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Sony Bloggie Sport HD arriving in stores ready for your extreme weekend (video)
We do love documenting our dirt-trail journeys to show our friends at, ah, dirt-trail bike club. If you feel the same way, then you'll love Sony's Bloggie Sport HD, which ships today. Announced at CES, it takes the features we know and love from the pocket camcorder and wraps it in a shock, dust and waterproof shell you can take to depths of five meters for up to an hour. Fancy watching one get played with underwater? We've got video to excite you ready for this weekend's extreme sports adventuring.
Sony Bloggie Live review
Last April, Cisco unceremoniously shuttered Flip, two years after purchasing the company for $590 million. The end of the line came as a bit of a shock, marking the death of the brand that had become synonymous with pocket cams. But did it also mark the end of the miniature camcorder, in a world where more and more people carry portable cameras on them at all times, in the form of smartphones? In spite of Cisco's lack of faith in the market for budget standalone camcorders, a number of companies such as Kodak and Samsung have carried on. Most notable among them, though, might be Sony, which has continued to innovate with its Bloggie line. The company's latest offering, the Bloggie Live adds WiFi to the equation, for wireless file transfers and, as the name not-so-subtly implies, live-streaming. But are these features enough to keep buyers interested in pocket camcorders, or is this too little, too late in a world where video-capturing smartphones are the norm?
Sony Bloggie on the CES show floor?
Well hello there little guy. Sent in by a tipster and purportedly from the CES show floor, what you're gazing at looks an awful lot like something from Sony's Bloggie line. The silver pocket camcorder doesn't look like any model we've ever seen before, but boasts "Live Broadcasting," a WiFi certification and support for FaceBook and YouTube. It's also about the size of a Niagara water bottle. Won't be too long until we find out for sure.
IRL: Kirby Sentria, Sony bloggie-MHS-FS1 and the OLPC XO laptop
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. Let's just cut to the chase: this week's IRL is a little schizophrenic. On the one hand, you've got Andy singing his bloggie's praises, Terrence waxing philosophical about his unused OLPC XO and Darren ranting about his grandmother's vacuum cleaner. Do you like camcorders that are not a smartphone? Do you despise door-to-door Sentria salesmen? Good. Let's hit it, then.
New Sony Bloggie Mobile HD Snap camera gets bowed design, FCC inspection
Sony has already delivered its Bloggie cameras with 3D video and even dual screens, and now we've got the first hint at what's next. The MHS-TS55, going through its FCC testing as the Mobile HD Snap camera, carries its own 802.11n connection. We don't know exactly what Sony has in store for this curved mystery cam, but with WiFi on board, wireless sharing or even live video streams wouldn't be out of the question. Sony typically unveils its latest offerings at CES, and this filing chimes well with the chance of us getting the full skinny at January's annual tech binge -- that leaves just eight short weeks for the FCC to spill the beans on the rest of the Bloggie fam.
Sony tears down Bloggie 3D, iFixit helps (video)
We all knew it would come to this, right? Tech corporations have apparently taken a cue from the blogosphere and started tearing down their own devices for all the world to see. Sony's in-house gadget site SGNL opened up the company's Bloggie 3D pocket camcorder, thankfully enlisting the supervision of Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit. But while he does seem genuinely intrigued at taking apart and explaining the way the 3D camera works, there's not much in the way of the depth we've come to expect from the site, and Sony manages to make the whole thing a not-so-subtle plug for a newish device. Now who wants to buy a disassembled camcorder? I hear Sony's selling one cheap.
Sony Bloggie 3D now available for aspiring James Camerons everywhere
Sure, we'll never see dreams of a 3D Cisco Flip realized, but Sony's offering the next best thing: the Bloggie 3D. The latest addition to the company's line of pocket camcorders was quietly made available this week for $249.99 a pop -- $80 more than the recently released Bloggie Duo HD, because extra dimensions ain't cheap. The camera takes a cue from Nintendo's latest portable, with a 2.4 inch 3D display that eschews the need for glasses. Or, if you're not in the mood to squint and don't mind the eyewear, you can output the video to a 3D-enabled HDTV.
Sony's Bloggie Duo HD camcorder ships this week for $170
Sony's been mum on its Bloggie Duo HD for the better part of this year, teasing it once at CES and then crossing its fingers that we'd all come searching for it in Q2. Thankfully for those with chronic memory loss, we've got it on good authority that this very camcorder is all set to ship tomorrow. And by "good authority," we mean a status update on Sony's own e-shop. For those who've fallen behind, $169.99 grabs you a pocket-sized camcorder capable of logging two hours of HD video, a handful of 5 megapixel stills, a 2.7-inch LCD and an HDMI output. So, here's the real question: violet, pink or green?
Sony's Bloggie Touch software now available for Mac
To the delight of Mac users out there who own Bloggie Touch pocket camcorders, Sony has just released a Mac version of the camera's onboard software, which was previously only available for PCs. It allows you to view and edit video, as well as upload it to multiple online platforms, like YouTube, Facebook or Flickr. This software release is for current Bloggie Touch owners, as well as those who buy from the current line before the new models come later this spring (Psst! Wait for the new models!). Moving forward, Bloggie cameras will include the Mac software onboard, just like the PC version. The software can be downloaded from the Bloggie eSupport page. Just make sure you select your particular camera model, which should be written along its side as pointed out in the video below. Of course, if you're already satisfied with your Mac's ability to handle your Bloggie's video, just continue on doing what you were doing. Nothing to see here...
Bloggie Touch software finally becomes Mac-compatible
By this point, we suspect any owners of a Bloggie Touch and a Mac computer will have figured out their own ways to process media and share it with the world, but now they've get another option: using Sony's software designed specifically for those tasks. Yes, the streamlined editing and publishing utility that was available to Windows users from day one has at long last been made to work with Macs as well. You'll need to grab an update from Sony's site, though don't fret if you fear similar delays with future Bloggie models -- Sony promises that devices like the Bloggie 3D will have Mac-friendly software on board from the start. Video of the Bloggie Touch utility awaits after the break.
Sony adds three new Bloggie models, including the 1080p Bloggie 3D (update: hands-on video!)
Surprised? No, not really, but let's not rain on Sony's parade, adding a trio of new models to its lineup of simple to use Bloggie cameras. Most notable is the Bloggie 3D, which does 1080p in 3D through two sensors and has a 2.4-inch 3D LCD -- glasses-free. Then there's the Bloggie Duo, with a 2.7-inch LCD on the back and 2.0-inch on the front, nestled beneath the lens. Finally is the "ultra compact" MHS-FS1, which doesn't have any fancy tricks. It's just tiny. We just got some quick hands-on time with the Bloggie 3D at the Sony press conference, and while it wasn't a real working unit, we can confirm that you will soon be able to put 3D in your pocket. Check out some of the hands-on pictures below and then hit the break for the full PR. %Gallery-112815% %Gallery-112830% %Gallery-112828%
Sony's CES camera lineup leaked, including Bloggie 3D upgrade?
If Photo Rumors' recent scoop is legit, it looks like what could be Sony's entire CES 2011 camera lineup has leaked. While the site doesn't have access to full specs or photos of actual devices, it does have a list of models with some key features. Highlights include three new Bloggie video cameras: the Bloggie MHS-FS1 which will supposedly be a 5.1 megapixel affair with 4x digital zoom, up to two hours of HD video with a 2.7-inch LCD and 4GB of internal memory. Another Bloggie model, enticingly named the Bloggie 3D MHS-FS3 adds -- you guessed it -- 3D to the mix. The rest of the list comprises eleven different Cybershot models of various shapes and sizes. We'll know soon enough if these cameras are the real deal, and we'll get you a first look at them as fast as our hands can shoot photos. Until then, hit up the source link to peruse the entire, tantalizing text.
Sony Bloggie Touch preview: an actually simple 'simple camcorder'
Maybe we're a bunch of idiots, but while the Flip and its ultra-simple camcorder ilk have certainly made shooting video simpler and more accessible for the masses, we still find many of these cameras surprisingly unintuitive or just "blah" at doing what they do (Kodak's otherwise excellent Zi8 and PlaySport cameras come to mind) when it comes to UI. After playing with the horrendous Flip Slide HD, we were almost sure touchscreens would act as another obstacle to using these things, but of all people, Sony has come to the rescue. We found the original Bloggie line very unimpressive, but this new Bloggie Touch crop is exactly as easy to use as you'd imagine a one button device would be. That big record button on the front? You press it, and it records stuff. The responsive touchscreen UI takes care of secondary issues, like playing back that stuff you recorded, swapping resolution (it shoots at up to 1080p), setting a timer, and more detailed settings, with four well placed icons, while a touch slider operates the digital zoom. If you hold the camera like a still camera and tap the camera shutter button now naturally placed on the top you can take 12.8 megapixel stills (okay, we lied, there are two buttons, three if you count the on / off button). Despite the slim, sexy design of the camera, Sony still worked in a pop-out USB plug and a full sized HDMI jack. Even the $180 / $200 price (for 4GB or 8GB of storage) is surprisingly good. Just a reminder, in case you'd forgotten: the Bloggie Touch is built by Sony. We'll be looking forward to its October launch. %Gallery-101272%
Sony announces Bloggie Touch pocket video camera
Remember Sony's Bloggie line of pocket camcorders announced back at CES? While those may have been a bit forgettable, the company's just-announced Bloggie Touch video camera makes a considerably stronger first impression (if you can get past the name). Boasting a 3-inch capacitive touchscreen wrapped in what appears to be a brushed aluminum body, this one packs 4GB or 8GB of internal memory, and will capture full 1080p video as well as 12.8-megapixel still images courtesy of the F2.8 wide angle lens and Exmor CMOS sensor. You'll also get a built-in USB connector, HDMI output, and of course plenty of options to easily share your photos and videos on various social networking sites. Look for this one to hit shelves in October in your choice of black or silver for $180 or $200 depending on the capacity. Hit up the gallery below for a closer look, and head on past the break for the full press release. %Gallery-100911%
Sony's camera and camcorder lineup spotted at CES (video)
We swung by Sony's gloomy CES booth to check out their new camcorders and cameras for 2010. Fresh on the Handycam menu were the SDHC-loving CX and XR series camcorders (pictured above), and we saw some nice demos of their Optical SteadyShot (mesmerizing video after the break) and wide angle G lens. The tapeless AX2000 professional video camera was also present further down the table, sporting dual memory card slots. On the other table we encountered the Bloggie and the rest of the 2010 Cyber-shot lineup in several colors. Aww, what a sweet family. %Gallery-82133%
Sony Bloggie cameras mark another foray into Flip territory
Try as it might, Sony's never made much of a dent in the pocket camcorder market dominated by the Flip and its ilk. The company's primary problem has been price, but that doesn't mean we mind the modicum of functionality that the company has stuffed into its new "Bloggie" line of cameras. The MHS-CM5 and MHS-PM5 both shoot 1080p MPEG-4 video and shoot 5 megapixel stills, with the CM5 going for a Xacti-style pistol grip look and 2.5-inch flip out LCD, while the PM5 is a candybar design with a 270 degree swivel lens and a 2.4-inch LCD in back. They both feature a bit of digital zoom, Face Detection exposure correction, and SteadyShot shake reduction (which doesn't work in HD modes). The PM5K model also includes a bundled "360 degree" lens, which can capture wraparound panorama video viewable on Sony's Picture Motion Browser software. The cameras have USB arms for charging and transfers, but no built-in storage or included SD storage. The CM5 goes for $200, while the PM5K and PM5 go for $190 and $170, respectively, and all three are available today.
