Microsoft today announced the TrueColor Technology, a new image processing technology that provides better color and brightness in even the worst lighting conditions.

TrueColor Technology automatically adjusts the picture quality to provide a more colorful video whether out on the porch with bright sunshine in the morning or in the living room with low light in the evening. This technology will be available in three new webcams launching today, the LifeCam HD-5000, LifeCam HD-5001 and LifeCam HD-6000 for Notebooks. These LifeCams will also feature 720p HD sensors and Auto Focus technology. In addition, TrueColor will be available with the recently launched LifeCam Cinema through a software update, Microsoft said.

Microsoft?s new image processing technology analyzes the user?s environment and automatically adjusts the LifeCam settings to provide brighter and more colorful video. It does this through a proprietary combination of software and firmware technology. To achieve these results, TrueColor Technology includes face tracking technology developed by Microsoft Research, which can detect a person?s face and help ensure it?s not overexposed or underexposed, so the video call picture looks great even in the most challenging lighting scenarios.

Launching with Microsoft?s new TrueColor Technology, the LifeCam HD-5000 offers high video quality in most lighting scenarios and is the only webcam on the market to offer 720p HD widescreen video and Auto Focus for an estimated retail price under $50. The LifeCam HD-5000 also features a flexible attachment base that bends to fit on most surfaces, including on top of flat-screen monitors and notebook screens, or directly on the desk.

Best Buy will launch an exclusive version of this product, called the LifeCam HD-5001, that includes all the same features as the LifeCam HD-5000, but will have a custom design with a white faceplate.

Also launching today is the LifeCam HD-6000 for Notebooks, which includes TrueColor Technology, 720p HD widescreen video, Auto Focus and a design just for notebooks. The LifeCam HD-6000 features a 360-degree rotation view.

The LifeCam HD-5000 and the LifeCam HD-5001 will be available later this month for the estimated retail price of $49.952 and the LifeCam HD-6000 for Notebooks will be available in May for the estimated retail price of $59.95. The LifeCam HD-5000 and LifeCam HD-6000 for Notebooks will be available for pre-sale on Amazon.com and Buy.com starting today. TrueColor Technology will be available via a software download for LifeCam Cinema, which is already available at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/downloads/default.mspx.

Microsoft backs these products with a three-year limited hardware warranty.