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October 22, 2008

Flip Video Mino review

In case you didn't have enough reasons to worry about videos of your escapades showing up online, Flip Video has made video posting easier than ever. The Flip Mino, the latest in the Flip series of pocket camcorders, is smaller and sleeker than the Flip Ultra, and it adds MySpace integration for video uploads.

When it comes to size, the thin Flip Mino is the iPod Nano to the Flip Ultra's iPod Classic. Clocking in at 100x50x16mm, it's the smallest model in Flip Video's popular pocket camcorder line. It's also the most versatile, thanks to the company's new video engine that produces great-looking SVGA-resolution (640x480) video. The unit's 2GB flash drive holds an hour of clips.

At £119, the Flip Mino also comes in at some £40 more than Creative's £79 Vado, a pocket camcorder with which it shares some similarities, including an onboard USB connector, direct-to-YouTube uploads, diminutive size and comparably slick design. Is the Mino worth the extra 40 of your finest? It just might be, if you value video quality and Mac compatibility.

If you've used the Flip Video or Flip Ultra, you'll know how to operate the Flip Mino - even its new features are a no-brainer for a first-time user to operate. The Mino adds touch-sensitive controls, which replace all standard buttons (other than the record and power buttons) found on the other Flip models. These four capacitive touch buttons surround the centrally positioned record button; 'plus' and 'minus' buttons control the zoom and the audio playback volume, while left and right buttons allow you to select videos for playback. The Mino's full set of controls are rounded out by touch-sensitive play/pause buttons and a delete button.

Although we liked the clean, slick look of the Flip Mino's capacitive touch buttons, we found it way too easy during our testing to play back or delete clips by accidentally brushing a finger against the buttons. You can lock the delete key by pressing it down for a few seconds, but that doesn't go far enough; the Mino's touch sensitivity may be a bit too touchy for some users.

That said, the Flip Mino's buttons do seem to solve the problem previous Flip models had, where you could accidentally start a recording while the device was in your pocket - and the Mino fits very comfortably into a shirt or jeans pocket.

Also new to the Flip Mino is the integrated lithium-ion battery (previous models used AA batteries), and the location of the flip-out USB jack, the magic component that makes the Flip models (as well as the Creative Vado) so plug-and-play convenient. Earlier Flip units had a flip-out USB connector on the side; the Mino's connector instead flips out, switchblade-style, from the top of the device. It makes the Mino slightly less unwieldy to plug in to your computer's USB port. When connected, the Mino can upload clips directly to YouTube, AOL Video, or MySpace; you also use the USB connector to charge the device's battery (it has no power cord).

The Flip Mino holds some key advantages over the significantly cheaper Creative Vado. For one, the Flip Mino's video-management software (which is embedded in the device, so you don't have to install it separately from a disc) works with Apple Mac OS X, while the Vado's software works only on XP and Vista.

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Independent customer reviews from

Flip Video Mino scored:
8.9 out of 10 100% real reviews

The 2 most helpful reviews based on 16 reviews:

14 Jan 2009 Steve, CAERPHILLY

9

Good Points

So easy to use. Any time anywhere! It fits in your pocket and gives you an hours worth of film capture.

Bad Points

It needs a PC to charge the internal battery. It's not so easy to recharge when you're away!

24 Jul 2008 Ken, London

10

Good Points

Easy to use, small & light. Very good picture quality even indoors. Good sound quality. I have given the battery life 10/10 but have not run 60mins. on 1 charge, but ideal for my usage.

Bad Points

None, perhaps a better case with a belt clip would be useful.

See more Flip Video Mino reviews on Reevoo.com

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