Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder Review

The Best Electronic Gift for Kids and Families

by Mark Shapiro

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Which Flip Video Camcorder Is Right For You?

The new Flip Video Ultra HD - 2 Hours of High Definition Video  READ THE REVIEW

OR an older model.....

The FlipHD Software - FlipShare

The MinoHD ships with software preloaded in the camcorder. When you plug it in to your computer for the first time, after asking for permission, it downloads and installs onto your computer. It provides very basic video organization and trimming features. I found the actual process of getting the video out of the camcorder so that it could be trimmed a bit daunting and different from what I expected. Here is the process that worked for me.

Connect the MinoHD to your computer. Create a special back up "just in case" directory and directly copy the captured MP4 video files from the camcorder to the computer. This is your back up in case something goes wrong with the editing or trimming process.

You can do this using your standard computer navigation. Open up the Mino’s drive and the new drive and then do a select, copy and save from the Minho’s memory to the computer’s new Mino folder. Or you can use the FlipShare software, and one by one, select and use the export command to do the same thing.

Now using the FlipShare software, create a new folder for the project you are working on. The next step is to open up the each video clip one by one and do whatever trimming is needed and then copy the new version to the directory you created using the FlipShare software. There is a command for moving files to your computer but it kept opening up some unknown file and wanted to drop the videos there. Maybe there it was user error….

Anyhow, by saving the files from the edit window, you can move them one by one to your Mino video folder. At that point, you can use the share function to send the video files to your fiends and relatives via email, or you can upload them to YouTube or other video sharing sites. If you do the email version, your video gets uploaded to the new FlipShare site for free hosting and an email with links gets sent to those on your email list. It all works but it is a bit funky to me….

Making Movies using the FlipShare Software

 In addition to simply trimming your clips, you can use the FlipShare software to create your personal video movies that can combine various clips and add music, and front and end titles. Pretty cool.

Working in the FlipShare application, you start by loading in the pre-trimmed video clips you want use in your video. You can select from various folders. The next step is to click the Make Movie icon on the bottom of the page. That opens up a little window where you load in whatever "pre-trimmed clips you want to use in your movie. Once you have those loaded in the order you want to see them, you can then preview your movie to check the chronological flow. You can easily slide them around to change the order.

When you get it right, you then hit the Next button which enables you to create and insert opening titles and closing credits. You don't have a choice of fonts or colors or styles.

The next step is to add music or not. You can stay with just your raw audio or you can add your own music soundtrack. Flip has bundled in seven songs to use or you can simply browse and select your own MP3s stored on your computer.

You can opt to play the music lower in volume than your original sound, louder than your original sound, or just play music, eliminating the original sound altogether. The final step is to give your movie a name and then click to create it. Pretty easy.

• The world’s smallest HD camcorder, weighing only 3.3 ounces

• Convenient flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your computer to launch built-in FlipShare™ software

• Built-in memory for up to 60 minutes of high-quality video

• Rechargeable lithium ion battery— charges via your USB port. Approximately 2 hours of recording per charge.

• Start recording within 3 seconds of power-up

• Advanced playback, pause, fast forward/rewind features

• Records high-quality H.264 videos that work with iTunes, iMovie, and iPhoto

• "Child Safe" mode to prevent accidental deletions of clips

• Fast lens – great low or bright light results, 2x digital zoom

• 1.5” color high-brightness (transflective) display for easy recording and super-clear viewing in bright sunlight

• Silent mode for recording in sensitive situations

• TV connector cable included to watch videos on television

• Tripod mount fits any standard tripod

• Video: 16:9 widescreen, HD 720p (1280 x 720) at 30 frames per second progressive scan

Simple to Share

• Built-in FlipShare™ software for instant viewing, editing, and one-click emailing with upgraded features:

  • Browse, playback, organize and archive your videos

  • Create movies with videos, music & titles

  • Edit clips and save still photos from video

  • Instantly upload to AOL, MySpace, YouTube and other video sites

  • Share your videos using email or greetings cards (free and unlimited video sharing)

• Records high-quality H.264 videos that work with iTunes, iMovie, and iPhoto (MP4 files)

Specifications of the Flip Video MinoHD (high definition) camcorder

Dimensions:

• Height: 3.94"

• Width: 1.97"

• Depth: 0.63"

• Weight: 3.17 oz

Video storage capacity:

• 60-minute camcorder: 4 GB of internal flash memory

• External memory: Not supported

Lens:

• Focus: Fixed-focus (1.5 mm to infinity)

• Aperture: f/2.4

• Focal length: 35mm equivalent

• Zoom: 2x digital zoom

LCD Screen:

• Size/Type: 1.5" Transflective TFT

• Resolution: 528 x 132 pixels

Viewfinder:

• Electronic LCD-based color viewfinder

Image sensor:

• 1/4.5 inch, 1.6 megapixel CMOS sensor

• Active area: 3.24mm (H) x 2.41mm (V)

• Ultra low-light sensitivity (>1.4V/lux-sec) with automatic low light detection

• Automatic exposure control with dynamic exposure compensation

• Automatic white balance and black level calibration

Video capture:

• Resolution: HD 720p (1280 x 720, 16:9 widescreen), 30 fps (constant frame-rate), progressive scan

• Variable, 8.8 Megabits on average

• Format: H.264 video compression, AAC audio compression, MP4 file format

Connection/Interface:

• USB 2.0 connector via flip-out arm

• TV Out: NTSC (via 2.5mm plug to 3-RCA TV-Out cable)

Audio:

• Microphone: Built-in, wide-range, omni-directional microphone (on front of camcorder)

• Speaker: Built-in speaker with software volume control (on back of camcorder)

Battery:

• Built-in rechargeable battery (Lithium Ion) - charges via USB connection to computer Automatic power-off if inactive for more than 60 seconds

Included Software:

• Simple, powerful and built-in software installs directly from camcorder (when connected to PC/Mac). Main features include:

·          

• Browsing, playback, organization and archiving

• Create movies with videos, music and titles

• Video editing (truncation) and ability to save still photo from video

• Online video publishing (YouTube, MySpace, AOL Video and others)

• Free and unlimited video email sharing (multiple videos and greeting cards)

Accessories Included:

• TV connection cable (audio/video)

• Wrist strap

• Soft case

• Quick Start Guide