Flip Video Mino

The Flip Video Mino is a smaller version of the Flip Video camcorder. It captures video in 640x480 resolution at 30 frames per second.

The Mino has many features that the Flip Video does not have. They include an internal rechargeable battery (instead of 2 AA batteries) and touch-sensitive pause, fast forward and rewind buttons, whereas the Flip had none of these. The Mino is almost 2 ounces lighter than the Flip and the arm with the USB plug on it has changed positions.[1]

History

The Flip Video Mino was released on June 4, 2008 by Pure Digital.[1]

On November 12, 2008, the Flip MinoHD was released. It has the same dimensions as the regular Mino, but with 1,280 x 720 HD, 30 frames per second recording capabilities. Its internal storage was upgraded to 4 GB while maintaining about one hour of recording time due to the increased optical resolution. The battery life is about 2 hours of recording time when fully charged.

The original 4 GB MinoHD only has a 3.5mm Jack socket (4-way TRRS : Tip-Ring-Ring-Sleeeve or A/V : audio-video) to composite (RCA) output for connecting to a television or input into other media viewing monitors. This was a major drawback to quick viewing of videos on a High Definition Television, considering that the produced video is captured in 720p high definition and composite cables are unable to transmit HD resolution to HD capable televisions. This flaw was corrected in the later released 8 GB version that now harnesses a mini HDMI output port, which now gives the option for Mini HDMI to composite (RCA) or component cables as well as Mini HDMI to HDMI allowing videos to be viewed in full HD on an HD capable television directly from the MinoHD camcorder.

In moving to a higher HD resolution, the Flip MinoHD changed from the MPEG-4 Part 2 (.avi) file format to the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Part 10 (.mp4) format.

Reception

The Flip Mino has received great praise from the Wall Street Journal[2] and Newsweek.[3] The Wall Street Journal concluded that: "If you're in the market for a simple camcorder that records high-quality video, the Flip MinoHD is definitely worth $50 more than the regular Flip Mino. But don't say I didn't warn you so when you're bummed out by the screen's still-small size and its inability to share true HD footage via the FlipShare software."

A review at IT Reviews commented that the MinoHD is a "healthy evolution of a popular product, but like its predecessors it can suffer from being a bit too simplistic and omitting some key features that may still be helpful for beginners." The review concludes: "As pocket camcorders go though, it's an impressive device."[4]

The Flip Video MinoHD was the number one in "best budget camcorder" in Cnet's Editors' top camcorder choices.[5] CamcorderInfo.com listed the Flip Mino as its "Best Budget Camcorder" and "Most Innovative Camcorder" in 2008.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Flip Mino product announcement
  2. ↑ Mossberg, Walter S. (2008-11-12). "Flip Camcorder Goes High-Def". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  3. ↑ Croal, N’Gai (2008-12-06). "Gadget of the Stars". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  4. ↑ http://www.itreviews.co.uk/hardware/h2271.htm IT Reviews MinoHD review
  5. ↑ Grunin, Lori (2008-06-03). "Flip Video's mighty Mino". CNET. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  6. ↑ CamcorderInfo.com (2008-11-14). "Camcorderinfo.com Select Awards 2008". CamcorderInfo.com.

External links

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