WebcamMax 7.1.7.6

When you socialize with someone via an instant messaging application (something like Yahoo! Messenger or AOL Instant Messenger for example), the manner in which you can convey your messages is limited to text and emoticons. To better convey your message you cold turn on your webcam – after all, a picture is worth a thousand words, as they say. Webcams are great because you get to see the person on the other end, and because you can speak out your message – as opposed to typing it on your keyboard.

The catch is that webcams are limited too. They can only display what they see; and this is where WebcamMax comes in. This is a piece of software that will add all sorts of images, videos and special effects to your webcam. This includes real webcams as well as virtual webcams. It will make your webcam sessions a lot more interesting, I can tell you that.

I liked the fact that the WebcamMax download took but a moment. Then I liked the fact that the installation process was quite simple. Most times I have to keep my eyes peeled out for annoyances like “install this toolbar” or “change homepage to” or “you will also install this piece of software.” I’m glad to say that there were no such annoyances during the installation process. And once WebcamMax was up and running, it was quite easy to use WebcamMax thanks to the slick user interface (UI). The UI looked polished and professional, and its intuitive design meant I had no problem using this piece of software.

Once installed on your system, WebcamMax will work with pretty much every virtual or real webcam out there. It will also work with a variety of instant messaging applications. The list of instant messaging applications WebcamMax works with includes big names like Yahoo!, AIM, MSN, ICQ, Skype, Camfrog, Stickam, Paltalk, ANYwebcam. With WebcamMax you can add videos, pictures, screenshots, motion effects, flash and other effects to your webcam. There are quite a lot of effects to go through, but if you ever find they are not sufficient, you could always get one of the 1500+ effects available for download on the developer’s webpage.

I’ve left WebcamMax’s best feature for last: Picture in Picture (or PinP for short). Let’s say for example you are talking to your friend Bob about the video presentation he sent you. Thanks to PinP you can play that video in a smaller screen, in the corner of the webcam window. While the video plays you can tell Bob what you think about his presentation.

Pros
Supports a wide variety of webcams and instant messaging applications
Picture in Picture is nice
Numerous effects to go though
Intuitive interface

Cons
30 days trial
The output is watermarked

Official Website:
www.webcammax.com

WebcamMax has been reviewed by George Norman on 28 Oct 2009. Based on the user interface, features and complexity, Findmysoft has rated WebcamMax 5 out of 5 stars, naming it Essential