flips

The 404 688: Where we give it away now (podcast)

Pardon our dust, 404 video viewers! We're right in the middle of a grand studio makeover! The 404 clubhouse is getting all new gear, including wide-angle lenses and a brand new HD tricaster so you can see our radio-friendly faces in high-definition! Actually, we'll let you determine whether that's good or bad, but bear with us for the next few days as we finish setting everything up.

To make it up to you (and in honor of our favorite holiday), we're giving away original 404 art courtesy of the incredibly talented Blake Stevenson! If you just started listening to the show, Blake is the unofficial artist of The 404 that donated his talents to our official logo as well as many of the posters you see in our studio! He recently created the Halloween poster you see on this page and we're really excited to give it away! To enter, all you have to do is follow Blake on Twitter and RT this message:

"RT this & follow @blakestevenson to get some original @the404 ink! http://goo.gl/1XXG"

...and that's it! You have all weekend to do that for a chance to win some awesome art from your favorite podcast; we'll announce the winners next week--good luck!

Now onto today's stories. The first one is almost NSFW so I'll skip that for now, but the next one raises controversy about the recently released first person-shooter game, Medal of Honor. The EA reboot is a gritty take on the current conflict in Afghanistan, and the prerelease even let you play as Taliban soldiers attacking the U.S. Special Forces.

EA has since renamed the Taliban the "opposing force," but the post-censorship becomes a divisive issue for The 404. Jeff doesn't have a problem with it, Wilson thinks it's just "too real," and I'm stuck in the middle like a preteen begging his parents to stop the madness. Tune into the first half to get the full story!

After the break, we hit another milestone for the show: our first ever listener-submitted VIDEO VOICE MAIL! As you know, listeners usually call in and leave an audio voice mail that we play on the air, but Blazer from Cincinnati had the genius idea to post a YouTube link to show us a skateboard trick he created and named after the show!

It's a no-comply pressure flip that he calls The 404 Flip, and we'll definitely show Tony Hawk when he returns to the show next Friday! In the meantime, we'd love to receive more video voice mails, so upload your best messages to YouTube and send us a link at the404(at)cnet(dot)com. Of course we understand that not everyone has access to a video/Web camera, so audio voice mails will certainly be accepted as well--the number's the same: 1-866-404-CNET. Have a great weekend, and we'll see you back here on Monday for the triumphant return of Ms. Natali Del Conte!

Episode 688 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Flip cameras to get external pro-quality micorophone

Blue Microphones announced today a mic designed especially for Flip's digital cameras, called the Mikey for Flip. The company says that this external microphone will add professional-quality sound to videos captured by these cameras.

The new mic is compatible with all Flip camcorders that feature the FlipPort accessory connector. The mic sports Blue Microphone's premium capsules for enhanced recording that's supposedly capable of capturing everything from a whisper to a rock concert. Users can choose between "Loud" and "Automatic" sensitivity settings.

Mikey for Flip also features a mic input jack to support additional … Read more

Flip refreshes UltraHD and MinoHD video cams

After the disappointing SlideHD came out in April, we were hoping Cisco Systems' Flip Video would refresh our favorite model, the UltraHD. It did, creating two different versions of it. And while Flip was busy refreshing those, it updated its MinoHD model as well.

First, the UltraHDs. There are now one- and two-hour versions with 4GB and 8GB of storage, respectively. These are separated by more than the storage capacity, though. The one-hour shoots video at a resolution of 720p at 30 frames per second, while the two-hour captures 720p at 60fps, which gets you much smoother results. The two-hour also gets you electronic image stabilization, a rechargeable battery pack, and a slimmer body. Read the full review of the 2010 Flip UltraHD 2 Hour.

With the MinoHD, the advantages are size and style. The newest MinoHDs look like the old ones, but they, too, shoot 720p video at 60fps with always-on electronic image stabilization. Other than recording capacity, the only difference between the two MinoHDs is color: the one hour comes in silver, and the two-hour comes in black. Both can be personalized as well.

For those holding out for a Flip with a mic jack or removable memory, this isn't the year. Instead, Flip developed a proprietary port called a FlipPort. The port will allow you to outfit your Flip with Designed for Flip products such as a wireless microphone, battery extender, or external storage. There's also a mobile pico projector in the works. Of these new models, the UltraHD 2 Hour is the only one with the FlipPort. And since it also has 720p/60fps video with image stabilization, 8GB of storage, has a removable rechargeable battery and takes AAAs, and sells for $199.99, it's the best of the four.

If style matters to you, all of the new models can be personalized through Flip's Web site with "thousands of designs from artists, celebrities, and iconic brands" or you can upload your own image.

Here's how all of the models stack up with pricing:

UltraHD 1 Hour

4GB (1 hour of video) 1,280x720 (30fps) Video format: H.264 (.MP4) 2-inch LCD (320x240 resolution) 2x digital zoom AA-size batteries Mini-HDMI out 2.2x4.3x1.2 (WHD); 5.7 ounces White, magenta, blue, or personalized $149.99… Read more

Sanyo adds optical zoom to Dual Camera

One of the biggest detractors for Flip-style minicamcorders is their fixed lenses. These candy-bar cams feature only digital zooms, which destroy video quality. The Sanyo Dual Camera VPC-PD2 fixes that by shoehorning a 3x zoom lens--36-108mm for photos and 37-111mm for video (35mm equivalent)--into a body measuring 2.5 inches wide by 4.4 inches high by 0.9 inch deep. Basically, it's an ultracompact point-and-shoot camera with the lens repositioned so the device can be held vertically for shooting video. And like all of Sanyo's Dual Cameras, it takes stills just as easily as it shoots … Read more

Improve monster memory

Flipn' Monsters is a clever, comical take on traditional card-matching games like Memory, and it's easy enough for kids but with an arcade mode that's addictive even for older gamers.

The object of the game's classic mode is simple: You flip cards over one at a time with a single tap, matching identical pairs on a three-by-six grid. A timer clocks your speed and records your best time. The cards feature nine different colorful monsters, which are distinct enough to be memorable but similar enough to provide a challenge. The game's arcade mode is much more … Read more

Samsung makes camera truly plug-and-play

It's about time. The Samsung PL90 is an ultracompact point-and-shoot with little to offer beyond automatic shooting with one exception: it has a flip-out USB connector. This is a feature Flip Video and other minicamcorder manufacturers have been doing for years now. The connector can be used for quickly transferring photos and videos off the camera without removing the memory card or looking for a USB cable. You can also use it to charge the battery.

Why has this feature taken so long to make its way to a camera? My guess is cost and size, which explains why … Read more

Samsung's E10 shoots all-around in full HD

Samsung's new HMX-E10 minicamcorder captures 1,080p resolution video at 30 frames per second in H.264 format. The camcorder has a 2.7-inch touch screen that splits in half when you hold it vertically; the top half is for framing your video and the bottom half has the controls. With the camcorder, Samsung includes the requisite flip-out USB connector, integrated sharing software, and a built-in Mini-HDMI port.

So far, the camera's specs sound pretty good, especially with its $199.99 price. But Samsung sweetens its package by allowing the f2.2 lens to swivel 270 degrees, similar … Read more

Is HD video in iPhone 4 a Flip Video killer?

For the last few years Flip Video has sold millions of its pocket camcorders, but it's days of dominating the market may be numbered as Apple has introduced HD video capture to the iPhone 4, essentially turning every new iPhone into a Flip camcorder.

Here at CNET we've been waiting for this day to arrive and only thought it would be a matter of time before Apple brought HD video to the iPhone after it added standard-definition video capture to the iPhone 3GS last year. Like the Flip Video Mino HD and Ultra HD, the iPhone will capture … Read more

Crave 03: Moonbots, Velcro, and hoverboards (podcast)

This week, Donald's back in the studio, joined by Eric Franklin and Dong Ngo from Inside CNET Labs. We ponder Japan's plans to turn the moon into a playground for robots, and tackle OLED displays that roll and vanish. Dong drops some knowledge on recent hard drive innovations and a waterproof case for his Flip Ultra HD. The iPad meets Velcro. And the hoverboard makes a comeback (kinda).

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