PocketCamcorder
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Cisco's axing of Flip had an additional casualty: the unannounced FlipLive streaming camera
So Flip Video's last offering wasn't terribly amazing, but we had faith that the USB pocket camcorder would get back to its simplistic roots -- you know, until Cisco axed the whole division, along with 550 souls. Well, the truth is that the company was indeed working on something rather cool, and though we'd only heard whispers until now, the New York Times' David Pogue says the day after Cisco brought down the guillotine is when the FlipLive was due to hit shelves. It would have been a livestreaming camera, connected with WiFi to the cloud, allowing users to share johnny-on-the-spot videos with the entire world in real time. Instead, the camera and its little red button are off to that great big server in the sky.
Cisco killing Flip line of camcorders, axing 550 employees in restructuring effort
Oh Flip, how far you've come. And, of course, how far you've fallen. Once a spunky upstart with oddly shaped camcorders, you got snapped up by Cisco in Spring of 2009 for a hefty $590 million in stock. Now, according to Pocket-lint, you (and your moustaches) are done for. Cisco CEO John Chambers says the brand is being dispatched as the company refocuses, done in by the proliferation of high-definition sensors into smartphones and PMPs and the like. We had been waiting for the company's next products (if you'll recall, a WiFi-enabled Mino HD hit the FCC just a few months back), but at this point, it looks like those hopes and dreams will remain unfulfilled. We're awaiting comment from the company, and will update as it flies in. Update: Looks like the "exit of some consumer operations" will lead to 550 employees being left out of work. If you'll recall, the outfit reported in February that sales of consumer products sank 15 percent, while profits slipped 18 percent as margins slid for a fourth consecutive quarter. Meanwhile, Umi will be integrated into the company's TelePresence product line and operate through an enterprise and service provider go-to-market model. In other words, Skype just ate Umi's lunch.
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...
DXG gets vivacious with 1080p Twist and Luxe pocket camcorders
Surely you made a New Year's resolution, right? Right. What better way to keep tabs on yourself than to nab a new pocket camcorder? DXG has just unveiled a new duo of handheld video cameras, so we won't waste any time getting down to the nitty-gritty. The aptly-named Twist looks an awful lot like LG's now-ancient VX9400 (or pretty much any phone with embedded mobile TV support), boasting a 3.5-inch widescreen swivel display and the ability to capture footage in 720p / 1080p at 30 frames per second. It's also equipped with HDMI and USB 2.0 outputs, an SDHC card slot and a rechargeable Li-ion battery. It'll be available around a month from now in pistol-grip (1080p and 720p) and traditional football grip (720p) variations, with a price point sitting at $169.99. If that's a little too Plain Jane for ya, the 2011 Luxe Collection is bound to provide the sprucing you're after. Available in a half-dozen patterns, this pocket camcorder offers a 3-inch touchscreen, a 1080p capture mode and a one-inch thick chassis. Naturally, HDMI and USB 2.0 ports are included, but before dropping your $149.99 to $199.99, we'd recommend thinking long and hard about what hue fits your personality best. Are you more of Maui hibiscus guy, or a Riviera quilted dude? Decisions, decisions. %Gallery-112241%
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.
Casio shows off multi-hinged TRYX camera outside CES, prematurely outs press shots
Well, would you have a look at this? Details are scarce right now, but by the looks of these ads outside CES, this Casio TRYX imager sports two hinges for the sake of versatility: one for the frame that doubles as a handle or a stand, and one for swiveling the display -- presumably a touchscreen since there are just a couple of buttons on the body. Coincidentally, Google also led us to the TRYX's stash of press shots which have now been pulled, but we've got you guys a screenshot for the time being -- it's not like it'll be long before all is unveiled, anyway. %Gallery-112393%
Iain Sinclair Poco Pro: little camcorder, big expectations
The Poco Pro from Iain Sinclair, manufacturers of fine tiny things, is said to be "the world's thinnest" 1080p HD pocket camcorder. Poco's specs tout dimensions of 54 x 85.6 x 5mm, much smaller than JVC's Picsio, Samsung's HMX-E10, and even Toshiba's Camileo, but we are definitely wary of image quality on a sensor as small as this one. We're not entirely sure we get the purpose of its optional WiFi capabilities, either -- the site claims they're for "wireless data transmission," but we don't know if that's to a PC or some sort of service. If you're dying to find out, you can reserve a Poco of your own for £100, or about $155, but be patient, this little guy won't hit the market until June.
Pockito wearable camcorder: endorsed by a knockoff Miley Cyrus and Joe McCreep
Hard to say where exactly iRes Technology found this guy on the right (Fake Miley clearly came from a nondescript party in the You Es Aye), but chances are he was sourced from same pool of megalomaniacs that MSI dipped into earlier this year. If you'll recall, iRes popped out its first wearable camcorder in July of last year, and the new edition is smaller, more capable and endorsed by voyeurs worldwide. The IRDC260 uCorder Pockito (2.5- x 1- x 0.5-inches) -- which is available in black / red colors -- is capable of being clipped onto just about anything; from there, it can log footage at 740 x 480 (30fps) onto a microSD card (2GB included). It syncs up with your PC via USB, and it can also double as a webcam should you need it to. Both hues are up for order right now at $99.99, and if you look even remotely like either of the individuals above, there's obviously nothing we can do or say to stop you from fulfilling your destiny. %Gallery-108354%
Viewsonic rolls out 3DV5 pocket camcorder, other gadgets of 2D and 3D varieties
Viewsonic has been touting a whole range of 3D gadgets since IFA this summer, and it's now finally brought a few of them to North America. That includes the $180 3DV5 pocket camcorder, which was already released in Europe and does 720p video along with 5 megapixel stills (in both 3D and 2D), and the also-$180 3DPF8 8-inch digital photo frame, which will let you view 3D videos and photos without the need for 3D glasses. Joining those are the $330 DVP5 pocket camcorder, which isn't 3D but does pack a built-in projector, and the $150 DPF8-CAM Digital Photo Copier, which is actually an 8-inch digital photo frame with a built-in scanner to let you easily convert your snapshots to digital copies. Head on past the break for the complete press release, and hit up the gallery below for a closer look at the whole lot. %Gallery-107538%
Viewsonic introduces 3DV5 3D pocket camcorder, no glasses required
There's a good chance this 3D bandwagon may never stop rolling, so rather than maintaining that bitter beer face for yet another day, you may as well embrace the next dimension. Viewsonic's newest pocket camcorder just so happens to fit into that segment, as the 3DV5 is a 720p shooter with a 2.4-inch autostereoscopic display, not unlike that found on Nintendo's 3DS. According to the company, there's a one-touch function to switch between 2D and 3D recording modes, and once owners have logged the latter, they can either plug it directly into a 3D HDTV (via HDMI) or watch it on-screen without any 3D glasses. Users can also throw these up on YouTube's 3D channel if they'd rather tangle with a set of anaglyph spectacles, but you'd probably budget for an SD card -- you know, considering that the 10MB of internal storage space won't exactly hold a masterpiece. Is this guy really worth £150 ($238)? Can you really live another day without the ability to create 3D content?
3M Shoot 'n Share camcorder projector gets reviewed, does what it says on the box
You should know by now that the 3M Shoot 'n Share is aptly named: it shoots 720p video and stills, and it shares with a 640 x 480 built-in pico projector. Simple, yes? What you might not know is how well the thing actually works, and for that we have a helpful review from PicoProjector-info. It basically confirms any fears you might've had about the combination: it's not the best pocket camcorder, and it's not the best pico projector (even 3M's own similarly-specced MPro-150 model bests it). The good news is that it absolutely works, and is certainly passable in both of its stated aims, along with being fairly easy to operate. Not too bad for $300.
GE goes rugged with Flip-esque DV1 HD camcorder
It's tough for yet another Flip-like camcorder to stand out these days, but GE might just stand a better chance than most with its new DV1 model, which adds a waterproof, shockproof enclosure to the familiar form factor. It also doesn't look to cut too many corners when it comes to specs, with it boasting full 1080p recording and 5-megapixel stills, a SD card slot for storage, HDMI out, a 2.5-inch display and, of course, an integrated USB connector. No indication of a price just yet, but you'll apparently be able to pick this one up next month in your choice of gray, orange or green.
Joby's Gorillapod Video breaks cover at Photokina, complete with swivel arm
Joby has pretty much set the standard for portable, flexible, curious looking tripods, and while it has evolved over the years to include support for bulky DSLRs, it hasn't really made the same strides to cover the burgeoning pocket camcorder realm. Until today. Here in Köln, the outfit used Photokina as a launching pad for their newest portable tripod, the Gorillapod Video. For all intents and purposes, this is a classic Gorillapod with an omni-directional positioning video head, an extension arm for pans and tilts and magnetic feet for connecting it to your nearby barn. There's a small button on the head that allows the swivel arm to collapse for even easier travel, and during our moments with it here on the show floor, we were duly impressed with how it held the pocket camcorder strapped on top of it. It's available to order right now for $29.95, with shipments expected within the next fortnight. You know the drill -- gallery's below if you're craving more. %Gallery-103090% %Gallery-103091%
Sanyo debuts E1500TP point-and-shoot alongside Xacti CG21, PD1 and GH3 camcorders
If there's a Photokina around, you can bet your bottom dollar that Sanyo will be there. Boasting a booth chock full of camcorders and pocketable cameras, we waded through to find three new Xacti camcorders (VPC-CG21, VPC-PD1 and VPC-GH3) on display alongside a simplistic new shooter, the VPC-E1500TP. Starting with the latter, this one brings just the basics in a fairly vanilla enclosure: a 14 megapixel CMOS sensor, 720p video, a 4x optical zoom, 3-inch rear touchpanel, 32MB of internal storage space, an SD / SDHC expansion slot, ISO range from 100 to 3200 and USB connectivity. Pricing and availability wasn't offered for this fellow, but we're betting it's below $150 and in stores tomorrowish. Moving on to the camcorders, the CG21 ($149) is a typical pistol-grip machine with a 10 megapixel sensor, the ability to capture 1080i, a 10x optical zoomer and an SDXC card slot. The $199 GH3 looks more like your mother's Handycam of old, offering a similar 10 megapixel sensor, SDHC card slot, 10x optical zoom and 1080i video capture. The starlet was the $199 PD1, a Flip Video-styled camcorder with dual microphones, 10 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, SDXC card slot, 1080/30p recording, an integrated USB arm and a rather impressive rear LCD. The whole lot is making its way out to dealers now, so feel free to start poking and prodding if you must. Galleries are below, per usual. %Gallery-103042% %Gallery-103044% %Gallery-103043%
Flip updates UltraHD and MinoHD, rolls out new Designed for Flip accessories
With pocket HD camcorders multiplying by the dozens (most with 1080p functionality), we were starting to think Flip, er Cisco had fallen asleep at the wheel (or the Slide!), but the category pioneer has finally gone and updated its core Flip MinoHD and UltraHD lines with some much-needed features. Starting on the lower end, the 4GB Flip UltraHD is now just $149 --it'll capture one hour of 720p video at 30fps. That's a great price, but it's certainly the least interesting of the bunch -- the more notable additions are baked into the $199.99 8GB UltraHD, which is 20 percent slimmer with a new rubber casing and finally (finally!) gained image stabilization. Flip's still not playing the raw specs game, though -- the 8GB Ultra shoots 720p/60 video, which Cisco says maximizes video quality while keeping file sizes easier to share. Sure -- we don't think a 1080p/30 mode would have overly complicated things, but Flip's all about one-button simplicity, after all. The 8GB Ultra also sports a new FlipPort expansion port, which is the centerpiece of the "Designed for Flip" accessory program. All kinds of things can plug into the FlipPort; highlights of the launch lineup include a Scoshe wireless microphone, an iGo pico projector, and a SeaGate portable hard drive / storage extender. Cisco tells us the FlipPort will hit the other Flip models over time, and that it's expecting tons of Designed for Flip accessories -- beyond those for the new FlipPort, there will be a Bower magnetic wide angle lens and loads of new cases. It's an interesting sort of complexity to offer on a camera otherwise almost aggressive in its simplicity. The MinoHD line also nabs the new image stabilizer and 720p/60 video mode -- the new silver 4GB MinoHD will retail for $179.99, while the matte black 8GB MinoHD will run $229.99. All the new models can be ordered on Flip's website today, and if personalization if your thing, each can be customized with different designs or an uploaded picture of your own. We can't say there's a lack of new stuff, and while we're still a bit confused by the absence of 1080p recording and a still shot mode, there's something to be said for the company's studious focus on simplicity. Whether 720p/60 video can hold up to the competition's 1080p is still a giant question mark, but we just got our review models and we'll let you know how things go later this week. Until then, enjoy some of the beauty shots below as well as the full press release after the break. %Gallery-102705% %Gallery-102704%
3M Shoot 'N Share does just that: shoots 720p, shares with its built-in pico
3M may have snuck out two pico projectors for the guy in the boardroom yesterday, but its latest handheld is clearly designed for after-hour usage. Figuring it can leverage its projector roots and jump right on into the camcorder / camera side of things, the company's Shoot 'N Share packs a 5 megapixel sensor that can capture 720p MP4 video as well as take stills. Once you're done recording, you can tap the capacitive projector button and display it on the wall (or in our style, on someone's forehead). We figured with only 14 lumens of brightness it would be fairly dim, but some recorded video was actually bright enough to make out in a fairly light room. However, it only projects at 640 x 480, though we guess for $299 we didn't expect much more. The projector... er, camera, has a microSD card slot and HDMI jack on its edges, but it's definitely chunkier than we'd like. Hit the shots below to decide for yourself and the press release after the break for a few extra details. %Gallery-102474%
ReadySteady pocket camcorder stabilizer review
What is this strange pendulum hanging below the camcorder? An external battery? Some eccentric fashion accessory from the Far East? Actually, this is the ReadySteady: a camera stabilizer (and potentially a stand) designed for use with various pocket camcorders such as the Flip Mino, Sony Bloggie, Sanyo Xacti (like our HD1010 here) and Kodak PlayTouch. The device really is as simple as it looks -- it consists of just a two-part 3.5-ounce aluminum disc and a flexible camera stand, the latter of which can be stored within the disc. Likewise, the instructions are pretty straightforward: simply poke the stand through the disc, screw it into your camcorder, put a grip near your camcorder's bottom, and then apply some force onto the disc with your other hand (as pictured). Voilà! So, does this $29.99 device work? And is it worth it? Read on to find out -- an extensive test video awaits you after the break.%Gallery-101476%
Sanyo launches Xacti VPC-GH4 full HD camcorder with YouTube, Facebook integration
Sanyo has announced another one of them there Xacti digicams, this time geared for the social media crowd. The VPC-GH4, like its sibling the VPC-GH2, features Full HD 1080 video recording; and unlike the aforementioned GH2, integrates YouTube, Facebook, and Picasa uploads -- as well as Twitter notifications. But at what cost? Well, the newer model sees still photos dumbed down to 10 megapixels (the precursor featured 14 megapixel stills), but then again it's set to retail at $200 -- so it's, like, $50 cheaper. Want a closer look? Want the full scoop straight from the PR itself? Can't wait until it hits store shelves later this month? All your wishes will be granted after the break. But you should probably get some better wishes.
Kodak PlayTouch preview
While Sony's new Bloggie Touch provides the template for how simple and easy a touchscreen camcorder could really be, Kodak's similarly well built and attractive PlayTouch provides a stark contrast, with a modicum of simplicity on the surface, but a megaton of functionality to uncover. The PlayTouch isn't as pick-up-and go as the Bloggie, but the basic touchscreen controls can be quickly mastered. What sets the PlayTouch apart are the in-depth features like an external microphone jack (complete with gain control), video effects (like black & white and sepia modes), and the particularly ambitious video editor. You can only trim shots and extract stills from that latter mode, but paired with the newer generation EasyShare functionality that lets you pre-assign photos and videos for upload to YouTube and Facebook, among other services, you can almost completely avoid using your computer as anything but a dumb pipe to the internet. The PlayTouch really isn't a "gift it to your grandma" sort of camcorder; even with a $230 pricetag you still have to bring your own SD card, there's no built-in storage, and most of the higher end functionalities like the external audio jack will be lost on the general populace. Still, if you're looking for a pocket camcorder that is more than just a dumb pocket camcorder, Kodak seems to be continuing the niche it carved out for itself originally with the Zi8. %Gallery-101278%
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%
