Logitech Outs New Peripherals

As CES draws a day closer, Logitech has let fly with news about a couple of new peripherals it will be showing off in Vegas, one a webcam and the other a mouse.

The Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 has some impressive features, but its primary claim to fame is its capability to conduct video calls in 1080p. The 1080p HD only works with Skype--Skype 5.7 Beta for Windows, to be precise--but Windows Live Messenger users can enjoy 720p. Some of those other excellent features include the ability to upload HD video clips or 15MP photos directly to social networking sites, Carl Zeiss optics, a smooth 20-step autofocus, and stereo mics for better audio.

The new mouse in the house is dubbed simply “Cube”, and serves double duty as a traditional mouse or as a presentation tool. Really more of a rectangle than an actual cube, the device is small, lightweight, and can shift from mouse to presenter and back again just by lifting it off of or putting it back down on a surface. Logitech also bundled its Unifying receiver--a tiny 2.4GHz USB dongle that allows up to six devices to connect with one receiver--with the Cube, which is a nice touch.

Logitech’s new webcam will run you $99, while the Cube will cost $69.99; both products will be available in the U.S. and Europe this month. For what it’s worth, the Cube is an International CES Innovations 2012 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree in the Computer Peripherals product category.