We have taken photos using the Solo 8 and other camera brands. In side by side comparisons, we see a noticeable difference. The Solo 8’s 8MP image is so clear you can see the details in skin and even the states on a U.S. $5 bill. Your customers will definitely see the difference.

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Yes, you may record video while annotating. The intelligent Solo 8 assesses the power of your computer and the resolution of the screen to determine the optimum recording resolution for recording at 30 fps.  For newer computers, video is recorded at 1080p resolution at 30 fps; for average computers, video is recorded at 720p resolution at 30 fps; and for older computers video is recorded at lower resolution such as 800 x 600 resolution at 30 fps.

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Yes. Time-lapsed video and Slow Motion video will be included in future Flex 10 updates. Solo 8 will support these functions. Please stay tuned.

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Yes, a HoverCam makes a great addition to any interactive whiteboard or smartboard.

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Yes.

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Teachers can easily import HoverCam content into IWB software four ways: Drag-and-drop any captured image from HoverCam’s software window into the IWB software. Utilize HoverCam’s Slingshot feature, which will allow an image being shown by the HoverCam to be captured and inserted into the IWB software with just one click without having to leave the IWB software. Utilize HoverCam’s Whiteboard Connector app to allow the HoverCam’s live streaming video to be displayed within the IWB software. Use the IWB software’s transparency feature to display HoverCam’s live video image inside the IWB without installation of any additional software, app or driver.

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Yes, Hovercam has a Chrome App so you can use the Solo 8 with any Chromebook.  You can find the app in the Chrome Store and it is available at no cost.

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HoverCam Whiteboard Connector is a small Flash application which allows users of Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) software, such as Smart Notebook, Promethean ActivInspire, eBeam ActiveCapture, or Mimio Studio Notebook to embed and manipulate live video from a HoverCam document camera.

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Yes. The hovercam works great with any brand board including Promethean, Smart Technologies, Mimio, Hitachi , Teamboard, Steelcase, etc

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Yes. Solo 8 is an effective SuperSpeed USB3.0 HD webcam with 4K resolution.

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Using Solo 8 with AirStation is like driving a Ferrari over a gravel road filled with pot-holes. We don’t recommend it. Our Ultra model, shipping in August, will have a wireless option. For users of Solo 8 who want the camera image to appear on their iPad, we recommend they hook up Solo 8 to their computer and use the SplashTop app with their iPad or tablet.

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We are working on it. Stay tuned.

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Yes. There is a basic version of the Tesseract OCR built into Flex 10. We recommend TopOCR as a low cost but high quality OCR software tool. There are multiple OCR software products on the market, such as ABBYY FineReader. Solo 8 scans more clearly than the Solo 5 with fewer artifacts and works well with OCR programs. A key selling point about Solo 8 for schools is its multifunctional capability including scanning.

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Yes, this feature will be available soon in Flex 10 as an update. Drag a thumbnail image into the video preview main screen and split screen will appear. Or, go to the "Split Screen" button located in the "View" submenu and the split screen appears with the last captured image automatically.

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Yes, the installer for Flex 10 is a MSI installer. You can deploy over a local network easily.

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The answer is no, it''s not optical, but we reinvented zoom in a document camera to deliver fast, high quality zooming without degradation that is the equivalent of optical zoom. We call it ASR Zoom - Adaptive Sensor Resolution. We use a high resolution 8 MP sensor while outputting 1080p resolution. Since 1080p is about 2MP resolution, that leaves us an extra 6 million pixels Solo 8 can use for dynamically cropping and zooming the image, without any loss of quality. Beware of other document cameras claiming 8MP resolution and speed ... the only way they are able to achieve 30 frames per second is by compression, which seriously impacts image quality. And, they don''t have ASR zoom.

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The Hovercam is simple and intuitive to set up.

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Glare from glossy surfaces can sometimes interfere with the HoverCam image. The VersoBoard can help. VersoBoard is a pivoting stage device designed especially for HoverCam Solo and our new generation models. The main pivot at the base of the VersoBoard allows rotation to tilt the stage so that overhead lighting does not directly reflect into the camera lens. Since the Solo 8 can pivot in virtually any direction, the VersoBoard can be paired with it to achieve glare-free images.

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No. The Solo 8 uses less than 500mA of power, which is within the maximum power supply capability of a USB2.0 port. You only need a USB cable, included free with the product, to power it.  No external power adapter is needed.

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Hovercam document cameras, doesn’t matter which model, will work with the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 tablet.  This tablet runs Windows 8.1 so it can support the Hovercam software.  The Surface and Surface 2 tablets are not compatible with the Hovercam software.

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Yes, it does.

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Yes the Hovercam is compatible with Google chromebooks. HoverCam Solo 8 plugs into the USB port of Chromebooks and includes a web version of its software. Traditional document cameras have VGA or HDMI output connectors and can’t be connected to Chromebooks. Newer document cameras may have USB out which can be connected to a Chromebook, but unless the document camera incorporates the right kind of video interface and has a web-based version of its software it won’t function with Chromebooks. The HoverCam has a solution. Our Solo 8 document camera has USB out and is engineered to output an uncompressed YUV video signal which is Chromebook compatible. So, it’s easy to plug the HoverCam Solo 8 into the USB port of a Chromebook and to have an image appear on the Chromebook screen. Furthermore, we have released a web-based version of our HoverCam Flex software called HoverCam FlexWeb, allowing users to control a HoverCam document camera and its functions via a standard Internet web browser. Functions supported via a web browser using FlexWeb include taking snapshots, scanning, recording video, live zoom, panning, annotation and more. To make the Chromebook and HoverCam combination wireless, simply connect Google’s Chromecast dongle to the HDMI input of a projector or large screen display. Using Chromecast, the HoverCam’s camera image may be displayed without a cable from the Chromebook to the projector or flat screen.

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Solo 8 is the only document camera featuring USB 3.0 connectivity and delivers 8.0 MegaPixel resolution video over USB at 30 frames/second uncompressed with no lag or delay. No other document camera in the world can do that. Period. (Except our Ultra 8.)

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Yes, Solo 8 works with older models of PCs as well. On some older PCs the CPU is less powerful so you might experience a slightly lower frame rate.

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Yes

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Today, we offer the Neo 3, which has VGA and USB outputs. In July, we begin shipping Ultra 12, which includes HDMI, VGA and USB3.0 output. Ultra 12 also includes a 12 megapixel sensor, a preview monitor, on-board storage, and more. Its price is expected to be about 599 USD. Stay tuned for an announcement in June.

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The performance of Solo 8 is unequaled by any other USB camera. For other manufacturers, using a sensor with a higher pixel count is straightforward and there are CMOS sensors with 20MB resolution available.  However, a camera incorporating a 10MP sensor must have supporting processors and software to deliver high resolution to a host computer. Short of doing so, the vendors are either sending less than 1 frame per second, which is unacceptably slow, or, they are reducing clarity to 1MP, which is unacceptable clarity. Only the Solo 8 delivers the sensor’s full 8MP resolution at 30fps. No compromises, no short-changing the customer.

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200GB for 200 hours of 720P video or 400GB for 200 hours of 1080P video. all at 30fps full-motion video. (Note: 1080P @ 30fps recording is only possible on newer computers, such as those with Intel Core i5 processors.)

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The Solo 8’s camera head can be raised 50cm above the base to capture a large area. It can also be lowered to 5cm for close up shots. This mechanical movement raising and lowering the camera head is what we meant by "mechanical zoom". It is equivalent to 10x optical zoom.

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The Solo 8 is our first document camera built on the HoverCam Photon 1.0 Imaging Engine. A powerful ARM processor serves as the Solo 8’s brain and makes it a highly intelligent small computer; as opposed to a simple imaging device of the past. When coupled with the Flex 10 software, Solo 8 achieves exceptionally high performance. Real time commands, responses and computations take place between the host computer and the Solo 8 to formulate the best video delivery strategy for optimal bandwidth utilization, screen size adaptation, exposure control, focus control, color balancing and other advanced camera control functions. The advanced architecture of the Photon 1.0 Imaging Engine makes the Solo 8 stand out in control flexibility and maximum performance. It is unlike any document camera. In addition: · Solo 8 is the world’s first SuperSpeed USB 3.0 document camera · Solo 8 is the only sub-$3,000 document camera with the amazing clarity of an 8-megapixel (8MP) sensor that delivers uncompressed video images with 4K resolution at 30 frames per second full-motion video. · Solo 8 takes up significantly less desk space and is more compact and portable than other document cameras making it more versatile and convenient to use. · Solo 8 is powered by a USB cable – easy to hook up - and always available to use. · Solo 8 is twice the performance / twice the capability of other document cameras at about ½ the price.

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ASR stands for Adaptive Sensor Resolution. It is HoverCam’s proprietary patent-pending technology for dynamically scaling and cropping. This technology allows the camera to deliver 8MP images dynamically adapted to the resolution of the user’s monitor or output display. Some other manufacturers state their document cameras use a 5MP sensor, yet they only seem to output 720P or 1080i video, which is only 1 megapixel per frame. With the Solo 8, the end-user receives a true 8MP image. Digital cameras are designed to use a sensor’s full resolution for capturing still images, but during video recording the video is scaled or cropped to a lower resolution. For example, high-end SLR cameras report resolutions as high as 20MP or 40MP. However, you can only get the 20MP or 40MP resolution in a still image, not in video. When recording video, you only get 720P or 1080P resolution, which is equivalent to 1MP and 2MP respectively. Other manufacturers’ document cameras may have a 5MP sensor, but in reality the video is scaled down to show 720P which is 1MP resolution.The reasons for delivering low resolution video were based on the consideration that display screen sizes are normally much smaller than the maximum sensor resolution, or, the storage devices have limited capacity, or, bandwidth limitation. For document camera consumers, however, the higher sensor reading is meant as window dressing to enhance product specifications, with little or no gain in performance. HoverCam Solo 8 achieves delivery of true, full 8MP resolution at full-motion speed with no permanent compromise in clarity/resolution. Every frame is captured with 8 million pixels, followed by a frame by frame scaling and cropping process to fit the viewing area of interest to the maximum size of the display area. The Solo 8’s 8MP sensor is fully utilized to deliver full resolution for video viewing or recording at any given time.

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When there are high contrasts in a scene, the camera by default measures the exposure level by taking the average of the light intensity. Select Exposure lets you select the area you feel is the most important to measure, so you get the right color and brightness for it.

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If you need to have a USB cable longer than 15’, such as 30’, we recommend you purchase our tested 30’ extended USB2.0 cable. The Solo 8 still delivers 30fps video over USB2 with light MJPEG compression.

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Flex 3.0 was based on Adobe Flash technology. While it is cross platform software that gives users a consistent UI on both Mac and PC computers, it comes with performance loss on newer hardware. Flex 10, HoverCam’s new software, is designed from the ground up as a native application for Windows and Mac. You will notice immediately that the software launches and operates much faster. Flex 10 supports Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 and Windows XP. On the Mac, Flex 10 is compatible with OS X 10.7 and later. At this stage (mid-April, 2014), the software is often updated, so be sure to check for updates. There are numerous improvements and new features in Flex 10, in addition to speed. The main navigation screen has been eliminated so we no longer have "tabs" representing different modes, "Scan", "Video", "Connect" and "Archive". For the first time ever USB cameras can take a high-resolution snapshot with a single click while a smaller area runs a live view video. (E.g., taking an 8MP still image while live preview is in a 720P screen area.) You won’t need to switch modes to scan anymore. Recording was implemented as a sequence of screen captures in Flex 3.0, which could only capture 7 frames per second. In Flex 10, users can record live video with real time annotations at 30fps. You can also record with reasonable storage efficiency at about 15MB/Minute @ 720P window size or 25MB/Minute @ 1080P window size.

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Hovercam recommends using Abby Fine Reader or Nuance OCR

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Serial numbers are on stickers on the back of the Solo 8 unit. You can also display the serial number electronically via Flex 10 software. In the future, you’ll be able to submit a "support ticket" through Flex 10 software.

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Solo 8 includes a standard 2-year limited manufacturer’s warranty. When  an end-user registers their warranty, it is extended to 3 years. In the United States, volume purchasers qualify for a free 5-year limited manufacturer’s warranty when you register your opportunities through our Deal Registration Program.

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Solo 8 is a new generation fundamentally more advanced than previous HoverCam models. A key difference is a new UVC processor chipset and electronic imaging components that deliver ultra-high definition video over super fast USB3.0 and the older USB2.0 standard at 30 frames/second. Solo 8’s exciting new features and cutting edge controls have never been seen before in a USB document camera. It’s the best document camera we have designed and possibly the world’s best document camera. The Solo 8 is the only camera that can truly deliver the sensor’s full 8MP resolution at 30fps. No compromises. No misleading specs.

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We offer a 15 ft optional USB3.0 cable. A lot of data must be transmitted over the cable at very high speed, so at this time it’s hard to make a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 cable longer than 15’.

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When the term "digital zoom" is used, it usually means pixels are enlarged to give users a bigger but coarser picture. Normally digital zoom is not visually desirable. With some interpolation or smoothing algorithms, digital zoom can be made to appear less pixelated; yet, this is still an attempt to "fool" your eyes and doesn’t replace optical zoom. HoverCam’s ASR zoom is achieved by displaying sections or a full frame of a high-resolution image onto a smaller display screen. There is necessary cropping or scaling; however, there is no pixilation. It stops at the final and original size of each pixel. ASR zoom is an effective replacement for optical zoom. Solo 8 with its ASR zooms clearly without distortion. This is a significant technological feat and benefit for users.

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Yes. This is part of the advanced camera functionality available with the Solo 8. You can click on any area on the screen (or in the viewing frame), and the camera will focus on that area. This is useful when there are multiple objects with different heights under the camera. You can just click on the object of interest to make it clear.

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Yes it will work fine Works with: Smart Notebook Promethean ActivInspire Mimio Studio Notebook eBeam ActiveCapture MicroSoft PowerPoint Slides MicroSoft Word Documents More! Features: Annotate with IWB Tools Over HoverCam Video Uses Familiar HoverCam Flex Controls with IWB Embed HoverCam Video in PowerPoint Slides or Word

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USB 3.0 increases throughput by a magnitude of 10 times over USB2.0. USB3.0 interfaces on most computers reach a maximum throughput of 5.2Gbps, which permits transmission of uncompressed, high quality HD video up to 4K resolution at 30 frames/second. This is an impressive improvement over the theoretical throughput of 480mbps on USB2.0. USB3.0 is also known as SuperSpeed USB. The high bandwidth is important because in most cases the USB interface is the bottleneck of video performance. For example, USB cameras can only send a small number of frames (as low as 2 or 3 frames) of uncompressed HD video over USB2.0. With the USB3.0 SuperSpeed interface, video performance is significantly enhanced. Remember, you don’t have to have a USB3.0 computer to benefit from Solo 8. Over USB2.0 you can expect full-motion video with 8.0 MegaPixel resolution with slight MJPEG compression.

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Solo 8 is designed to deliver high performance over USB2.  It delivers compressed MJPEG video at 30 frames/second on most computers with USB2 ports.

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When video is shown at 24 frames per second, motions appear to be smooth. At 30fps, virtually all high action video scenes appear smooth and this is often called Full Motion. Whenever 30fps is achieved, there will be no visible lags in video. 30fps video speed is a highly desirable performance indicator. Your eyes will notice lags when the frame rate is less than 30fps. If you want natural video images, you should demand a document camera with high resolution and 30 fps video.

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One USB3.0 port is called "Install" which is connected to the built-in "thumb drive" which contains Flex 10 and other software applications. You plug into this port first to install the software. The second port is called "Camera". This is the USB connection to use after the software is installed. Technically, we could have designed the product with one USB port on the back, but this would have added significant cost and since many customers of ours are schools we felt this was an area where we could keep the cost down.

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Every video frame of Solo 8 has 8MP resolution, which is equivalent to 4K resolution. The image is resized in real-time to adapt to the screen’s display resolution. True 8MP clarity or resolution is being delivered at a 30 frames-per-second speed. Over USB3.0, we deliver uncompressed YUV video @ 30fps. Over USB2.0, the video is lightly compressed MJPEG @ 30fps.

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