Announced back in January, and winner of the 2009 Macworld Expo Best of Show Award, the BT-1 webcam is the first bluetooth based wireless web cam for the Mac. Apart from the name, everything looks just plain promising.
Get a fresh angle. The world’s first Bluetooth webcam is now shipping. — The BT-1 connects wirelessly to your Mac for video chat, recording, broadcasting and more with no wires to slow you down.
When I first got the BT-1, I didn’t know what to expect. I opened the package and was greeted by a tiny box, and in this tiny box was an even tinier camera. And by tiny, I mean really really small. It’s smaller than a fat Nano. You could probably fit two of these in the same space as an iPhone. Yeah, it’s small. But being this small has plenty of advantages, especially since it’s also wireless. Also in the box is a mini tripod, a USB cable to charge the camera and a quick start guide.
Since there is no software in the box, you need to download the drivers for the BT-1 from Ecamm. Once you have that installed, and the camera has charged, it is ready to go. Connect the BT-1 and enjoy your new camera.
Life without wires
Using the camera is simple. In your preferred chat app, select the BT-1 as your active camera. Just remember to switch it back to the built in camera if you don’t have the BT-1 always connected and charged, otherwise when you start a video or audio chat, whoever you are chatting with won’t get any audio and or video.
Video quality looks surprisingly good, even over bluetooth. Max resolution of the BT-1 is 640x480 at 15 frames per second, while not the greatest camera, considering the other features of the camera, I think that it is perfectly acceptable. I didn’t have any chopping or stuttering while using it. The one problem, or flaw, I noticed is that there is a 2-3 second lag in the video displayed. I could quickly turn my head away and back and then watch it turn on the video. You are the only person that will really notice this though. Recording video or chatting, the viewer will never know. This is most likely due to being a bluetooth connection.
Unless Flickr has done something, this is near native quality of the video. Click here for full resolution.
The camera has Bluetooth’s standard 30ft range, so you should be able to use it in most conditions. You could even use it as a remote security cam if you wanted. Being wireless really opens up the options with this camera.
The included tripod has three legs that are extendable to about 10 inches. Each leg is individually adjustable, so you can use it on uneven surfaces. The tripod is pretty solid. It was even able to hold up my Canon Digital Rebel with a 28-105mm lens without much difficulty.
Verdict
The entire purpose of the BT-1 is to have a small portable wireless camera, and the BT-1 does exactly that. You are no longer limited to doing demos right in front of your computer, you can move around, and shoot video at the workbench across the room from your computer. If you’re using a notebook, you can even take the game outside. Also, being as small as it is, it’s a great camera to throw in your bag and take on a trip. Hardly noticeable in your bag, until you need it. If I was in the market for an external camera for my computer, I think this would be my top choice. Price: $150 a piece.
