Samsung inTouch Puts Skype On Any HDTV

Samsung has launched the inTouch WiFi Skype camera, a Kinect-lookalike wirelessly-enabled webcam that turns a regular HDTV into a 720p video conferencing tool, YouTube player and web browser. The 3-megapixel fixed-focus webcam is paired with WiFi b/g/n and integrated microphone and speakers, while the inTouch itself actually runs a heavily skinned Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

Samsung throws in a QWERTY remote control for operating the inTouch, navigating its menu and your Skype contacts list, and searching for URLs and YouTube videos. Still image recording is supported, and there's weather information and Google News too.

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A USB port allows you to hook up a digital camera or memory card, and view photos stored on that too; alternatively you can upload them, through the inTouch, to YouTube, Flickr and other sites. Connectivity with a TV is via a single HDMI cable.

The Samsung inTouch SNH-5010N will go on sale in March, priced at $199.99. Considering how much Cisco was asking for its Umi system, that seems like something of a bargain to us.