Introducing: The Flip UltraHD from Pure Digital

Following on the success of the MinoHD, Pure Digital has now upgraded their Ultra camcorder to HD as well. We take a look at what this little camcorder offers, and what it (and Pure Digital's recent acquisition by Cisco) might mean for the future of home video recording.

Flip UltraHD

MSRP: $199.99

Pure Digital Flip UltraHD

from $159.95

Flip MinoHD

Click here to read our hands-on review of the Flip MinoHD.

Pure Digital Flip Video MinoHD

from $159.00

Flip Ultra

Pure Digital Flip Ultra (2GB)

from $109.00

Though many have tried to challenge Pure Digital for their spot at the top of the pocket camcorder space (Creative, Kodak, RCA, Sony), their products remain the gold standard by which all are judged. Part of that is their history: they essentially created this market for low-cost, exceedingly simple digital camcorders. Part of it is something they share in common with Apple: a knack for eye-catching, appealing design and well-crafted marketing.

The most important aspect of their success, however, is their ability to anticipate and satisfy the needs of users that many brands and manufacturers either ignored or had no idea existed. A vast audience for error-proof, user-friendly video recording existed, untapped, for far too long, and Pure Digital was able to tap into it with the Flip, unleashing a torrent of interest and excitement that is beyond anything the camcorder market has ever seen.

This Spring, Pure Digital will release another entry in their Flip series, the UltraHD, which further expands upon the Flip's relatively spartan feature-set. It addresses some of the initial concerns, though sticks to its guns on other things that have drawn criticism. Whatever the changes, it's likely to be hot, and following the blockbuster acquisition of Pure Digital by Cisco, it may be the tail end of what might be called the "first generation" of Flip camcorders. With their new owners (and ostensibly a year from now might see a serious evolution of the technology.

The New UltraHD

The Flip UltraHD is an upgraded version of the original Ultra model, bringing with it not just support for high-definition video, but also a number of other expanded features meant to make using the UltraHD more comfortable.

The UltraHD has 8GB of on-board flash memory, twice that of the 4GB MinoHD and four times as much as the original 2GB Ultra. It's important to note here that while the memory expansion between the original Mino and Ultra models and the MinoHD was done to increase the overall quality of the video, from standard-definition to high-definition, the memory expansion between the 4GB MinoHD and the 8GB UltraHD is solely intended to increase recording capacity, not image quality. So the MinoHD and UltraHD are of equivalent image quality, it's just that the latter is now capable of holding two hours of HD video as opposed to one.

Also of note is the move away from an integrated battery. The Flip UltraHD will feature a removable, rechargeable proprietary lithium-ion battery instead of the locked-in battery of the previous models. Should the original battery lose capacity over time, it can simply be replaced with a new one. The UltraHD's battery compartment will also accept AA batteries, a nice little perk for those times when you're low on battery life and can't wait to recharge the lithium-ion battery.

One of the most frustrating features of previous Flip models has been the incredibly tiny size of the LCD display. As it's the only way of framing shots and reviewing clips, the LCD display is very important, far too important to only be 1.0-inches large. Consumers are used to digital cameras which commonly have LCD displays in the 2.5 to 3.0-inch range, and even some of Flip's competition, like the Kodak Zx1, have 2.0-inch LCDs. The UltraHD finally gets the picture, adding a 2.0-inch display to the camcorder.

The UltraHD also adds an HDMI output, for simple connections to high-definition televisions. With this feature, and the LCD display, the Flip is, in some ways, playing catchup to competitors who sought to appeal to consumers by jumping on certain specifications that Pure Digital initially avoided.

The Perils of Portable HD

The caveats: the Flip UltraHD still has no optical zoom, and early reports say nothing of image stabilization. Lack of image stabilization is the most serious flaw in the Flip Video line. In our review of the Flip MinoHD, we commented on the camcorder's difficulty when panning or in motion. The MinoHD could shoot very good looking video, provided the shooter were perfectly still and made no sudden, jarring movements. If the UltraHD really does not have image stabilization, then that's a big disappointment.

The lack of optical zoom is understandable; the Flip is meant to be compact, and a protruding lens would spoil all of that. However, not implementing image stabilization on a lightweight, compact camcorder is simply a poor idea. If you're concerned about the lack of image stabilization and zoom, you may want to consider an HD digital camera. We've got a write-up on some of the more promising digital cameras with high-definition movie modes, which also offer still-photo capabilities; something the Flip camcorders do not.

Pure Digital's Future: Integrated Internet?

In March of 2009, Pure Digital was bought by Cisco for $590 million dollars. Cisco is best known for their switches and routers which form the backbone of the Internet. They're not typically seen as a company that dabbles in consumer electronics, though they did purchase home-networking company Linksys in 2005. Analysts believe that Cisco thinks high-definition video is the future of the Internet, and that by purchasing Pure Digital and the Flip Video camcorders, they're signaling their intention to drive the Web further in that direction.

Chances are, the Flip UltraHD will be the final entry in the "first generation" of Flip Video camcorders. By next year, we could see a new Flip, made by Pure Digital under direction by Cisco, that features integrated Internet connectivity. Though such thoughts are merely speculation at this point, it's not outside the realm of possibility.