New Flip UltraHD Finally Promises An External Microphone Input, Available in Early 2011 Through New FlipPort

A new line of Flip Video cameras was announced today by Cisco, including more affordable versions of the UltraHD ($149.00-199.00) and MinoHD $179.00-229.00) pocket camcorders, with a number a new enhancements that will finally bring the long awaited ability to connect an external microphone to the wildly popular pocket video camera. This will be possible in only the new UltraHD 8GB model, through a new proprietary port called a "FlipPort" located on the bottom of the device, and will connect peripherals that are part of the new "Designed for Flip" accessory program. The microphone is designed by Blue Microphones and called Mikey for FLIP, and won't be available until early next year, and likely to debut at CES.

One the big drawbacks of the Flip has been the inability to capture good quality sound,  and many were disappointed with the release earlier in the year of the SlideHD, which didn't include an external microphone input jack. However, Blue's peripheral contains a premium condenser stereo microphone capsule with automatic sensitivity switching for recording any volume level clearly: whispers, interviews, or rock concerts. It also sports a mic-in port which will allow for easy plug-in of additional microphones or microphone level audio sources which is similar to the Beachtek camcorder adapters that allow for plugging in standard XLR cables and connectors, and mounts in between the camera and tripod. The Mikey for FLIP is self-powered and runs on AAA batteries and will list starting at $69.00.

Videos are still recorded as H.264 MP4 files in 16:9 widescreen, HD 720p (1280 x 720), now at 60 frames per seconds (fps) progressive scan. Other new Flip UltraHD features include image stabilization, longer record time and higher bit rate recording (up to 8.8 Mbps) and a number of other optional peripherals, including a include a waterproof case, a Bower wide angle lens, an iGo Portable Pico Projector and a variety of power charging options: Flip Video Ultra™ Battery Pack, iGo Charge Anywhere, Flip Video Power Adapter. All the Flip Video products are available now at TheFlip.com, Amazon.com, and Best Buy and will be sold at Wal-Mart, Target, and Staples in the near future.

According to Jonathan Kaplan, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco Consumer Products:

"This is without question the best line of Flip Video cameras we've ever created. The new line combines Flip's signature simplicity and affordability with truly breakthrough video quality, unlimited personalization options, and an array of creative new accessories – all of which add up to more fun, and an even better video experience for our consumers."

For more details, read PC Magazine's full review here: Cisco Flip UltraHD 8GB 2 Hours (2010) Review & Rating | PCMag.com and check out the full line of Flip Video cameras and specs here.

From birthday parties, sporting events, conferences, social media mashups to corporate boardrooms, the Flip video camera spawned a new generation of UGC producers. But the important thing to keep in mind is that the Flip, the Kodak Zi8, the Sony Bloggie, the iPhone 4,  iPod Touch any of these $200.00 or less video cameras, are just that – $200.00 or less video cameras. You won't get the same quality as you would with professional video and audio equipment. But for most applications the Flip video quality is good enough.

If you're wondering how the new Flip Ultra measures up to the iPod Touch, watch this video for a side-by-side comparison: Flip UltraHD vs. iPod Touch (4th gen).

YouTube Goes 16:9 Widescreen, It's About Change

Late last night Mashable reported that YouTube changed from the standard 4:3 player to an aspect ratio off 16:9. Since the majority of videos on YouTube are 4:3 the result is the annoying pillar box effect displaying the black bars (mattes or masking) on the sides of the image.

The YouTube blog says, Bigger Isn't Always Better... But in This Case, We Believe It Is, "We're expanding the width of the page to 960 pixels to better reflect the quality of the videos you create and the screens that you use to watch them. This new, wider player is in a widescreen aspect ratio which we hope will provide you with a cleaner, more powerful viewing experience. And don't worry, your 4:3 aspect ratio videos will play just fine in this new player."

This image below shows a 16:9 video in the new default player:


The majority of feedback on the blog post was negative with most people outraged pleading that this new feature be an option and not a default while many others embraced it saying it's about time. This change follows on the heels of the recent HD hack that enables a higher quality viewing at 720p. YouTube may be gearing up for more professionally produced higher quality content created in 16:9 like full-length films from MGM in an effort to compete directly with Hulu.

Other sites like Blip.tv, Vimeo, DailyMotion and SmugMug have already offered video in the HD aspect ratio. Aspect ratio and quality are different. See YouTube's help document on how to upload better quality videos but keep in mind that you'll want to transition to the widescreen format if you want your videos to fill the player.

Flip MinoHD Available Now at 720p

Just in time for the holidays Pure Digital Technologies has released a HD version of its popular Flip Mino pocket camcorder with a retail price of $230, which is $50 more than the SD version. The new HD Flip weighs only 3.3 ounces and records an hour of 720p MPEG-4 video on the built-in 4GB flash memory. Also announced was Flipshare, an upgrade to the on-board editing software, which will enable drag and drop capability for editing and sharing videos on YouTube, MySpace, AOL Video or via email.

Pure Digital has sold over 1.5 million Flip Video camcorders and currently has the number one best-selling camcorder in the U.S according to leading market research firm The NPD Group. The NY Times had this to say about the maker of the innovative pocket camcorder, "In a study released last month, Deloitte said that revenues at Pure Digital, a 90-employee firm based in San Francisco, grew 44,667 percent, the highest rate in Silicon Valley over the last five years." - A Camcorder Insurgent Goes HD - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com

“Consumers have embraced Flip Video because it delivers on the promise of making video simple, affordable, and fun,” said Jonathan Kaplan, Pure Digital’s chairperson and CEO. “Flip MinoHD, along with our new FlipShare software, now make it easy for anyone to capture and share their stories in stunning HD quality.” - from Flip Video - Buzz - Press Releases

Katie Boehret, from Wall Street Journal wrote an in-depth review Flip Camcorder Goes High-Def | Katherine Boehret | The Mossberg Solution | AllThingsD and was pleased with the video and improved sound quality. I included her video test from her WSJ review below. She noted a few limitations such as the fixed zoom system which allows for only 2x digital zoom, the small 1.5-inch LCD screen which is the same size as the previous Flip models so you can't preview the HD video on the camcorder and the inability to share HD footage with the Flipshare software. Keep in mind that you can edit and share the HD video footage using other applications like iMovie which I've used with my Flip Ultra videos.


Benny Goldman from Gizmodo did some field testing as well in his post: Reviews: Flip MinoHD Lightning Review (So Easy, a Caveman Can Do It).

As the news broke last night also saw this Tweet from @karaswisher:

I actually own two Flips myself, an Ultra and a Mino, and Kara Swisher has four. She recorded this silly video that assembles all her Flip Video cameras for a special Flip meet-up. A New Flip Joins the BoomTown Video Family: High-Def Hijinks Ensue! | Kara Swisher | BoomTown | AllThingsD

Flip Mino HD Details
•Sleek, pocket-sized camcorder shoots breathtaking HD video
•Available in black or whatever you want
•4GB of on-board memory records up to 60 minutes of video
•Dimensions: 4” x 2” x 0.6”; weighs just 3.3 oz.
•HD 720p resolution (1280 x 720) in16:9 cinematic widescreen
•No glare display (1.5”)
•Sealed, rechargeable lithium ion battery (up to 2 hours of battery life)
•Flat back-panel with touch-sensitive buttons
•Instant playback, pause, fast forward/rewind, and delete features
•Connects to TV for instant viewing
•New built-in FlipShare™ software works on any PC or Mac:
•Save, organize, and edit videos with ease
•Email videos and video greeting cards
•Upload videos directly to AOL Video, MySpace, and YouTube
•Capture HD snapshots from your videos
•Create custom movies with your own music
•Order DVDs and have them shipped anywhere in the world
Suggested Retail Pricing: $229.99