Flip Video FlipShare TV beams video to the big screen

We first saw the Cisco FlipShare TV hit the FCC just over a month ago, and now that's it's official (well, official in the sense that Walt Mossberg broke the embargo by two hours) we're still sort of underwhelmed and a little befuddled -- although it's made by Cisco, the Flip-focused media player doesn't actually connect to your home WiFi network. Instead, the FlipShare software transmits data from your computer using a proprietary USB dongle, which means the player itself is useless unless your computer is on with Flip's funky FlipShare software running and the dongle connected. Flip tells us the decision to go proprietary was made to make things easier for non-technical users to set up (like Flip's cameras, the FlipShare software is preloaded on the dongle) but we can't help but think it's actually a bit more complicated, since Gran won't be able to just turn the thing on and subscribe to your new Flip user channels enabled by FlipShare 5.0. Instead, she'll have to get out her laptop, plug in the dongle, launch the software (which pulls the content from the internet), and then start using the FlipShare TV's RF remote to get at your videos, which seems pretty complicated to us. Yeah, we're just not sure, especially at $149 -- we've actually got one here for review, we'll let you know how we feel in the next couple days.

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FLIPSHARE TV NOW PLAYING IN A FAMILY ROOM OR ON A BIG SCREEN TV NEAR YOU

Latest Innovation from Flip Video Creates an Easy Way to Watch and Share Flip Videos on TVs Everywhere

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., December 2, 2009 – The makers of the acclaimed Flip Video™ family of camcorders, recently acquired by Cisco®, today announced a brand new innovation in home video sharing called FlipShare™ TV. An industry first, FlipShare TV brings the user's entire Flip Video library of photos and videos into the family room and onto the TV screen without wires, and lets them share video instantly with other FlipShare TV owners. FlipShare TV extends the Flip Video product family by making it even easier for Flip users to enjoy and share video with friends and family anywhere.

"We're bringing back the home movie night," said Jonathan Kaplan, senior vice president and general manager, Cisco consumer products group. "There's now a simple and affordable solution to view and share photos and videos on any TV."

Like all Flip Video products, setting up and using FlipShare TV is simple. The small FlipShare TV base connects to the TV via the included composite cables or an HDMI cable, and the FlipShare TV USB key plugs into a USB port on a PC or Mac. The USB key and console are preconfigured to function wirelessly* so the Flip videos stored on the computer can be instantly viewed on the TV with no need for a wireless home network. Using the included wireless remote, the user can easily click through the intuitive TV interface to watch their favorite videos, custom movies, or photos and watch them in full HD.

FlipShare TV is designed to work with FlipShare 5.0, the new software from Flip Video that provides an easy way to organize, edit, and share favorite video moments online and through mobile phones. The new FlipShare TV takes sharing one step further by providing a simple way for users to display videos in full glory on their television, or share them with others on their TVs. With FlipShare TV, a user can also watch video shared by other Flip Video users on their own TV. FlipShare TV automatically accesses video shared through Flip Channels™, presenting them for users to watch directly through the simple FlipShare TV interface.

The Perfect Gift for Far-Away Family and Friends
FlipShare TV is a great new way to share videos with loved ones anywhere. A Flip user can simply set up Flip Channels within FlipShare and choose the friends and family they want to be able to watch. Whenever they add new content to a Flip Channel, everyone included in that channel can view it instantly. So now, grandparents can simply turn on the TV and watch the latest Flip video of their grandchildren, or siblings living far away can share video to each other's TVs with ease.

FlipShare TV Features:
Watch FlipShare video and photo library instantly on the TV
View any shared Flip Channel videos on the TV
Share Video with anyone else who has a FlipShare TV
FlipShare TV Includes: TV Base, USB Key, and Remote
TV Base Console: 4.6 x 4.6 x 1.3 inches / 4.6 oz
Remote Control: 3.9 x 1.6 x .04 inches/ 1.3 oz
USB Key: 3.5 x 1.0 x 0.5 inches / 0.6 oz
Wireless: 802.11n point-to-point proprietary interface (does not require a home wireless network)
Batteries: 2 x AAA for remote (included)
Composite cable included

Pricing and Availability
MSRP: $149.99
Availability: Amazon, BestBuy.com, Target.com, Wal-Mart.com, and the official Flip Store at theflip.com

[NikAmi Posted Dec 1st 2009 11:29PM]

Why would anyone use freely available software and cheap cables when this is far more complicated and costly? Wait a minute...I think I have that backwards.

[doyouflip Posted Dec 1st 2009 11:55PM]

this is coool - but maybe not as cool as www.doyouflip.com.au ;)

[HAZE Posted Dec 2nd 2009 12:33AM]

PS3 + TVersity + Harmony Remote

[Nicnac Posted Dec 2nd 2009 12:57AM]

@HAZE

Tried PS3 Media Server? It's a lot less fussy than Tversity.

Back to the topic. Anyone remember the sling catcher? While it was wired, it sounds like the same over complicated run around (box transcodes files from the PC to a proprietary format before pushing them to the TV)... FAIL

[DaveBach Posted Dec 2nd 2009 2:14AM]

If you want to see a much slicker tool to run video from a computer to a TV then consider getting a SlingCatcher and running the SlingProjector software on any computer you have connected to the network. All of this can be checked out at SlingMedia.com. The SlingCatcher that started started out at $299 and now retails for $199 can be found for sale every now and then for as little as $99.

[Flip in Focus Posted Dec 3rd 2009 8:41AM]

Grandma is going to be really interested in getting nearly instantaneous videos and photos from the grandkids that she can watch on her TV. A simple software install, plug in a USB dongle, and plug in a set-top box is by far the easiest way she can achieve this. Son-in-law can do the setup in 10 minutes, if grandma isn't so inclined.

FlipShare 5.0 allows you to important video and pictures from other sources than your Flip -- meaning a very large chunk of your photos and video library can become instantaneously available to grandma, once put in your Flip channel, which is YOU do from YOUR end, and you don't even need FlipShare TV to do it.

There is another shoe to drop here -- one which you seem to be missing, but I've been talking about for quite a while -- which is that this is all heading for family videoconferencing - telepresence. That's what the upcoming WiFi-enabled Flip is about.

Darrell Icenogle
http://flipinfocus.com

[THJ Posted Dec 4th 2009 10:25AM]

@Flip in Focus I knew Cisco + Flip would bring us some awesome.

[THJ Posted Dec 4th 2009 9:46AM]

Streambaby/pyTivo FTW. 1 Computer, 1 TiVo, 1 remote.