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The Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder is a revolutionary new way to shoot and share videos. Its portable, simple-to-use design makes it incredibly simple to make high quality home movies. The camcorder's built-in software provides a convenient, seamless way to save and share memories: email videos, make custom movies, capture still photos from video clips, and upload videos directly to well loved video-sharing sites, including AOL Video and YouTube. Flip Video Ultra is the ideal, affordable choice for capturing everyday moments that happen anywhere, and sharing them with family and friends everywhere. This next-generation version of the original Flip Video line features a new sleeker design, premium no-glare LCD screen, and improved video and audio quality. Flip Video Ultra comes with a TV connector cable, wrist strap, soft carrying case, two AA batteries, and a quick start guide. Specs: Flip Video Ultra incorporates 1GB of built-in flash memory which holds up to 30 minutes of 30-frame per second full VGA-quality MPEG-4 video. Compatible with Windows XP SP2 and Vista; Macintosh OS X 10.3.9 or later. Computer connection via integrated USB Port.
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 Ultra Flip Review and walkthrough |
| Review Date: September 17, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Gina Miller, Seattle, WA USA |
I'm a computer artist and animator and I haven't been pleased with a lot of cameras. I was drawn to the Ultra Flip because of the lack of wires, I like the thought of the USB stick. They include a set of batteries with the package so you can start recording straight away (as well as a small velvet drawstring bag). It was very simple to use, it's just as promised, click the red button to record (and to stop) then flip (ha-ha) the USB stick out and place it in your computer's USB slot.
I read a reviewer of another model of the Flip saying he needed an extra part to hook up his USB, I don't know what he was using but you don't need any middleman if you have a current USB port. Of course it might have been that he didn't feel comfortable with the camera sort of weighing itself down a bit when you have the USB attached to a tower. I'm using mine with a laptop which is on a table so the camera can rest comfortably on it. He might have gotten a USB extension so that he could set his down if he was using a desktop computer. I did try the flip out in my desktop and I did have to make sure that the dog didn't jump around it as it does feel sort of vulnerable, but I will mainly use it in my laptop.
After you have it in your USB port, you will then go to "my computer" and see a new blue icon (unless you're Mac, you'll see a folder for you instead), click it and it installs the program - which seems to run on the stick alone, not taking up any space on your system, although it does place a small encoder on your system.
(Side note: - I did try to click "explore" before I installed the program to see if I could just drag the videos directly to my desktop by passing the program, and while you can save them, you can't see the videos). You have to go through the program to save them to your computer and be viewed properly.
So after you have installed the program, click "flipvideo" from your "my computer", then click "Flip Video for PC.exe" to open the program. It's very simple, you will see your videos and on the left you'll see a "save video" tab, here you can select what video(s) you want to go to your hard drive and then click the save button - they call it saving to your library, they will question you to name a library, which will end up being a folder that holds your videos, which you will find in your documents as "My Flip Video Library".
After you have done this, you can then open them normally (outside of the program using just a player). They will be saved as AVIs.
They also have a "share video" section where you can upload your movies straight to Youtube, AOL or any video sharing website. Sounds excellent, but I haven't tried it yet. Now you can make a "movie mix" which is basically adding an effect to your video (slowed down in black and white or cartoon fish floating about etc. - no editing). It's very (very) simple, but it's cute.
They include a small plug that connects your Flip straight to your TV. Use your remote to find your 'line', 'input' or 'source' button to find it, click a few times, you'll see the first still of your video when you've got it right. Then hit play, now it wasn't clear in the instructions, but you want to hit play on your Flip (not the TV), to watch your video on your television and it looks fantastic!
They also have an option to 'save for email' - if you do this it will save the videos into a folder "Flip videos for emailing" on your desktop that you can then send as attachments. When I did this it sped up the sound (reckon Mickey and Minnie) while the footage remained at normal speed (now don't worry, this doesn't happen when you save the videos to your computer as discussed above). This is probably a compression problem, but we can't fix it in their program, so I won't be using that option again - I'll stick to the 'save to library' option. It also does this for the ecard videos. There is an option to send the video as an ecard with cute small borders around them, recipients are sent a link to see the card, but again when played the sound is sped up.
In spite of that (cuz it's worth it), I have found my video camera, it's so small and light, there are no plugs or cords, it takes fantastic videos, no tracers, no small pixel smudges and the lighting is fantastic. I took one outside at dusk and it looks nice. This thing records twice as long as my bulky handycam and I don't have to format any disks or plug in a bunch of stuff. The picture quality of the Ultra Flip videos is really incredible, my other cameras (handycam, Creative labs, the onboard Vaio and VIJE) do not hold a candle to the Flips quality. I'll be using it for video projects. I am very pleased with the Ultra Flip and will be bringing it along with me for a family visit. I recommend it! Yes, I flipped for it!
NEW UPDATE ADDITION (11/15/07): Just an update for you here, after I wrote this review I did run the flip on some other systems and it did not have the problem. I only had the problem on my custom Hypersonic PC laptop which runs windows XP. The computers that had no problems were: A Boxx desktop running Windows XP pro, and a Sony Vaio laptop running Vista, and just today I tested the flip on a Dell desktop running XP home which also had no problems.
-And, a huge AND here, after I ran the flip on the first two working machines (the Sony and the Boxx) a few times (using the export and email functions), suddenly it worked on the "terrible" Hypersonic laptop. It seemed to have jolted it to work? I don't know why. Since that time I have had continued success on the Hypersonic.
-An engineer from Pure Digital (the makers of the Flip) emailed me after reading my review and we had an extensive exchange working on trying to figure out why this happened and he was very serious about resolving the issue. Another thing that flip does is make updates, so with these two things in mind I feel confident that they have or are taking care of any problems. But again, right now I do not have any problems.
-Also, someone questioned if you can take stills. This camera is only a video camera, you can't snap pictures with it, but you can pull stills from your movies inside of their program. |
Small Device With Huge Memory! (UPDATE!)
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| Review Date: October 7, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Martin A Hogan, San Francisco, CA. (Hercules) |
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1MUWSN1RBPZY5 UPDATE: The new model of FLIP Video is better designed and does not have a problem with the record button being insensitive as shown in this video. Also, the HD version is already a classic!
A video camera the size of a box of cigarettes records up to 1 hour of your favorite 'instant' moments with an simple on/off button, minor zoom and shuttling between videos. Simply plug it into your PC, download the SETUP and you are on your way to editing your own home movies. This is a cool invention! And YES, the Record button does take a firm click - its not sensitive as you'll see (Press, press, press....)
Since you don't want to risk snapping the FLIP Camera USB port off on your computer, I recommend you buy the CABLES TO GO 26686 (male and female ends). It is six feet long and very convenient.
Also, I highly recommend buying a waterproof encasement for rainy or even very humid days. I fried my FLIP recently without any water (just humidity) getting into the flash drive.
Have fun!
ANOTHER UPDATE - 9/14/2009:
This version of the FLIP does not download to YOUTUBE anymore. You need to save it in "Windows Movie Maker" and THEN transfer that version into YOUTUBE. Software is always changing. I know that the NEW HD version of FLIP has the upgraded software. |
Incredible product; Super simple to use!!
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| Review Date: November 5, 2007 |
| Reviewer: C. Stephans, |
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RQHBMN8C8V7WQ The attached video was my first with this Flip Video. I feel sorry for my Sony Digital Video Handheld that may never be used again. This small Flip Video is the product of the year, a perfect Christmas present for anyone, children to grandparents. It is so simple to use; I still cannot believe it. Connects to the computer or TV. Simple to record, save or delete.
Comes with a quick start guide that gets you going in seconds. Delight in!!
*Update 11/30/07 Since using this, I agree with the above review. It is super simple to upload the video, save it and then upload it to youtube or a personal website. The camera software has features that should make it a one step process to share it via email or a link to a website. I have not gotten this to work. Each time the processing stalls. I have emailed to the customer service dept and have received prompt answers but no solution. **See 5-28-09 update below. I have downloaded one software update and that seems to have fixed this problem.
3-24-09 Still working well. I have not retried emailing a video directly from the software. Uploading it to youtube and sharing the link is simpler. Making dvd's from the software is simple, too. The battery life of the camera is impressive for 2 AA batteries. This continues to be a fantastic camera for a very reasonable price.
5-28-09 Update...I continue to be impressed with the battery life. I took a 1 min. video today and downloaded it and emailed it directly from the flip video software in under 2 mins. It worked fantastic and sent me a confirmation email with the video attached. When emailed the email body has a link to click on to watch the video easily. This was very simple and further recommends this product. |
Small, Fun and Simple Personal Camcorder
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| Review Date: November 6, 2007 |
| Reviewer: J. A Carty, Charlotte, NC United States |
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2Q0D5R9PBKW2O This is a fantastic small camera. It is perfect for quick small movies of your kids etc and would be a nice compact item to take on a vacation. The camera is ridiculously simple to use and the built is software loads straight from the camera.
I only have two issues w/ the camera: One is that it doesn't take stills as well. That would have been a nice feature but hey for $149 and having a camcorder to fit in your pocket w/ decent video? I'll take. The second is that w/ out any external light source it would not take excellent video in low light. It is essentially a really nice cell phone camera that allows you a much simpler way to get your videos onto your computer and uploaded to other people.
For convienence, size and ease of use I'll still give it a 5.
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Fantastic Video for Dummies
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| Review Date: November 26, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Shawn Collins, Berkeley Heights, NJ |
| Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1XDNM03C1X5OW I am an avid Internet video creator, and I typically use more elaborate video cameras, but I loved the Flip Ultra for the quality, ease of use and very light weight.Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (Black) |
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January 23rd, 2010 | 
Author: 
No video reviews found for this product.
