Core77

Giving Microsoft ID some props

By Rain Noe - September 13, 2010

in Object Culture | Design Business

Microsoft has been keeping their ID department busy; in addition to shooting a vid of their new Arc Mouse, they've just cranked out the new LifeCam Studio, an HD webcam with an absurdly high resolution of 1080p.

I often lambaste Microsoft because I've never had a good experience with their UI, but I've gotta give their ID guys credit for not copying Apple's aesthetics, as many companies do, but instead trying to do their own thing. The LifeCam Studio's design recalls elements of high-end professional SLR and movie cameras and boasts a clean aesthetic--except for the logo plastered across the thing not once but twice, undoubtedly a bit of unwelcome input from Marketing.

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Mark

14 years ago

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I think you are wrong.
It looks like they copy Apple's iSight Camera.
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Earthman

14 years ago

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I like to remove the printed decals on products, so I really dislike when brands emboss large text logos. I don't need to be reminded every time I use a product who the make is. With few exceptions...
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steve clayton

14 years ago

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thanks for the props - Arc Touch Mouse and now the LifeCam. Glad you like 'em!
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Jerry Armstrong

14 years ago

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"...give their ID guys credit for not copying Apple's aesthetics, as many companies do, but instead trying to do their own thing" ???

I agree they're not lifting from Apple with the new webcam styling--beyond the obvious "nod" to the cylindrical form factor of the infinitely more handsome iSight. On the contrary, to my eyes it appears they're taking at least some of their design cues from the Mattel/Hasbro/Playskool look. Perhaps that explains the emphatic dual logos, to convince us it's truly from our friends at Redmond.
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