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iOn takes on lifestyle cameras at CES 2015 with mini SnapCam

Known primarily for its action cams, iOn manages to squeeze an HD camera, wireless connectivity and a long battery life into an ultratiny body.

Joshua Goldman Managing Editor / Advice

Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.

Expertise Laptops, desktops and computer and PC gaming accessories including keyboards, mice and controllers, cameras, action cameras and drones Credentials

More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.

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Joshua Goldman

Jan. 5, 2015 9:00 a.m. PT

2 min read

LAS VEGAS -- Camera maker iOn branched out last year from its line of action cams by getting into the home-security camera market with the iOn the Home. At the 2015 International CES, the company is moving into wearables.

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Not that its iOn Air Pro cameras aren't wearable, but the new SnapCam is far smaller and lighter measuring 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) square and weighs a little more than an ounce. With just a swipe on the body, the camera kicks on and with a single tap it captures an 8-megapixel photo.

Tap it twice and it starts recording 720p HD video at 30 frames per second and another tap stops it. A triple tap starts it live-streaming video using its built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Those wireless technologies can be used to connect to your smartphone to control the camera as well as view and share your shots.

According to iOn, the built-in battery will keep you recording video for up to 2 hours or streaming video for 1 or shooting 5,000 photos in time-lapse mode. When not snapping away, the camera will sit in standby for 7 days. Everything gets recorded to a microSDHC card with a capacity of up to 32GB (not included) or to your mobile device.

Action-cam maker iOn gets into wearables with the tiny SnapCam (pictures)

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We've seen quite a few entries into the space -- from Looxie, Narrative, Autographer, MeCam and others - but none seem to have really caught on. Then again, none of them has been this small and light with this feature set.

The SnapCam is expected to ship in the second quarter of 2015 in gunmetal gray, black or white for about $150. A version without wireless -- SnapCam Lite -- will be available, too, for around $80.

Also making an appearance is the iOn Air Pro, a $99 entry-level version of the company's bullet-shaped action cam.

Perhaps looking to take a bite out of GoPro's Hero sales, the Air Pro can shoot full-HD video for up to 2.5 hours. Like the Hero, the battery is built in and there is no Wi-Fi. However, unlike the Hero, you can add wireless connectivity with iOn's Wi-Fi Podz, which screws onto the back of the camera.

More details about the new cameras can be found on the company's site.