Flip Video Ultra HD makes its unofficial debut, gets unboxed

Thanks Best Buy, we owe you (another) one. Yet again, the big box retailer everyone loves to hate has provided the world with a glimpse of a heretofore unannounced product, and this one's got our mouths all kinds of damp. Barely a month after Cisco picked up Pure Digital for a small fortune, the Flip Video Ultra HD -- which seems to be the natural successor to the standard Ultra -- has already begun to hit select store shelves in America. Notable niceties include an HDMI output, 120 minutes of record time (up from 60 minutes), a removable / rechargeable battery and support for AA cells in a pinch. We're still waiting for the full rundown of specifications (and the price, too), but feel free to tap the read link for a stellar unboxing in the meanwhile.

Update: Looks like it's going for $199.99. Thanks Matthies!

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 27th 2009 2:02PM]

Here is a quick video of the unboxing of the Flip Ultra HD. Got it yesterday at Best Buy for $199.99
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wESRjVHpHkI

[RD Posted Apr 27th 2009 5:18PM]

Have it.

mini-HDMI port (on the side Engadget isn't snowing)
NiMh 2xAA rechargeable pack (pllllleeeeeeennnnty of rec time)
720p is excellent, when paused individual frames look like digital stills. Amazing.
You're best shooting standing fairly still.

[Fanfoot Posted Apr 27th 2009 8:07PM]

We have the Mino HD and like it a lot. Very simple to use, and so small you keep it on you all the time. I don't personally care about the replacable battery, and this thing has gotten A LOT thicker. The bigger screen would be nice though. I think the video quality was already acceptable (have watched video on a 57" LCD HDTV) with the HD personally. The obvious improvements I'd like to see would be:

- some anti-shake technology
- optical zoom
- a better USB connector

WRT the last one--on the Mino HD the USB connector that flips out is backwards, meaning that when you plug it in to a laptop the display is invariably facing AWAY from you towards the desk. Also, its flimsy and doesn't seem reliable. It needs to be braced better when in the flipped out position. Also, it won't charge off Apple iPod/iPhone USB power bricks for some reason, only off a real laptop/PC USB port. Stupid.

[kompulsive Posted Apr 28th 2009 12:57AM]

How long do you guys think it'll be until things this small are doing 1080p? I can't decide whether or not to hold out until then.

[hugoguzman Posted Apr 28th 2009 11:37PM]

i grabbed the mino ultraHD and fell in love with it, i uploaded some videos http://www.youtube.com/user/hogstatus650

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 29th 2009 12:48PM]

Got one!

Is anyone else having problems with it shutting itself off?

It turns off after only a minute and a half. What's up with that???

[(Unverified) Posted May 26th 2009 5:52PM]

I tried the Flip MinoHD, the kodak Zi6 and Zx1. Here are my comments:
- Flip MinoHD: Coming from the regular Flip Ultra, I couldn't stand the small screen. In addtion to be small, it's a 4:3 and since HD is 16:9, the actual image is even smaller with black bars on the top and the bottom.
- Kodak Zi6: This camera looked fragile to me and not as easy to take with you anywhere without risking to damage it. I could have lived with that but the 2 main problems I encountered are: 1. the lens is way less wide than the Flip and it's getting difficult to get wide shot without being very far away compared to the Flip. 2. Low light quality: This camera is not as sensitive as the flip in general and you can see it very well when the light decreases and, to fix this issue, the camera will slow down its frame rate to 15fps or so and it's for me totally unusable. You will clearly see the camera switching from 30 fps to a way slwoer frame rate. I sent it back and ordered the next Zx1, which was suppposed to get rid of this problem.
- Kodak Zx1: Great design, great feeling. I liked it in the beginning but when I realized it still had the same problem in low light as the Zi6, I just couldnt use it and returned it as well.

I think I am going to go for the Flip Ultra, even though it misses some functions than the kodak's have: MOV files, easy to use for editing without conversion, and you can choose to shoot HD or SD, 60fps, even though it's not so important for me.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 23rd 2009 5:18PM]

Check this site fot great designs on the Flip HD:

http://www.cafepress.com/flipminohdcams

Nosferatu, skulls, stripes and spatial are just fantastic!