Okay, so we all saw the Darth Vader grocery store video on YouTube last year and, succumbing to peer pressure decided to put together our own garage version of Jackass or South Park. Granted, our videos were lucky if they managed to excite anyone outside of our immediate circle with laughter or disgust, but we all felt rebellious and a little rock 'n roll in the process.
Inspiring Gen Y and late Gen X-ers around the country to focus their apathy and channel their angst, online video sharing has become what Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" was for the Beat generation: a social documentation in prose (and sometimes hysterics, i.e. "Leave Brittany Alone" video). That's why I was more than willing to create my own pseudo-hipster declaration to the digital generation using Pure Digital Technologies Flip Video Ultra camcorder, which was introduced this past September.
Disco Divas
The slim, highly compact camcorder is perfect for online video sharing, with built in software that streamlines the entire process, allowing you to share your clips by integrating with popular sites like AOL and YouTube. My friends and I put together our own mini movie with the 30-minute, 1GB (gigabyte) model (Thirty minutes is all one could really take of our crime fighting trio action flick called the "Disco Divas.")
We linked our movie onto YouTube, our tag read: "bored," and we received no comments. If you want to link your movie onto YouTube, just create an account, choose the file that you would like to share, and then upload your movie. You can edit videos, link to different categories, and add your own tags.
Video No-Brainer
As Disco Divas, we are a groovy force to be reckoned with, but as tech savvy twenty-three year olds, we're nothing to admire. Nonetheless, we were able to shoot a movie, and share it online seamlessly with the Flip Video Ultra. To turn on the camcorder, just slide down the front panel (there is a battery latch on the bottom that you have to unlock) then insert two double A batteries to the space right below the camcorder lens, hit the power switch, and you're ready to go.
You can record short scenes, which will be stored in order. Just hit the right forward button on the back of the camcorder to review scenes with full volume. The user interface is incredibly easy-with a couple of obvious buttons marking each command. Features include: one-touch recording with 2x digital zoom, instant on-camera playback and delete, high speed video sharing from PC or Mac computers, one-click emailing of videos and video greeting cards, custom editing of movie mixes-with the option to set them to your own music (note that you can only edit on Windows computers), and capture of still photos from video.
The camcorder has a built-in USB port, which is compatible with both PC and Mac computers. Just connect the camcorder to your computer via the USB port and a Flip Video icon will pop up on your desktop. Click the icon and double click the install command - agree to the terms of purchase, hit finish - and you're ready to define your own reality online.
The Flip Video Ultra Series was made available nationwide in September. The 60-mintue (2GB) model is priced at $179.99 and comes in white, black, orange, and pink, while the 30-minute (1 GB) model is $149.99 with white and black designs. The camcorders can be bought through Amazon, Best Buy, Target, as well as Comp USA and other electronics retailers.