Hasta La Gadget!

Oh Flip, how far you’ve come. And, of course, how far you’ve fallen. Once a spunky upstart with oddly shaped camcorders, you got snapped up by Cisco in Spring of 2009 for a hefty $590 million in stock. Now, according to Pocket-lint, you (and your moustaches) are done for. Cisco CEO John Chambers says the brand is being dispatched as the company refocuses, done in by the proliferation of high-definition sensors into smartphones and PMPs and the like. We had been waiting for the company’s next products (if you’ll recall, a WiFi-enabled Mino HD hit the FCC just a few months back), but at this point, it looks like those hopes and dreams will remain unfulfilled. We’re awaiting comment from the company, and will update as it flies in.

Update: Looks like the “exit of some consumer operations” will lead to 550 employees being left out of work. If you’ll recall, the outfit reported in February that sales of consumer products sank 15 percent, while profits slipped 18 percent as margins slid for a fourth consecutive quarter. Meanwhile, Umi will be integrated into the company’s TelePresence product line and operate through an enterprise and service provider go-to-market model. In other words, Skype just ate Umi’s lunch.

Continue reading Cisco killing Flip line of camcorders, axing 550 employees in restructuring effort

Cisco killing Flip line of camcorders, axing 550 employees in restructuring effort originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Canon’s XF305 and XF300 pro camcorders can now shoot in 3D… if you buy two of them

Canon’s XF305 and XF300 pro camcorders can now shoot in 3D… if you buy two of them originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 11:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s been mum on its Bloggie Duo HD for the better part of this year, teasing it once at CES and then crossing its fingers that we’d all come searching for it in Q2. Thankfully for those with chronic memory loss, we’ve got it on good authority that this very camcorder is all set to ship tomorrow. And by “good authority,” we mean a status update on Sony’s own e-shop. For those who’ve fallen behind, $169.99 grabs you a pocket-sized camcorder capable of logging two hours of HD video, a handful of 5 megapixel stills, a 2.7-inch LCD and an HDMI output. So, here’s the real question: violet, pink or green?

Continue reading Sony’s Bloggie Duo HD camcorder ships this week for $170

Sony’s Bloggie Duo HD camcorder ships this week for $170 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 07:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We all drool over the hi-res video shot by cameras like the RED EPIC, but for indie-film types, processing the massive files produced takes a lot of time (and therefore money) and not everyone has an ARRI ALEXA to do native recording compression. Enter the Atomos Ninja and Samurai HD recorder / monitor / playback devices that take your 10-bit video and compress it in Apple’s 1080p ProRes QuickTime format to make your post-production life a little easier. The Ninja pulls video through HDMI and deposits it on your choice of 2.5-inch HDD or SDD storage, does playback via a 4.3-inch 480 x 270 touchscreen, and has continuous power thanks to dual hot-swappable batteries (available in 2600, 5200, and 7800 mAh varieties). Meanwhile, the Samurai matches the Ninja’s specs, but swaps out the HDMI connection for HD-SDI ports and adds SDI Loop-Through to connect an external monitor, a larger 5-inch 800 x 400 display, and 3D support (if you get two Samurais genlocked together). Both units have FireWire 800 and USB 2.0 and 3.0 connections for offloading your vids. Those with Spielbergian aspirations can pony up $995 for the Ninja right now, or pay $1,495 for the Samurai upon its release this summer.

Atomos Ninja and Samurai HD video recorder / monitors bring compression jutsu to pro filmmaking originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 11:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Gemini FirstMix USB DJ Controller, at $80, would be an option for the DJ on a budget

Gemini’s FirstMix USB DJ Controller Won’t Break the Bank
Amateur and would-be DJs can get started spinning tunes without doling out a lot of dough with the Gemini FirstMix USB DJ controller. For $80, you get many of the same features as high-end controllers, like dual touch-sensitive jog wheels with volume, effects, 2-band EQ, and a cross-fader. FirstMix includes MixVibes’ CROSS LE software, which supports MP3, MP4A, WAV, AIFF, FLAC, and OGG audio file types and is compatible with other popular DJ programs. You can start scratching on your own Gemini FirstMix in May.

Gemini FirstMix [Slashgear]

Microsoft Kinect Is Now The World’s Fastest-Selling Gadget
With an average of 133,333 units sold each day over its first 60 days, the Kinect is now the Guinness World Record holder for fastest selling consumer electronics device. Over 10 million Kinects have been purchased since its debut in November. In the past, the iPhone and iPad have been titleholders. Let’s see how long the Kinect can hold this record with the iPad 2’s rapidly approaching launch.

Kinect Confirmed as Fastest Selling Consumer Electronics Device [Guinness World Records via Wired UK]

Angry Birds Seasons Gets in the St. Patrick’s Day Mood
Rovio just released 15 new levels for Angry Birds Seasons, filled with pots o’ gold, shamrocks, and leprechaun hats in celebration of St. Paddy’s Day. iPhone and iPad versions are available now, and an Android update will be released tomorrow. And just like with their Valentine’s Day themed update, when you like Angry Birds on Facebook you can unlock three more bonus levels. If that’s not enough for your insatiable bird-flinging appetite, Angry Birds Rio is also expected to come out this month.

Angry Birds Celebrate St. Patrick [CNET]

Teradek Cube Turns Your Camcorder Into a Livestreaming Machine
The deck of cards-sized Teradek Cube is the first wireless HD video encoder that can sit atop your camera and stream 1080p over Ethernet or WiFi. It’s designed to be easily mounted on a baseplate, hotshoe, cage, or rail system. The Cube is available in six different models, including two with support for 4G, with pricing ranging from $1490 to $2190.

Cube [Teradek via Geeky Gadgets]

Spire Clock Combines Japanese Folding Fan And A Saw Blade
The minute hand and hour hand are represented by each end of the fan, which folds and unfolds “in the rhythm of a Japanese fan.” That’s nice, but what about those sharp looking spikes on the end of each of the blades? Those look like they could do some damage.

Spire Clock [Moco Loco]

Wireless Luggage Finder Makes It Easier To Locate Your Luggage At The Airport
easy2pick, a little gizmo with attachments for a keychain and your luggage, was created to make sure you don’t miss your bag as it goes by on the luggage carousel after an arduous day of travel. It sounds an alarm, flashes, and vibrates when the two tags come within 66 feet of one another. Each keychain has a unique ID code, so if someone else also has one, your signals won’t get crossed, and included sensors that measure sound, light, and altitude deactivate the device when it’s in the cargo bay or in the air.

Wireless Luggage Finder [X-treme Geek via Oh Gizmo]