphics should be adequate but you will want to have a system with at least these specs to work with your development projects, especially if you are planning this system to be a production machine.

Minimum Requirements:

• Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7
• Microsoft DirectX 9 or later version
• 1.0 GHz processor minimum ~ Recommended: 2.0 GHz (for PowerPoint and camera recordings.)
• 500 MB RAM minimum ~ Recommended: 2.0 GB
• 115 MB of hard-disk space for program installation

Optional Requirements:

• Camtasia Studio Add-in for PowerPoint requires PowerPoint 2000, 2002, 2003, or 2007
• Production to the Apple iPod/iPod Touch/iPhone format requires Apple QuickTime 7.2 or later
• Dedicated Windows-compatible sound card, microphone and speakers (recommended)
• Camera video recording requires a USB Camera. Digital video (DV) cameras are not supported. USB Web camera

The Nitty Gritty

Camtasia has three major functions that allow you to produce a video. Included is programming to capture image that is on your screen as well as PIP function to include a web camera recording as well. If you only need audio capture you also have that function as well. You can also do an onscreen capture of a PowerPoint presentation so that you can distribute a slide presentation as a video.

Camtasia Studio includes a simple video editing application that allows you to edit the recorded images, add additional video or still images, add new audio overlays and music, you can pan and zoom into areas of your screen capture to ensure that your audience is focusing on the information that is important.

Once you have your edited video production completed you are ready to produce it in a format that you can deliver to your audience. You have a wide choice of formats as well as some quick post functions to Internet like TechSmith’s Screencast, or YouTube. Then it is easy to incorporate the video once it is on the web into your web pages.

My Impressions

What I like is using this program for all of my video productions, whether it is something I capture with Jing (another TechSmith product) or video that I take with my new Flip Camera, I can create and edit and produce video for almost any kind of venue, quickly and easily. So if you have been thinking about putting together a library of videos showing the proper procedures for different company functions, needing to put together video promotional material for your customers or wanting to get your most current family outing edited a posted to YouTube for the family to see, this could very well be the product for you.

Logitech® Webcam C905

We received a new Logitech® Webcam C905 and put it into use right away. We connected it on Jude’s desktop and setup Skype so he could make internet video call using this program.

The unit plugged right into Jude’s Windows 7 machine and instantly saw it and offered to download the device drivers off of the web. A minute later he was running.

This Webcam has a crystal clear image and really good sound quality. I am going to see how well it will pick up and recognize his speech patterns for use with voice to text recognition and will report back on that in a few days. I liked it so much that I am picking one up for myself as well.

I think that its quality is very similar to Logitech’s 9000 pro’s version and would not hesitate picking this unit up.

A few highlights: HiDef, Autofocus, Closeup, Universal Clip, Work with most IM applications, Built-in mic with Right Sound™, Carl Zeiss® Optics, 2 megapixel sensor and Right Light™ 2 Technology. There is also a fun feature available using Logitech® Video Effects™. It’s easy to spice things up with neon splashes, fish-eye distortions, and more.

To see more detail about these features go to this products Features Page.