Microsoft unveils a new webcam as well as other Teams-compatible accessories. The company wanted to complement the rise of Teams during the coronavirus pandemic with the presentation of some hardware accessories, highlighting the first webcam that the company launches after nearly ten years without news in this regard.
By way of context, rumors have been swirling for years about the company’s intentions to launch a new model of the webcam to its product portfolio, a launch that has now materialized, although it falls far short of the features that more than one would wish for in today’s age.
Microsoft’s new devices with Teams at the core
In this sense, the Microsoft Modern Webcam is a basic webcam that is capable of delivering HDR images up to 1080p at 30fps, which also includes a shutter tab and an LED indicator, and must be connected to any computer via a standard USB-A connector.
It also has a 78-degree field of view, autofocus, lighting adjustments, and facial retouching features. It will be officially priced at about $69.99 and is expected to hit stores in June.
The list of new features also includes a USB-C speaker, the Microsoft Modern USB-C Speaker, also specially oriented to Teams meetings, which integrates omnidirectional microphones and support for noise cancellation to capture higher quality audio, taking the usual action buttons located on the top of the device, and will also arrive in June at the price of $99.99.
The list continues with the two new Teams-certified headsets with a dedicated button… On the one hand, there is the Microsoft Modern Wireless (pictured above), a wireless headset that includes its USB-A wireless adapter to work with Teams functions, which also includes padded ear cups, noise-canceling microphone, in-ear controls, plus a battery life of up to 50 hours of music listening, or 30 hours when working with Teams, and must be fully charged in two and a half hours.
At the moment there is no price but it will be released in June in selected markets. Microsoft also presented the Microsoft Modern USB Headset as an option for those who prefer wired headphones, which must be connected to the computer via USB-A and will arrive in June at $49.99 for business and education customers.
In addition to these four devices, Microsoft also unveiled the new Surface Laptop 4 range of productivity laptops and the new Surface Headphones 2 Plus wireless headset for business and education, which is also certified (and button) for Teams, something Microsoft intends to make standard in-house and is available starting today at $299.99 in select markets.
