Rather than design a wholly new version of their popular Flip pocket camcorder, creators Pure Digital have opted to take last year’s model and spruce it up, to give it a bigger screen, a sleeker body, and double the recording time. It is an improvement in every way except for video quality. Sitting within the new brushed aluminum exterior is the exact same camera as before and so it’s less about making existing Flip fans want to upgrade as it is about attracting new users to the fold.

The new Mino HD is the exact same size and easy-to-use design as the older model. The most noticeable change is the larger view screen on the back. Now 2” as opposed to 1.5”, the 320 x 240 resolution screen makes a dramatic difference when shooting and I found it held up very well in direct sunlight.

To offset the larger screen the speakers that were on either side have been pushed to the front of the camera, joining the microphone to rest on either side of the lens. Having the speakers face away from you is not the ideal direction, but there’s no noticeable side effect. The USB “flip” action has been simplified. The USB connector still springs out like a switchblade knife, but is smaller, more elegant, and no longer includes a slide-out protective cover. The power button has been changed to a larger version that’s flush with the body, itself a little more curved at the corners.

Aside from the larger screen, the other dramatic change is the replacement of the composite TV-out jack with a mini HDMI port to make it easier to connect and play your movies on an HDTV. Not included is the needed adapter cable to make that connection.

Last year’s model was a little out of sorts in recording time. The rechargeable battery will last for two hours, but the camera itself could only record one hour of material. Now with 8GB of memory, the new Mino HD is a match, two hours of battery life for two hours of recording time.

What hasn’t change is the video recording quality and capability. It still records at 720p High Definition (1280 x 720), with the same 2X digital zoom and omni-directional microphone. The controls remain the same and are still based around pressing one big red button to record and another to stop, continuing the Flip’s reign as the easiest camcorder on the market.

It includes the same FlipShare software used by the other Flip cameras, allowing for quick, simple editing of clips and title screens, the ability to save still frames, and a quick system for uploading your finished movie to YouTube, Facebook, and other popular networks. What’s missing are changes to address some of the Flip’s weaknesses, such as image-stabilization to address camera shake and a new microphone housing to reduce wind noise. When you have such a small camera being held by people who are not trained to have steady hands, recording high definition video, the shakey-cam effect is exaggerated and very noticeable, especially when viewed on an HDTV. Pure Digital tells me this has been the number one most requested feature from users and that they are working on coming up with an image-stabilization solution that will fit within their simplicity design. So, it’s not in this version, but look for it in the next generation Flip where we can expect more dramatic changes.

Finally, Pure Digital has given in and indulged in some design esthetics. In addition to the offering the Mino HD with a custom finish or its traditional black, you can also get it in brushed aluminum, which gives it some elegance, but also makes it susceptible to scuff marks.

Hidden within those front speaker grilles are two red LED lights that glow alive both as an indicator that you’re recording (a feature you can turn off in the settings) and when the battery is charging, a nice touch.

Despite the number of competing devicesthat have appeared on the market, the Flip Video remains the best pocket camcorder for both its video quality and simplicity. While this new Mino HD doesn’t offer a compelling reason for those who bought last year’s model to make the upgrade, it offers a better reason for those who have somehow missed getting one to finally do so.

 

The new Flip Video mino HD pocket camcorder will be available this week at http://www.theflip.com/en-ca/ and in stores beginning mid-july for $239.

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