Next year's Flip will do Wi-Fi

Flip MinoHD

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

According to Pocket-Lint, an unspecified Flip camcorder slated to ship in the first half of 2010 will incorporate Wi-Fi connectivity. That's unsurprising, given the recent acquisition of Flip's parent, Pure Digital, by networking giant Cisco. The site also says a Cisco spokesperson confirmed that "the new model will feature 'a large screen that slides to reveal the record and menu buttons underneath' allowing users to see what is going on when they are recording video."

How much you wanna bet this will be announced at CES (or just before) in January? I'm also curious how much Wi-Fi will add to the price; one of the main attractions of these models is their cheapness relative to more full-featured products. Plus, adding Wi-Fi generally means a partnership with a hot-spot provider for free uploads. Just wondering...

[iconoclast04]

How long would it take to upload via wifi???

[the_iceman]

I wish Canon made these. <br /><br />It needs a 3-4X optical zoom, optical image stabilization, a larger screen, USB 3.0, and 16GB size

[Rod Roddy]

That's called a camcorder, these pocket devices are trying to stay lean on functionality so in turn your pockets wont be.

[abundantsnotbob]

I don't think anything has USB 3.0 yet.

[boy444]

It dose not made what crap they add to the flip. The video quality sucks. Unless they add a viewfinder I'm not paying $100 on a video. $300 if it's wroth it.

[LJ39]

Dude, you need to go back to school and learn how to spell; nobody understands what the hell you're talking about!

***

[illil0]

+1

[jaimeb48]

I already own several Flip video's and have given them away to others. Love them, but they do have some issues.... Cisco please fix these! <br /> <br />1. Needs a better zoom!!! ZOOM! <br />2. Needs Wi-Fi and to be able to be connected to the Media Hub (Linksys) <br />3. Needs to hold a charge better. (They seem to use the battery power in 20-30 mins if you leave it on while between takes.) <br /> <br />While I used to work for Cisco before being laid off and now have to work for another OEM, I really think Cisco needs to focus on the customers needs rather than some round table of internal employees. John, help your employees get their heads out of you know where to humble themselves to ask the customer. To many Cisco employees think they are they Gods/Gurus and need no advice! <br /> <br />Thanks again, former Cisco employee

[Chrisnonstop]

The point of these video recorders is to be cheap and convenient. Less than $200. I just picked up a Kodak Zi8 for $156. Really quick and easy to use. I shoot some HD video and the software asks if I want to convert it, send it, upload it, or just store it in my personal video folder on my PC. I couldn't ask for more. If I wanted anything else, I'd invest in a full featured and expensive HD camcorder. But that won't fit in my pocket and I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving it in my glovebox all the time. Once these things exceed the $200 mark, they lose their appeal. Let's face it, no matter how many features they cram into it, and no matter how expensive they get, the video quality will always be just o.k. So why try and jazz them up and make them into something they're not.

If they don't add a memory expansion slot to this next Flip they are fools.

[kjohio]

I own a Flip HD and a Canon Vixia. Flip is for normal everyday use and Canon is for serious video recording. I believe they both have their own place. One thing where Flip is really awful is the battery life. I have to carry extra battery pack and some AA batteries if I plan to record 2 hours of video (if I dont switch the Flip in between shots). Wifi would be okay, but battery life is necessary. Hopefully Cisco will listen to us customers.

[jswheeler]

Flip. Please provide an input for an external mic! I love your cameras but this is a must to get better sound quality to go along with your HD quality videos.