Cisco Flip MinoHD

Pricey but handy

Camcorder Review: Cisco Flip MinoHD
by Hedirman Supian
05:55 AM Sep 03, 2010

WHAT'S all the fuss with the Flip pocket camcorder? It doesn't look particularly sexy and it's essentially a one-trick pony that records video. It doesn't even take photos.

But after using the Cisco Flip MinoHD, I've come to appreciate its simplicity and ease of use.

With a thickness of 0.66 inches, the camcorder is a tad chunky but it's small enough to slip into your pocket. You'll mostly interact with its touch-sensitive buttons and a 2-inch LCD screen. There're no card slots but the 8GB built-in memory can store up to two hours of high-definition (HD) footage. It shoots in 720p, at 30 frames per second, and saves the videos in the popular MP4 format.

For a camcorder this size, the quality of the video is decent, even in low-light conditions. And there are only two steps needed to start video recording - switch it on and tap on the big, red button. I found the Flip a very handy way to record video while I was on the go, and its small size meant that it was hardly noticed.

There's no optical zoom, but I barely made use of the 2x digital zoom because it could lower the quality of the footage. The fixed focus meant that I didn't have to fiddle with anything else either.

The MinoHD's secret sauce is the software. When you plug the device into a Mac or Windows PC, you'll be prompted to launch and install Flipshare - its video management and editing software. The Flipshare installer is stored on the device, so you can plug it into any computer.

Flipshare lets you manage the videos on your Flip, save them to your computer or edit the videos. It can also automatically stitch your videos for you. The software makes it easy to share your videos via email, YouTube, Facebook or through something called an online video channel. This is supposedly a more private way to share videos, as you can share content with a specific group of people. There are also apps you can download to enable your iPhone, BlackBerry or Android phone to access the video channel.

My main quibble with the Cisco Flip Video MinoHD is its price - $349. There are cutting-edge smartphones that will let you shoot and edit videos, too. But if you're looking for a fuss-free way to shoot, edit and share videos, the Flip's a good choice. Hedirman Supian

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Cisco sees chance to challenge iPad

UNITED States networking equipment-maker Cisco unveiled a tablet computer for business professionals on Tuesday as technology rivals lined up to compete with Apple’s iPad.

The Cisco Cius – pronounced “see us” – is powered by Google’s open-source Android operating system and boasts eight hours of battery life.

Customer trials of the Cius would begin later this year and the device would be available in the first quarter of next year.

It weighs 0.52kg, less than the iPad’s 0.68kg, and has a 7-inch screen, smaller than the 9.7-inch screen on the Apple device.

Unlike the iPad, which does not have a camera, the Cius features two: A front-mounted high-definition camera which allows for high-definition video streaming and real-time video, and a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera.

The Cius also offers e-mail, instant messaging, Web browsing through Wi-Fi and eventually 4G connectivity, and the ability to produce, edit and share content stored locally oron the Internet.

Cisco said the device was designed to provide workers with “the ability to access and share the content they need from any place on the network”.

Said Mr Tony Bates, a Cisco senior vice-president: “This platform can transform how healthcare professionals advance patient care, how retailers deliver service experiences to consumers, or how universities deliver world-class education to their
students.”

Cisco is making more products that transmit video, moving beyond its core business of routers and switches.

The Cius will cost less than US$1,000 (S$1,400), said Mr Bates.

AFP, BLOOMBERG

Soure: www.mypaper.com.sg

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