Creative Launches Driver-free Webcam

Creative has announced the Creative Live! Cam Optia, the USB Video Class web camera that works by simply plugging it into your PC — no drivers or software installation is required. The webcam incorporates an exclusive parental control feature to ensure safe, password-protected video instant messaging.

With a compact and low-profile design, the glossy-white Creative Live! Cam Optia has a multi-axis swivel lens that rotates up to 270 degrees for natural, eye-level video chatting and a stereo headset. After a call has concluded, the camera can be easily shut off by rotating it downward.

“The Live! Cam Optia enables people to begin video chatting with friends and family seconds after taking the webcam out of the box, eliminating the time and hassle of installing anything from a CD. We designed the Creative Live! Cam Optia so anyone could just plug it into the PC, launch their favorite IM program, and immediately begin video chatting over the Internet,” said Dr. Jeff Stoen, general manager for video and imaging at Creative. “With our continued commitment to innovation in the webcam category, we’ve introduced an exclusive parental control feature in the Creative Live! Cam Optia to support safe online video chatting.”

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The certified hi-speed USB 2.0 Creative Live! Cam Optia features a precision, 5-element glass lens and comes with a library of special video effects.

The Creative Live! Cam Optia is available now at us.creative.com for US$79.99.