ArsGeek and Pure Digital Technologies present the Flip Video Camcorder contest!
ArsGeek’s rapidly approaching it’s first full year on the web! To celebrate we want to give away something really cool. And what could be cooler than a 60 minute Flip Video digital camcorder from Pure Digital Technologies?You can read my reviews on the Flip here and here. Trust me when I tell you that you’ll love this little DVR. It’s easy, fun and most of all exceeded all of my expectations for a $150 camcorder.
The Flip Video — The $100 Digital Video Camera that’s Tiny, Cheap, and Fun!
Review by Photojojo.com
Remember those shoulder-mounted VHS camcorders dad used to haul out at soccer games once a year, “for posterity”? Shrink it down to 1/20th the size, 1/10th the cost, and make it run for a couple hours on a pair of AAs, and you’d have the Flip Video.
When technology works, it’s a wonderful thing.
This critter packs a built-in flip-out USB port for downloading 640×480 MPEG4 at 30 frames-per-second (geek-speak for “pretty decent quality”) to your PC or Mac, a small LCD to review what you’ve recorded, a cable to watch videos on your TV in seconds, and a friendly user interface that requires no manual. (Really, truly!)
Cinema-quality video it is not, but surprisingly clear and bright for its size and cost, it is. We’ve been having a blast using this guy this past week!
We think the Flip Video is perfect for anyone who wants to capture video without hassle, or a rugged camera for little hands.
Flip Video + YouTube: Promote Your Business
Online Video Marketing: Ten Ways You Can Use YouTube To Promote Your Online Content
YouTube is nothing less than an online video phenomenon and if you aren’t already using it as a tool to promote yourself or your online content, you should really give it some thought. Here’s why:
Having already served up over 1.73 billion video views and 45 terabytes of video footage to the world, YouTube is everyone’s first port of call when they want to search for online video.
While it might not be the best featured or even best quality service for video producers, it is by a long shot the most popular. If you are a blogger, marketer, film maker or any other kind of online publisher or entrepreneur, you stand to gain a lot by getting some exposure on YouTube.
But how do you get your content noticed, when there are 6.1 million videos for your audience to choose from? Certainly, there is no replacement for making or aggregating great content, but there are several ways that you can make your presence felt, and drive traffic back to your own website.
In this guide to getting the best out of YouTube from a marketing perspective, I take you through an assortment of YouTube strategies and features that you can use to raise your profile, whether you create your own videos, or act as a video NewsMaster, selecting and grouping other people’s video for your niche-audience.
Click Here for Details
Originally written by Michael Pick for Master New Media and originally published as: “YouTube Video Marketing: Ten Ways You Can Use YouTube To Promote Your Online Content“
How to Build a Video Podcast in 3 Steps
Creating video podcasts is easier than you might think. Here’s a look at the basics, from production to posting to delivery.
http://www.streamingmedia.com -By Jose Castillo
May 16, 2006
One would think that receiving Oxford English Dictionary’s “2005 Word of the Year” plus sharing a name with the hottest gadget in recent history would cause podcasting to rest on its laurels, but this delivery system continues to reinvent itself.
The most recent reinvention involves a marked upswing in the use of video-based podcasting. Video podcasting have been used by a cross-section of traditional and non-traditional media, from major TV networks, cable, and public television stations to software companies, movie studios, and intriguing upstarts like AskaANinja.com, Happy Tree Friends, and Channel Frederator. …. Click here to learn more!
“YouTube for soccer Moms” Review by CNNmoney
Pure Digital is unveiling a new, cheap camcorder that syncs easily with YouTube. It could be a hit with parents and, eventually, investors.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — A closely held tech firm with some impressive financial backing is hoping to piggyback on the success of YouTube and other online video sites with a new, inexpensive camcorder geared to older consumers who may not be as tech-savvy as their kids.
Pure Digital, which makes disposable cameras sold in drugstores, is launching a new pocket-sized camcorder called Flip Video on Tuesday. The product, which will be available at Target, Costco, Best Buy and on Amazon.com, comes with a USB arm to connect to a personal computer or Mac.
 |
| Pure Digital’s Flip Video is a camcorder that fits in a pocket… |
 |
| …and can easily upload files to sites like YouTube thanks to a built in USB arm. |
|
|
Jonathan Kaplan, CEO of San Francisco-based Pure Digital, said the company hopes to make it easier for people to record and share video online. To that end, the camcorder comes with built-in software that makes it easy for people to upload their videos onto Google (Charts, Fortune 500)-owned YouTube or Grouper, an online video site owned by Sony (Charts).
“There is so much pent-up demand for capturing and sharing video. But the challenge is that there is no great, easy way to get video up on YouTube,” Kaplan said. “The user-generated content mainly comes from Webcams, cell phones and digital still cameras. There is no simple, affordable device to capture video so we decided to address that.”
NBC, News Corp. gang up against YouTube
Pure Digital is selling two versions of Flip Video, one that can hold about 30 minutes of video and another that stores an hour. The 30-minute version will cost about $119 while the 60-minute version will sell for around $149. Both devices run on standard AA batteries.
So is Pure Digital really filling a void? After all, a quick look at YouTube and other online video sites shows that there isn’t exactly a dearth of user-generated content on the Web.
Kaplan argues that the quality of the Flip Video will be better than the rudimentary video functions offered on mobile phones or digital cameras and that Flip Video will allow people to shoot more creatively since they won’t be tied to a Webcam.
“Most of the moments you want to record for YouTube are not happening at your desk in your office or at home unless you’re Lonelygirl15,” he said, referring to the popular video blog series portraying the life of a fictional teen.
Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for consumer technology at The NPD Group, a consumer research firm based in Port Washington, N.Y., said that Flip Video may not appeal to younger consumers comfortable filming video on their cell phones or other devices.
But he said the product could be a hit with parents looking for an easy way to record their kids and post videos online. That’s one reason Pure Digital is selling the product in Target and Costco – to attract Moms and Dads .
“Flip Video isn’t likely to dramatically expand the amount of user-generated content available but it can open the doors to an expanding demographic. Pure Digital, through its distribution, is actively targeting Moms looking to capture everyday moments simply and upload them on YouTube,” he said.
What also makes Pure Digital interesting is that several big-name venture capitalists and financial firms are investors.
As such, Pure Digital also announced Tuesday that it had just raised $40 million in financing from a group led by Morgan Stanley (Charts, Fortune 500) and AllianceBernstein (Charts). Other investors include prominent venture capital firms Sequoia Capital (an investor in Google and YouTube), Benchmark Capital and Steamboat Ventures, the VC arm of Walt Disney (Charts, Fortune 500).
Kaplan said Pure Digital is planning to go public in 2008. And while he would not disclose specific financial information about the company, he said Pure Digital’s goal is to be profitable by the time it files for its initial public offering.
All that’s great, but is the camera worth buying? Pure Digital sent me one to demo and I did find it very easy to use. Recording was simple – all you needed to do was hit the red button on the back once you’ve turned the camera on. Even a Luddite could figure it out.
It was easy to save the videos (I did so as files that I could view later in Microsoft’s Windows Media Player) and upload them to YouTube once I plugged device into my laptop’s USB port.
As soon as the camera was attached to the PC, an easy-to-use interface popped up giving me the option to share my videos. Once I clicked on share, I then had the choice to upload directly to YouTube or Grouper. (Kaplan said you can upload to other online video sites as well.)
By choosing YouTube, a Web browser opened up that connected me to YouTube and then walked me through the fairly simple process of actually uploading the video.
The process did take a fair amount of time though, which I owe more to my somewhat pokey DSL connection at home than any flaw in the camera’s software. I tried uploading a five-minute video to YouTube but gave up after fifteen minutes because it was taking so much time.
I did, however, upload a 30-second clip that shows what I made for dinner on Sunday night: some tasty Moroccan chicken (rubbed with a mixture of orange juice, paprika, cinnamon, cayenne pepper and salt) served with red onions, zucchini, squash and couscous.
That clip is embedded at the bottom of this page in order for you to judge the quality of the video, as well as whet your appetite. Needless to say, I’m hoping that if this writing for CNNMoney.com gig doesn’t work out, a career as a chef awaits. Based on my shoddy camera work, there’s a better chance of me becoming the next Emeril than the next Martin Scorsese.
In addition, CNNMoney.com’s online video guru Abigail Heffernan recorded me and our managing editor Allen Wastler discussing Pure Digital’s prospects and the latest season of “The Sopranos.” Those videos have been published in our own CNNMoney.com video player and also have been posted on YouTube.
Abigail said that the videos uploaded to YouTube pretty quickly but for what it’s worth, she added that she was unable to get the camera’s movie editing software to work. 
“Digital camera tries video sharing for dummies” Review by CNET.com
Uploading video to the Web isn’t second nature to everyone, and the makers of the new Flip Video understand that...
Much like the way easy photo-sharing applications like iPhoto, Flickr and Picasa offer simple editing controls and take some of the pain out of uploading and sharing digital photos, the video camera set to hit stores Tuesday is packaged with editing software that will upload video clips to video-sharing sites YouTube and Grouper.
The popularity of user-generated video, particularly on sites like YouTube, is well documented. But the introduction of a device that does all the work of editing and uploading could open the Web 2.0 video experience to a whole new demographic–average users.
Consumers in the Digital Age often expect instant gratification with new gadgets. With Flip Video, consumers can plug the tiny camera–which takes up as much room as a deck of cards–directly into a computer, and with little or no video editing or transcoding skills, share the video with the world on YouTube or with select people on Grouper.
“Nobody is really addressing getting that (video) up instantly between when you take a video and when it gets posted,” said Samir Bhavnani of Current Analysis.
Flip Video is a new brand from Pure Digital, a 5-year-old company whose business until last fall had been making one-time-use digital cameras and video cameras. The company’s typical customers have mainly been technophobes who still want to document “casual moments” on video for posterity–the so-called soccer mom set. A preliminary version of the Flip Video camera was released last fall, but it didn’t have the same software or hardware features as the gadget coming out this week….. Click here for rest of article
Use Your Flip Camcorder, Enter contests on YouTube
Make videos with your new Flip Camcorder and enter them on sponsered contest on YouTube 
Pure Digital Technologies Unveils Flip Video
Ultra-convenient line of camcorders designed to shoot anything and share everything
SAN FRANCISCO, May 1 /PRNewswire/ — Pure Digital Technologies today introduced Flip Video(TM), a new line of digital camcorders designed to revolutionize how everyday consumers shoot and share video. These remarkably simple and affordable devices feature a major advance in video sharing technology combined with an ultra-portable design and easy video capture and editing. Developed with Internet video sharing software integrated into the device, Flip Video (http://www.theflip.com) is the first camcorder to seamlessly upload directly to YouTube and other online video sharing sites. Available today at major retailers nationwide — in time for giving gifts to moms, dads and grads — Flip Video camcorders capture life’s spontaneous moments, no matter where or when they occur. The camcorder retails at $119.99 for the 30-minute model and $149.99 for the 60-minute model.
“With Flip Video, Pure Digital has created a brand new category of camcorder that puts the power to instantly capture, edit, and share video in the pocket of everyday consumers,” said Jonathan Kaplan, Chairperson and CEO of Pure Digital Technologies. “Flip Video has the potential to forever change the way people use this increasingly popular medium.”
Flip Video’s built-in software allows people to share videos as easily as they would digital photos. In addition to instant emailing, the program allows videos to be uploaded directly to popular Internet video sharing sites, including YouTube. Creative users can also edit their clips, make custom movie mixes, add their own music, capture still photos from video, and even design video greeting cards.
“Flip Video is a new breed of camcorder that recognizes and leverages the tremendous demand for video sharing.” said Kelly Liang, Business Development, YouTube. “Not only does Flip Video make it easy to capture video, it also makes it simple to instantly share it with friends, family or the world via YouTube.”
From the makers of the successful and critically acclaimed Pure Digital Point & Shoot Camcorder, Flip Video is the only camcorder that gives consumers the convenient option of bringing the camcorder to a local photo lab for one-hour DVD processing. There are more than 9,400 Pure Digital-certified retail locations nationwide, including CVS/pharmacy, Rite Aid, Wolf Camera Centers, Longs Drugs, and Duane Reade.
Additional Flip Video Features and Availability
- One-touch recording with 2x digital zoom
- 1.5 inch color playback screen
- Instant playback, review and delete features
- Play videos directly from the camcorder to any TV
- Uses AA batteries
- Built-in software for instant viewing, editing, and sharing
- One-click emailing
- Integrated video uploading to YouTube and other online video sharing sites
- Capture still frames from video
- Make custom-edited movie mixes with music
- Create and organize your personal video library
- One-hour DVD processing through one of more than 9,400 Pure Digital-certified U.S. retail locations
Pure Digital Technologies Completes $40 Million Funding
Mezzanine round provides capital to launch the world’s first line of simple, pocket-sized camcorders designed to change the way people capture and share video
SAN FRANCISCO, May 1 /PRNewswire/ — Pure Digital Technologies, Inc., maker and marketer of next-generation digital video products and one-time-use digital cameras, today announced the completion of a $40 million round of equity funding co-led by AllianceBernstein L.P. and Morgan Stanley Principal Investments (MSPI). Heights Capital Management, Inc. and existing Pure Digital investors Sequoia Capital, Benchmark Capital, Focus Ventures, Crescendo Ventures, Steamboat Ventures, VantagePoint Venture Partners, and Samsung Ventures also participated in the round. San Francisco-based investment bank Savvian represented Pure Digital in the transaction.
The funding coincides with today’s introduction of Flip Video(TM), Pure Digital’s breakthrough line of simple, pocket-sized digital camcorders, as well as the launch of the company’s national television and on-line branding campaign created by DDB Worldwide, a four-time winner of the Clio Agency Network of the Year award.
Flip Video is an ultra-convenient line of pocket-sized, affordable camcorders featuring built-in software that makes it easy for everyday consumers to instantly capture, edit, and share video. Available today at retailers nationwide – in time for giving gifts to moms, dads and grads – Flip Video is specifically made for capturing life’s spontaneous moments, no matter where and when they happen. Developed with Internet video sharing integrated into the device itself, Flip Video is also the first and only camcorder to upload directly to online video sharing sites, including YouTube.
“Our view is that Pure Digital has strong financials, a smart and viable business model and tremendous demand for its products from retail giants like Target, Best Buy, Costco, CVS/pharmacy, Rite Aid, and Amazon.com,” said Jamie Kiggen, Senior Vice President, AllianceBernstein. “We believe that Pure Digital has a unique position in the digital imaging market and welcome the opportunity to be a part of their promising future.”
“We are excited to participate in this investment in Pure Digital,” said Michael Petrick, Global Head of MSPI. “Pure Digital is a strong company with an excellent management team and great growth potential. The company’s Flip Video is well positioned to allow consumers to capture and share video as part of their everyday lives.”
About Pure Digital Technologies, Inc.
Pure Digital Technologies is a pioneer in developing simple, affordable digital imaging solutions for the mass market. Its award-winning product portfolio includes the world’s only one-time-use digital cameras and camcorders as well as the first Point & Shoot Camcorder which has been among the bestselling camcorders at many top retailers. To complement its next generation of simple and affordable consumer devices, the company partners with leading retailers to distribute its processing technology. The Pure Digital Imaging Platform is installed in over 9,400 one-hour processing locations nationwide, including CVS/pharmacy, RiteAid Pharmacy, Ritz/Wolf Camera Centers, Duane Reade, and Longs Drugs.
About AllianceBernstein
AllianceBernstein L.P. (“AllianceBernstein”) is a leading global investment management firm providing investment management services for many of the largest U.S. public and private employee benefit plans, foundations, public employee retirement funds, pension funds, endowments, banks, insurance companies and high-net-worth individuals worldwide. AllianceBernstein is also one of the largest mutual fund sponsors, with a diverse family of globally distributed mutual fund portfolios. Through its subsidiary, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC, AllianceBernstein provides in-depth research, portfolio strategy and trade execution to the institutional investment community.
About Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, investment management, wealth management and credit services. The Firm’s employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals from more than 600 offices in 31 countries. Morgan Stanley Principal Investments (“MSPI”) invests Morgan Stanley’s capital in attractive return investments that leverage Morgan Stanley’s proprietary relationship network. Recent MSPI investments include Moelnlycke Care Group AB, Grifols S.A. and U.S. Oncology. For further information about Morgan Stanley, please visit http://www.morganstanley.com/.
Media Contacts: Wynne Ahern CommStrat wynne@commstrat.net 510-658-8870 John Meyers AllianceBernstein John.meyers@alliancebernstein.com 212-969-2301 Jennifer Sala Morgan Stanley Jennifer.Sala@morganstanley.com 212-762-6885
CNN coverage of camcorder
Check out the coverage at:
http://media.vmsnews.com/MonitoringReports/050107/715866/L001019590/
