Cisco today axed its Flip camera division in a bid to bring the company back into shape. The company provided few details but said its new "network-centric platform strategy" meant the former Pure Digital group had to be closed. Those on the FlipShare service would be supported through a "transition plan," though Cisco didn't say what that was.
Cisco will reveal new generation Flip video cameras at or close to the NAB show, according to StreamingMedia executive VP Dan Rayburn. The official claims to have early specs of the new cameras, but will not share them as they are not confirmed.
Flip will reportedly release a new USB camcorder with built-in Wi-Fi functionality early next year, thanks to Cisco, which bought Flip maker Pure Digital earlier this year. While this is not official, it should allow the ultraportable camcorder to upload videos directly to video-hosting sites over private and public Wi-Fi networks. The new Flip will purportedly also have a large screen that would slide out of the way to grant access to the record and menu buttons.
A new FCC filing reveals a new RF remote control with Flip Video branding but produced by Foxconn is on its way. Flip Video, known for its small, simple HD cameras such as the Flip Ultra HD, is unlikely to need a remote the size of the device itself for its cameras, so this sighting may indicate a new product for the company, such as a living room or home theater device.
Apple has been ordering enough camera sensors that every iPod except for the shuffle could have a camera with its next update, Asian sources claim. The American company is believed to be ordering cellphone-quality units worth about $10 but in too large numbers to simply apply to iPhone orders. Which models would get the update aren't specified by TechCrunch, but it's speculated that more than one iPod model would have to be covered given the sheer numbers.
Verizon today ramped up FiOS with speed upgrades for all its regular tiers as well as the addition of a new middle tier. A new 35Mbps plan offers a balance between more typical speeds and the 50Mbps maximum tier; it also has the same 20Mbps upload speeds as the previous symmetric 20/20 tier and the 50Mbps service; the speed would let it upload an hour-long 720p HDTV show in 20 minutes. The carrier doesn't say how much this version of its fiber optic service would cost but says it's only available in bundles with TV or phone service.
Cisco today gave its Flip cameras a key update with the launch of FlipShare.com, its matching Flip Channels and a new iPhone app. The new feature gives users their own collection of videos on the Cisco-run website but, unlike YouTube or similar pages, lets users more specifically share videos only with with certain groups rather than just the entire public or all of a user's friends. In addition to a software update launching today, all Flip cameras shipping from today onwards will have the feature.
The Ultra HD is Pure Digital's flagship camcorder and carries 8GB of memory in addition to its high definition (720p) recording. Flip also offers the small form factor Flip Mino HD. It commands a thirty dollar price premium for the smaller size, but it offers only half the amount of memory that its full size brother can manage; in theory, the Ultra HD is likely to be much better. But are the savings and extra capacity worth a handful of sacrifices? We investigate in our full Flip Ultra HD review.
Apple's update to the iPhone this year will not only be necessary for the new video recording feature but will also have a better display, according to a purported leak from those with access to the new hardware. Without entering into detail, the source for BusinessWeek says the 2009 refresh has an "improved screen" beyond the 320x480 LCD that has been a staple of the iPhone since 2007. Whether this is a resolution increase or a change to a different display technology, such as AMOLED (active matrix organic light-emitting diode), isn't known.
Pure Digital tonight acted quickly on leaks by launching two new Flip cameras. The Flip Ultra SD and Flip Ultra HD both have a new design with a larger 2-inch LCD and (on the HD) HDMI output through an optional cable. They also record for longer with a replaceable battery, standard on the HD model and optional for SD, that lasts for 3 hours at the HD model's 720p resolution and 5 hours on SD's standard definition. Either takes AA batteries and should also have more recording time versus earlier Ultras.
Pure Digital is about to release its second pocket video camera with HD, a report from a buyer who purchased ahead of launch has confirmed. The Flip Ultra HD is expected to have the same 720p recording and 4GB (2 hours) of storage as the Flip Mino HD but the same form factor as the standard-definition Flip Ultra. Allowing the extra bulk will give it both HDMI video output as well as a larger screen and an accessible battery compartment that accepts AA batteries.
Cisco on Thursday said it would buy Pure Digital for $590 million in stock. The deal puts the camera maker into the same Consumer Business division as Linksys and gives the larger company control over Pure's lineup, which includes the Flip Mino HD and other Flip devices. Cisco describes the buyout as a way of branching into "visual networking" and that it will "quickly expand" the Flip line as a result.
Not unlike the fairly popular Flip Video that spawned the category and the near identical Creative Vado that followed it, Amadana on Monday announced the introduction of its SAL pocket video camcorder. The SAL uses a 3-megapixel CMOS sensor to capture 640x480 resolution videos in the MPEG-4 format, with a 320x240 LCD display acting as the viewfinder and playback display. Storage space is fixed at 2GB, or 2 hours of video that also matches the claimed battery life.
Multiple claimed sources have said network device firm Cisco has or will buy Pure Digital. The value of the deal is estimated by TechCrunch to be over $500 million and would give Cisco control over the Flip line of pocket video cameras, such as the Flip Mino HD. Buying the still small, young Pure is believed part of a larger strategy to encourage heavy Internet use that would justify its network equipment.
As promised, Creative this morning marked the US in-store date for its Vado HD pocket camera. The 720p-capable recorder aims to beat the Flip Mino HD on features with HDMI video output, twice as much storage at 8GB and a larger two-inch preview LCD. Creative uses H.264 encoding that should give it four hours with Flip-level encoding or two hours in a claimed better HD+ capture mode.
Creative will launch a version of its Vado pocketable camera with a flash drive that is capable of recording high-definition video on December 7th in the US as per an Amazon product page. The small camcorder will record video using H.264 compression at up to 1280x720 resolution (720p), with its 8GB of integrated capacity good for two hours of HD video or double that at VGA resolution. It will be priced aggressively at $199 and should have more storage and small feature improvements over the well-received Flip Mino HD.
Conventional wisdom would have had Pure Digital's Flip camcorders wash out because of their limited features, but it's precisely this which has led them to seemingly overthrow the budget camcorder market. Their dead-simple controls and narrow focus have made them ideal for a generation growing up on YouTube and video blogging. The Flip Mino HD promises to do the same for high-definition video and with even simpler editing. But does it live up to this promise? We find out in our full review.
Pure Digital today launched its response to a recent wave of ultra-simple HD camcorders from newer rivals with the launch of the Flip Mino HD. The camera matches the 720p widescreen, fixed zoom capture of most of its opponents but opts for a built-in 4GB of flash memory rather than the SD cards of others. This gives it an hour of storage for HD out of the box in the Mino HD's native MPEG-4 format, which also makes most videos relatively portable both to web video and to video editing tools, including iMovie. Pure estimates about two hours of battery life with the extra demand from the improved footage.
UK-based Pure Digital on Thursday announced it will be releasing its newest Internet radio, the Evoke Flow. Like competing products, including the recently announced Radiopaq Rp5, the Evoke Flow will feature an FM radio receiver, as well as a DAB tuner and DAB+ support. Of course, a Wi-Fi module will likewise be integrated, allowing the Evoke Flow to connect to Pure's newly launched online web radio site, Pure Lounge.
Pure Digital on Wednesday is launching its anticipated Flip Mino, its newest entry into its unusually popular simple camcorders. The Mino shrinks the design of the original Flip camera by 40 percent to where it's smaller than a typical cellphone while adding features that aren't present on the originals: the updated software bundled with the Mino lets it upload directly to MySpace as well as providing existing hooks for AOL and YouTube. Pure keeps the concept simple by preserving the 2X digital zoom lens that limits the camera but concentrates on the shot itself.
