Although the Looxcie (said “look-see” which is way clever) is marketed as a first person point of view camera like the helmet cams of yesterday, I’m choosing to call it in our office a “hands free video camera” which is like a flip cam / bluetooth earpiece hybrid.
Looxcie looks like an amazing tool for any industry, but most notably for the visual-intensive industry of real estate. Pop it on your ear fully charged and capture up to five straight hours (while people think you’re just wearing a chunky bluetooth headset).
For real estate, this would be great for an impromptu video of a neighborhood, a drive through an area without having to fumble with a camera, a tour of a home for a buyer, an office tour, interviews with brokers or title reps for your blog, hyperlocal events like music, carnivals and the like- the options are endless. We’ll be using it for interviews, at conferences, at lectures and probably for some office pranks…
I like that it’s USB so it’s universal and I don’t have to get stupid adapters or anything. Smartphone owners can edit video on their phone with the Looxcie app and can even immediately share it online. Another cool feature is the ability to use your smartphone as a remote control.
Also, if you’re a bluetooth nut, you can use Looxcie as your phone’s bluetooth hands free headset (and you can continue filming while you talk on the phone, it simply mutes audio on your film while you chat). Used just as a phone headset, it claims to have the longest battery life of any on the market.
Reviews of Looxcie appear favorable and it gets high marks for comfort and noise cancellation although some users disagree that you can capture five hours, saying it’s more like three. It’s the first gen and first of its kind, so we anticipate that others will follow, but for now, we think it’s worth popping out $199! Who’s with me?
AG is not affiliated with Looxcie.
Jack Leblond
November 17, 2010 at 5:58 pm
That looks super cool, but be careful about your head movements during interviews. Nodding in agreement with interviewees may give your viewers a case of sea-sickness.
Benn Rosales
November 17, 2010 at 6:09 pm
ha good point, I was thinking a 3rd point of view for person interviews camera person, interviewer/interviewee, or even live streaming pov events. It’s a pretty neat device all the way around.
Vicki Lloyd
November 17, 2010 at 7:06 pm
How dorky will I look wearing that on one ear, and my bluetooth phone thing on the other? I might try a hat-cam instead. 🙂
Lani Rosales
November 17, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Girl, you don’t have to, it acts as a bluetooth all on its own! 🙂 But yeah, that would look stupid (and some people will do it anyhow…).
Kelsey Teel
November 17, 2010 at 8:38 pm
OMG I love the name! Very cutesy, clever, and most importantly fun to say!
Bluetooth capability is a definite plus. Justifies spending the cash since you are getting two things for the price of one. ?
The uses are endless, I’d be interested to see how the videos turn out.
Sheila Rasak
November 18, 2010 at 3:40 am
All over that one. It will be so much safer when I’m in the car, blaring music and making random speeches like I’m the pres. of the US of A! I’m over here singing, “here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus…”
Coleen DeGroff
November 18, 2010 at 8:14 am
Looks way cool….but for some reason I keep thinking of Data on Star Trek – The Next Generation…..hmmmm…..
Roberta Murphy
November 18, 2010 at 10:40 am
Love the concept, love the name but would have to be very careful with head movement when interviewing someone. Imagine how nodding or shaking head would affect video–especially at critical moments during interview:-)
BawldGuy
November 18, 2010 at 12:19 pm
I’m thinkin’ it might work well as a training device. The newbie wears it while giving a listing presentation or showing homes. His mentor can then critique his/her performance.
Lani Rosales
November 18, 2010 at 9:37 pm
That is a GREAT point, Jeff!!
Rory Veal
November 18, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Sounds like it would be a great tool but where do you buy it?
Lani Rosales
November 18, 2010 at 10:07 pm
It looks like on the Looxcie website, their buy page (looxcie.com/buy-looxcie.html) takes you to the Amazon purchase page (amazon.com/dp/B00400O8PO).
Andrew Mooers
November 21, 2010 at 5:58 pm
Someone with a big beak, with the “nose knows” cold have problems capturing video in the shadow. News videographers wear the camera on their shoulder to steady it and do easy pans without the viewer needing dramamene. Neat stocking stuffer from Santa. Getting more than 1 percent of agents, brokers, REALTORS doing real full motion video is a good thing though.