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One of the most interesting products of video imaging device type to arrive on the market lately is the Flip MinoHD (launched in 2008) from Pure Digital Technologies, a device that builds on the platform of the previous Mino model, but adds HD-grade recording, probably in order to make use of YouTube’s latest HD video service.
One of Flip’s most well-known features are its built-in USB connectors, which eliminate the need to carry any cables. The MinoHD has one that pops out of the top like a switchblade when you tug the release switch on the side of the unit. It’s mounted fairly well, which it needs to be, since it supports the full weight of the camera once plugged in.
Design: Though Mino came in gloss black, Flip actually offers a number of style options. You can choose from a handful of colors and designs, build your own using a pattern generator, or even upload a photo and have it slapped on the front of your MinoHD.
Features: Besides the shooting-related features, it’s interesting to note that the MinoHD sports a fairly OK optics system - Fixed Focus (1.5m to infinity), with a f/2.4 (fast lens for great results in low-light environments), as well as a 1.5-inch LCD display, which allows users to view what they’re shooting or review the videos.
Furthermore, the control interface is also quite interesting, since it features touch-sensitive buttons, which grant access to several useful functions, including the possibility of fast-forwarding, pausing or rewinding the videos.
Another very important issue is related to the start-up time, which is vital, especially if you want to catch something very interesting that’s going on in front of you. Hence, the device will power up in just 4 seconds, which should prove to be enough.
Performance: Despite the HD moniker attached to its name, the device from Pure Digital Technologies is not a Full HD camcorder. Hence, it only records videos in 1280×720 pixel resolution (720p), which, despite not being as great as 1080p, is still quite enough for YouTube-related purposes.
The digital recorder comes equipped with a 1/4.5-inch HD CMOS sensor, and also boasts an ultra-low light sensitivity level (1.4 V/lux-sec), being apparently able to record videos in very low light with no significant loss of quality. Videos are recorded using H.264 video compression at 9.0Mbps (auto-adaptive algorithm) and 30 FPS, the camera’s 4GB internal memory holding up to 60 minutes of video.
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