Samsung gets head start on holiday season
SAN FRANCISCO--Samsung's holiday lineup, trotted out at the company's "Christmas in July" event here on Tuesday, seemed grouped around opposites: big memory capacity and tiny handheld devices; hyper-feminine accessories and toys for daredevil boys.
With its Sports Camcorder line, Samsung has figured out how to market camcorders beyond the family-man demographic by appealing to extreme-sports enthusiasts. The 1GB SC-X210WL is a black, weatherproof flash-based camcorder featuring a wireless auxiliary lens. The camera can remain hidden in a backpack or pocket while the external lens can be strapped to a helmet, arm or backpack strap as you fly down the slopes or hurtle through the air in a skydiving suit.
But really, what's the point of recording your brief moments of athletic glory or homemade stunt videos a la Johnny Knoxville if you can't broadcast them for the whole world? In the vein of social networking, the company hosts a site for sharing antics caught on Samsung's four different sports cam models. Video uploaded to the site is monitored closely, a company rep said, but the message boards and tips are meant to create a community for a group that generally doesn't include typical camcorder buyers.
Video: Samsung targets sporty videographers
CNET's Neha Tiwari talks to Aaron Novak, marketing manager of camcorders at Samsung, about the lightweight, weatherproof and cordless 1GB SC-X210WL camcorder.
Samsung took the opportunity to show off its BD-P1000, the first Blu-Ray player on the market, which debuted last June. The company says that units, which are selling "very well," are now available in 2,000 stores.
The company's "answer to the Nano," the 4GB flash-based YP-Z5 Music Jukebox, now comes in a metallic-y pink, joining the black and silver versions already available. The diminutive DAP boasts 35 hours of playback time, as long as you remember to switch the display off when you're not using it.
Another handheld music player, the HelixXM2go, lets users listen to and record music, sports or talk radio from XM's 160-channel lineup as well as store and play downloaded MP3 files--and then take it all on the road.
Erica Ogg is a CNET News reporter who covers Apple, HP, Dell, and other PC makers, as well as the consumer electronics industry. She's also one of the hosts of CNET News' Daily Podcast. In her non-work life, she's a history geek, a loyal Dodgers fan, and a mac-and-cheese connoisseur. E-mail Erica. 
