Logitech's webcam software is a mess - The Verge

2 years ago 54

Logitech makes immoderate of the astir fashionable webcams successful the world, but utilizing them connected immoderate of the astir fashionable computers, similar the M2 MacBook Air oregon M1 Pro MacBook Pro, is simply a little than stellar experience. Plugging 1 into immoderate M1 oregon M2 Mac for a video telephone isn’t an issue, but if you privation to tweak in-depth settings oregon usage immoderate of these webcams’ item features, doing that close present ranges from clumsy to impossible. That’s due to the fact that its astir susceptible webcam software, Logitech Capture, isn’t disposable connected computers with Apple silicon.

Logitech switched up its bundle program for radical who usage newer Mac laptops and desktops without making overmuch effort to archer anyone. Instead of offering Logitech Capture, its de facto bundle focused squarely connected webcam settings and contented instauration features, it has 2 chiseled and lesser Mac applications to take from: Logi Tune and Logitech G Hub. Tune is simply a confusing app that lets you toggle settings for Logitech gadgets, with calendar integration added in, for immoderate reason. G Hub was built for gamers who privation to tweak RGB lighting and sensitivity settings for gaming-focused products and, now, webcams.

Each app’s interface looks antithetic and lets you power antithetic settings, truthful you’ve got a prime with which app you usage — excessively overmuch choice, if you inquire me, fixed however constricted the functionality is wrong each one. But neither offers arsenic galore options arsenic Logitech Capture. You tin entree basal settings, similar the quality to zoom successful for a tighter harvest oregon marque a big of adjustments to the representation settings (or acceptable them to car settings), but you can’t set the framework complaint oregon the resolution. What that means is radical who ain an M1 oregon M2 Mac cannot utilize its face-tracking diagnostic oregon power betwixt horizontal oregon vertical orientations connected a nice, comparatively high-end webcam similar the $160 Logi StreamCam.

Screenshots showing however  the Logi Tune looks moving  connected  MacOS. Logi Tune’s interface is simple, which is good. But it doesn’t connection entree to each diagnostic that I privation to toggle, similar framework complaint oregon resolution.

And this worldly isn’t ace evident unless you’re utilizing an affected computer. I’ve tested webcams connected a laptop without Apple silicon, truthful I lone noticed aft a scholar reached retired to enactment immoderate of the Logitech picks successful our best webcam buying guide person constricted functionality connected M1 and M2 Macs. There are plentifulness of posts connected Reddit astir this, too, and plentifulness of radical moving connected solutions that Logitech hasn’t itself presented. Someone adjacent succeeded with a workaround to get a erstwhile mentation of Logitech Capture bundle moving connected an M1-equipped machine. It crashed connected motorboat for me, though.

I asked Logitech if it planned to larboard Capture to computers with M1 and M2 chips. Spokesperson Christian Cooper told The Verge that “There are presently nary plans for Logi Capture to enactment M1 oregon M2 chips. However, camera and video settings are supported successful our Logitech G HUB bundle and connected Logi Tune for macOS.”

After immoderate follow-up questions connected whether these apps present diagnostic parity with Logitech Capture (they don’t) and if its caller bundle strategy was calved from a method hurdle with M1 / M2 Macs (or if this sloppiness was the program each along), Logitech spokesperson Ciara Dixon provided this boilerplate effect that didn’t supply utile answers.

“Logitech provides aggregate bundle options for divers customers crossed aggregate operating systems including Windows and Mac. For video conferencing (including webcam, headset, and Logi Dock), we urge utilizing Logi Tune. For gaming and streaming, G HUB offers convenience and power implicit aggregate devices from Logitech G, Blue Microphones, and Litra Glow. Streamlabs is the all-in-one livestreaming and signaling bundle crossed aggregate platforms including Twitch, YouTube and Facebook.”

Two screenshots showing Logitech G Hub and the settings that it offers for webcams. Logitech G Hub lays retired much of the features astatine once, but it inactive doesn’t springiness you each of the options that Logi Capture does.

This bundle occupation is an contented for newer Macs close now, but it’s astir to beryllium an contented for a batch much users precise soon. As of the latest update, Logitech has sunset the Capture app wholly for Windows computers and older Intel-based Macs. In its latest spot notes for the software for some Windows 10 and respective macOS versions, it says, “This is the last mentation of Logitech Capture and nary caller bundle updates volition beryllium available. Logitech recommends that you download and instal Logitech G HUB if you privation to set compatible webcam settings.” It has a enactment page that instructs each users to download Logitech G Hub, and it instructs users to uninstall Logi Capture.

Right now, this means if you ain an M1 oregon M2 Mac, you can’t get the astir retired of your Logitech webcam. This occupation volition dispersed — by Logitech’s prime — to Windows and different Intel-based Macs aboriginal successful 2022. We’ve, naturally, reached retired to Logitech again for much answers.

Until Logitech is clearer astir its bundle plans for its webcams, we’ll adhd a enactment successful our webcam buying guide that your acquisition with its webcams volition alteration wildly depending connected the machine that you use.

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