First was my BlackBerry. I went from the BlackBerry Curve to the BlackBerry Bold. This was the easiest of all the devices to move data to because of the BlackBerry Desktop Software. I just had to hook up my Curve, sync it with the desktop and then sync the Bold and all of my data was there – expect for my BlackBerry Messenger conversations .

Garmin StreetPilot Series

My third upgrade was my new iPhone 3GS. This wasn’t the typical upgrade. I didn’t have an older version of the iPhone. What I did have was a Palm Lifedrive. Maybe I should preface some of this part here…

When I first got a BlackBerry a couple of years ago, I didn’t really transfer over most of my data to it from the Palm because the apps on the Palm were/are far superior to anything on the BlackBerry. In fact, I swapped my first BlackBerry for the Palm Treo within my 30 day return policy with AT&T because I really missed having all my Palm apps and was determined to carry only one device – I’ve learned this will never really happen for me. The problem was that I hated the Palm Treo. I know some were good but mine sucked. It was a great Palm device but it was the phone part that gave me problems. Anyway, it was easy to transfer most of my Palm data from my Palm Lifedrive to my Treo so I didn’t have any real issues there. When I finally had enough of the Treo, I went back to a BlackBerry. Again, I missed my Palm apps. So, I was carrying around both my BlackBerry and my Palm Lifedrive. Even the BlackBerry Bold didn’t give me any more features in the apps department that the Palm did.

iPhone & Palm LifeDrive

This is where the iPhone comes into play. Prior to buying my iPhone, I was carrying around my BlackBerry Bold, my Palm Lifedrive (and a bunch of other gadgets we won’t go into here). I quickly realized that I could get an app for the iPhone that did just about everything my Palm did, with one major exception. I loved Agendus for the Palm by Iambic. They have a super lame version for the iPhone that isn’t even worth discussing, though I am hoping that maybe they will improve it in the future. Anyway, even though I still couldn’t have my beloved Agendus Calendar/Contacts/Task/Notes, with a little time and money, I was able to get an app for my iPhone to do just about everything my Palm did. Within a few week, I felt comfortable enough to leave my Palm Lifedrive at home.

The problem was that I spent a good two days transferring information from data in my Palm to my iPhone. I never used Outlook for my calendar with my Palm and since there was no way to move all my Agendus data, I had to add all my appointments from scratch. The same with my contacts. What was even worse was when I found a program to store passwords on my iPhone. I had been using DataShield on my Palm for years! There isn’t a desktop version of DataShield so I had to open up the app on my Palm and write down every single username, password, url and any other data I stored in there. That took about 10 hours. I did go with a password app that also has a desktop version so maybe in the future this won’t be that much of a problem. I also decided it was time to use Google to store my calendar and contacts and sync them with my iPhone. This is also compatible with my BlackBerry.

There were also other things like notes that were on my BlackBerry that I wanted on my iPhone among a few other things. All of this took time. It made me realize why there are a lot of times when we don’t make the most of our gadgets; it takes time to learn how to use them and then there is the process of transferring data. In the end, there is no real good shortcuts to doing this.

At the beginning I did say that there can be a slight plus to doing this and here it is. I cleaned out a lot of data that I really don’t need. My Palm contained contacts from the last 10 years. The odds that I am going to need someone’s phone number from 10, or 8 or even 5 years ago, with me on my current cell phone is pretty slim. I did backup all my old contacts from my Palm to the Palm desktop and exported them so if the need were to arise, I would have them. But I went from about 200 contacts on my Palm device to about 35 on my iPhone. My calendar app also stored appointments going back about 10 years and I didn’t need those either. Even my Garmin GPS had a bunch of “favorites” that are places I don’t plan to ever visit again. So, in some ways, buying a new gadget forces you to do some gadget spring cleaning. In the end, the time was worth it I think.

Now, learning how to really use the gadgets and get the most out of them is a post for another time.

Kodak Zx1

I happened to check over at Kodak’s site tonight and sure enough, the Zx1 is due out on May 15, 2009.

At first glance I have to say I like it. Looks like it is very simular to the Zi6 except that it seems a bit smaller, comes in a variety of colors and is weather-resistant. The weather-resistant feature already has me thinking that I’ll be buying this when it hits the stores.

The retail price listed is $149.95 at Kodak’s site and a whole five cents more at Amazon.com.

Couple of quick things I noted…

1. Still 720p HD video but now they list it as “rain or shine”.
2. Available colors will be blue, pink, yellow, red and black. Must say that I always like my gadgets to be black but the blue might make me think about changing things around.
3. It list that you will get great videos in bright light or low light. For anyone who read the review of the Zi6, the light was an issue for me. Yes, it was good in low light but I really felt like I lost some detail. Will be interested to see how this compares.
4. Rechargeable batteries and charger are still included. This is a plus in my opinion and when I saw the price, I thought they were going to make this an accessory.

Kodak Zx1 Colors

Some of the Technical Details:

* Record High Definition video (720p at 60 fps with 16:9 aspect ratio)
* Rubberized doors protect all ports; resistant to rain, snow, sand, dirt and more
* Easily upload recorded footage to YouTube with built-in USB and software
* Vibrant 2.0-inch viewfinder; Watch footage on HDTV with included cables
* Built-in video editing software; expandable SD/SDHC card slot that can hold up to 32 GB

They do mention a “handy remote control makes it easy to record yourself and comfortably watch your videos on your HDTV”, but I couldn’t find any other info about this. Didn’t see it under accessories and it isn’t listed as being included in the box. If they include it, that would be great. The fact that they include cables to hook this up to your TV is a bonus and being able to sit on the couch and use a remote to watch the videos would be an even bigger bonus.

If I learn anything else I’ll post it here.

Links:

Kodak Zx1 Official Site

Amazon.com’s Kodak Zx1 page

Update 3/12/09: This review covers the Kodak Zi6. The next model, the Kodak Zx1 will be released on May 15th. Read the brief post about that one.

Intro

I am a gadget person. There is no denying that. I become like a little kid in a toy store when I walk into Best Buy. My eyes light up and I can easily lose sight of whoever I happen to be shopping with as I wander over to check out some new item they have. I wish that when I said that some of the sales folks over at Best Buy know me by name were a joke – but it’s not.

With all that said, it is no surprise that I wanted to try out the latest pocket size camcorders that hit the market late last year. The Flip MinoHD and Kodak Z6i are the ones that really got me excited. I knew I wanted one. I had bought myself the Aiptek HD 1080P camera a few months ago but didn’t really like it. While the videos were okay, they felt like they were taken with my cell phone more than with a video camera.

Flilp MinoHD

Kodak Zi6

After listening to some reviews of the Flip Mino on some podcast, I thought that was worth taking a look. Turns out that an HD version, the Flip Mino, had just hit the store shelves so my interest perked up even more. While searching for more information, I found out that Kodak had also come out with their own version of a HD mini camcorder. Darn it! That meant time online trying to find out which was better, what features each had, so on and so forth.

I must have spent a good six or seven hours searching for information over the course of two days. Every time I thought I had the one I wanted picked out, I would find some review that made me think the other model was the one for me.

So, what is a squirrel to do when she finds a tough nut like this to crack? Buy both and try them out for herself of course. Yes, I bought both. They even arrived on the same day – that was almost too much for me to handle to get both the same day…whoooo.

Now, I don’t think everyone out there who is interested in these cameras wants to – or can afford to (not that I can but food is really overrated anyway) – buy both. So, I figured I’d give them both a test drive and post my opinions here in an effort to help you decide which is right for you.

Before I go any farther, let me say that if you are reading this in the hopes of my saying that one of these are so much better than the other, you will be disappointed. To be honest, these have more in common then they have differences. Even with that said, the differences between them can be enough to make you want one over the other. As you read this, I suggest you think about what type of footage you think you will want to shoot the most. That might help as you try and decide among the two.

While getting ready to post this review, I created a number of test videos that show the same footage recorded with both the Flip MinoHD and the Kodak Zi6. I strongly suggest watching these videos before you read the rest of this review because I mention them a few times. It also might help you make up your own mind and ignore anything I write . To make this easier, I created a YouTube Playlist. Since I encoded each video in HD, and it just so happens that YouTube is now allowing full HD video, you will get the full effects of the videos if you watch these in HD. Once you click on the individual video, just click the “View in HD” link that is under the video on the right side.

Okay…on to the review.

I’m dividing this review into five different areas.

1. The Official Descriptions of Both Camcorders
2. The Things They Both Have in Common
3. What the Biggest Differences Are
4. A Comparison of the Two Side-by-Side
5. Finally, My Thoughts on Both

Part 1: Official Description of Both the Flip MinoHD and the Kodak Zi6

Flip MinoHD Official Product Description

Flip MinoHD

A 720p HD camcorder that fits in your pocket. The Flip MinoHD has 4GB built-in memory to record and store up to 60 minutes of high quality video. A 1.5″ TFT lets you preview and view videos on camera. A USB connector lets you transfer and share videos. Advanced playback, pause, fast forward/rewind features Records high-quality H.264 videos that work with iTunes, iMovie, and iPhoto Child Safe mode to prevent accidental deletions of clips Fast lens – great low or bright light results, 2x digital zoom 1.5 color high-brightness (transflective) display for easy recording and super-clear viewing in bright sunlight. Silent mode for recording in sensitive situations. TV connector cable included to watch videos on television. Tripod mount fits any standard tripod. Video – 16 – 9 widescreen, HD 720p (1280 x 720) at 30 frames per second progressive scan. Built-in FlipShare software for email, edit, and more.

Includes Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder w/ built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery; Protective carrying pouch; Wrist strap; TV cable; Quickstart Guide Internal Memory – 4GB (60 minutes) Screen Resolution – 528 x 132 pixels / Video Resolution – 1280 x 720 progressive Video Bitrate – 8.8Mbps (average – auto adaptive algorithm) Video Format – H.264 video compression, AAC audio compression, saves as MP4 file Lens Type – Fixed Focus (1.5m to infinity) Aperture – f/2.4 (fast lens for great results in low-light environments) Zoom – Smooth multi-step 2x digital 8 Touch-Sensitive Capacitive Buttons (Power, Play, Delete, Record and 4 way navigation) Unit Dimensions – 3.94 x 1.97 x 0.63 (H x W x D) PC Connection – Built-in flip-out USB arm (up to 2.0 USB speed) TV Out – NTSC (cable included) Battery Life – Rechargeable lithium ion battery, charges using built-in USB arm Operating System compatibility – Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Mac OSX

Kodak Zi6 Official Product Description

Kodak Zi6

Become an instant celebrity or paparazzo! This sleek pocketable design is built for easy video – there is no lens cap, no dials to turn, or settings to set. Just turn it on and hit record to capture the action, adventure, and all the juicy details in stunning HD! Make your cinematic debut on any HDTV. Or just pop the USB in the nearest PC and you’re ready to share the fun on YouTube. Edit, add music, and personalize your flick and easily share with your adoring fans. There’s no such thing as ”you should’ve been there” with the Zi6.

Life moves fast. Grab it in HD.

• Take stunning HD videos (720p at 60 fps)
• Easy upload to YouTube™ with built-in USB
• Record hours of video—up to 32 GB worth
• View on any HDTV with the included cables
• Edit and share videos with the included software CD
• Rechargeable batteries and charger included

Continue on to Part 2 – The Things They Both Have in Common

Part 2: The Things They Both Have in Common (specs not performance)

1. They are both small. There is no denying that. Each really is pocket size, though the Flip MinoHD is smaller. It is actually smaller than the Kodak by more than it appears in the photos.
2. Both have pop-out USB connectors that let you quickly attach these to any computer and download your videos. – I have some comments on the cons of this later.
3. Both are easy to use. To use the basic point-and-shoot video modes, you don’t have to read the book. Just turn these on and you are ready to go.
4. Each comes with software that let you edit your videos pretty easily and even lets you upload to YouTube without much problem.
5. Each comes with a cleaning cloth that you will need! Trust me on one. Keep it with you. I mention this again later.
6. They both come with cases – but not the type that will protect your camera. I wouldn’t really consider the cases a bouns item.

Flip MinoHD w/ USB Extended

Kodak Zi6 w/ USB Extended

Continue on to Part 3 – What the Biggest Differences Are

Part 3: What the Biggest Differences Are (specs not performance)

1. Size – see #1 in Part 2. I don’t think this is a real difference but again, The MinoHD is smaller so I guess it does belong in this category too.
2. The Zi6 records HD60: 720p at 60 fps-16:9 and HD: 720p at 30 fps-16:9. The MinoHD only records in HD: 720p at 30 fps-16:9. Is this a big difference? It can be if you are recording things that are moving faster or really, really want higher quality. Yet you have to look at the other features. The Zi6 at best quality is why – I think – the lighting can be better on it (see more later).
3. The MinoHD uses built in memory where the Zi6 uses an SD card.
4. MinoHD uses and internal rechargeable batteries. The Zi6 uses two AA batteries (it comes with rechargeable batteries and charger).
5. Price. There can be close to a $100 difference between these two. As of this writing, the MinoHD is $209, the Zi6 is $152 at Amazon.com. The retail price for the MinoHD is $229 and the Zi6 is $179.
6. Screen size is different. The Zi6’s screen is larger – 2.4 inches compared to 1.5 inches on the MinoHD. That makes a difference when you are viewing the images back on the camera itself but doesn’t effect the quality of the video.
7. The MinoHD model only comes in black. The Zi6 also comes in silver/black and also in pink and red.

Those really are the biggest differences in these two models until you get to the performance. No wonder why it was hard for me to pick when comparing the two. Yet I really liked the idea of the Zi6 because of the SD card and batteries. The MinoHD only gives you one hour of recording before you run out of battery power and internal memory. So, if you do not plan to be near a computer anytime soon, the MinoHD is going to give you very limited recording time. With the Zi6, you are only limited by the number of SD cards and batteries you have with you.

Continue on to Part 4 – A Comparison of the Two Side-by-Side

Part 4: A Comparison of the Two Side-by-Side

As I have already said, these are both really small camcorders. There is no denying that. Each really is pocket size, though the MinoHD is smaller. It is actually smaller than the Zi6 by
more than it appears in the photos. But the Zi6 isn’t so much larger that you can pick one over the other just for the size.

Flip MinoHD Animated

Kodak Zi6 Animated

Photo I Took of Both Camcorders Side-By-Side

Another Photo I Took of Both Camcorders Side-By-Side

Okay, that is it for all the specs, etc. Next I’ll give you my thoughts on both cameras.

Continue on to Part 5: My Thoughts on Both of These Camcorders

Part 5: My Thoughts on Both of These Camcorders

After using both of these camcorders for the last two months, I have decided that I cannot really pick one over the other because they are both different. I have to admit that there is not a clear winner. Both of these cameras are fantastic. I think that the average person would be happy with either one of these. Having something that fits in your pocket and allows you to capture a moment on HD video within 10 seconds of getting the camera in your hands.

They are both super easy to use. Turn it on, press record and you are recording. One difference is that the Zi6 will let you zoom in on your subject before you hit record; The MinoHD requires you to start recording and then zoom in on your subject. This little difference actually can be annoying at times but overall not a big deal.

With that said, the Flip MinoHD is the one that I use the most. It is so small and easy to carry around that I’m never without it. The battery life is amazing. I thought that I’d have to charge it more, even if I wasn’t using it, but I don’t. I often grab it and capture a few minutes of video and just put it back in my coat pocket. I’ve went weeks without plugging it in to charge.

The Kodak Zi6 does have something very important going for it though. It is the better choice if you want to be able to record longer. Around Christmas time I had both with me to record video of my niece and nephew opening gifts. Since I didn’t want to worry about how long it would take, I just put the Zi6 on a tripod and let it go. I captured about 2 hours total without having to check on it. The MinoHD doesn’t offer that. Between the internal memory and the battery life, you only have a total of an hour of recording. With the Zi6, you are only limited by the amount of SD card memory and batteries you have. You could film all day if you have some extra AA batteries and a few SD cards.

Video/Audio Quality

Okay, this is probably what you really want to read about. Overall, the video quality is pretty close with both camcorders, but there are a few differences. This is just my opinion here. You might feel completely differently when viewing the video yourself.

Image Taken From Test #2 Using the Flip MinoHD - Click to go to YouTube Video (Opens in a new window)

Capture From Test #2 Using the Kodak Zi6

Capture From Test #2 - Using the Flip MinoHD - Click to go to YouTube Video (Opens in a new window)

Capture from Test #3 - Using the Kodak Zi6

• Color – The color on the Zi6 is a bit better. The images above show screen capture taken from Test 2 & 3 that I did on these camcorders. The first two images, showing the stove, are very different in color. The one taken with the Zi6 are much closer to what the colors in the room really look like. Outdoors however, you don’t really see the difference in color as much.
• Sharpness – I actually think the MinoHD offers more detail. If you again look at the screen captures above, you can see more detail of the knobs on the stove when using the MinoHD. The Zi6 image is darker so you can’t see as much detail.
• Low Light – I think the MinoHD wins in low light. Though, as I mentioned above under “Color”, you will lose some of the color in low light. In really, really low light, as seen in the first two screen captures above, the Zi6 appears to be the winner. But again, that was in light coming from the stove light and nothing more. Even in that test, the lighting is better but you can’t make out enough detail. I still think the MinoHD wins out in this category.
• Audio – This might be the biggest difference between the two. While the audio is better on the MinoHD, it doesn’t capture as much. In the 3rd test video I did, the one from my car while I was driving, the audio is louder with the footage from the Zi6 and I think you can hear what was on the radio much better. I didn’t even realize the radio was on when I was doing that test and the volume was very low. Yet the Zi6 really did capture it a lot of the audio. The problem was that it captured the rest of the noise in the car too, such as the outside noise. The MinoHD only captured the audio coming out of the speaker closest to where I had it positioned (the speaker on the door). Because of that, you don’t hear as much outside noise. But, when I used the MinoHD to capture the video of Meg Hutchinson, it had no problems. Had I not been near the front of the stage, maybe the Zi6 would have been better?

A Few of Things I Didn’t Like About Both of These Cameras:

1. Pop-Out USB Jack – While there are plus’ to the pop-out USB jack, I wish they had somehow put it in a different spot or at least included a USB extender. The reason why is because it is hard to use with
   

   The Flip MinoHD connected via USB to a laptop

   most desktop’s. Laptops are fine because the ports are either on the side or back of the laptop. When you plug either of these into a laptop, it will rest nicely on either your lap or the table you are using. With desktops though, both of these can just hang there. One one of my desktops, the front USB ports are hidden behind a door that opens up. It is a great set up because it keeps dust, etc., out of my computer ports, but the door prevents me from using either of these camcorders with the front ports. I either have to use one of the USB ports on the back of the desktop or use a USB extender. Now, even if I could plug it in to the front of my desktop, I don’t like the idea of it just hanging there. I’m sure that after some amount of time this would be a problem since all the weight would be pushing down on either camcorder. I wish that both of them came with USB extenders, even short ones. I noticed that the MinoHD’s official still images shows this being used with a laptop and not a desktop.

2. The lens on both of these is super easy to touch has you are recording. The MinoHD is worse with this because the lens isn’t raised enough to make you feel it before you end up putting your fingers on it. The Zi6 isn’t much better. A good rule of thumb is to carry around the lens cloth that comes with both of these and use it often.
3. Finger prints – especially on the MinoHD – is something you have to get used to. The plastic coating is something that many cell phone users and even the iPod Touch users might be used to. It shows up your finger prints super easy on both the MinoHD and the Zi6.
4. No Mic Jack – I wish they included a jack to use an external mic. That would make these almost perfect. This is especially true with the Zi6 since it picks up all the sound around it. I wish I could hook up a mic to zero in on just the sound I want.

Final Thoughts:

So, you’ve read through all this stuff, you’ve watched the test videos I uploaded and you are still scratching your head as to which one to buy. I don’t blame you. In the end there is such little difference between the two that I think most people will be happy with either one. I think it comes down to how you plan to use it.

Ask yourself the following question(s) and maybe this will help:

I began this review saying there really is no clear winner. It really depends on what you plan to capture really. But in the end, I think most people will be happy with either of them. Considering these pocket size HD camcorders are still a new technology, who knows where they will go? Speaking of, at this years CES (Consumer Electronics Show), Kodak announced a new pocket size HD camera that they said will be available in the spring. Don’t hold your breath for that because often these don’t hit the market until later but you never know. If you are thinking about picking up one of these cameras but don’t need it right now, you might want to wait. And odds are pretty good that I’ll buy that one when it comes out and will review it here.

Update 3/12/09: The Kodak Zx1 will be released on May 15th. Read the brief post about that one.

If you own one or both of these camcorders and have some thoughts to share, I really encourage you to use the comments box below. If you have any specific questions, feel free to use the comments box for that too. It might take me a few days to get back to you but I promise I’ll try my best to answer any questions you have about either the Flip MinoHD or the Kodak Zi6.

If you want more information about either of these camcorders, head over to their official sites to get more detailed specs (no reason for me to duplicate all that info here).

Flip MinoHD

Kodak Zi6