Flip Video For Dummies E-Book

Joe Hutsko

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 301

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2010

Beschreibung

The full-color guide to shooting great video with the Flip Videocamera The inexpensive Flip Video camera is currently one of thehottest must-have gadgets. It's portable and connects easilyto any computer to transfer video you shoot onto your PC or Mac.Although the Flip Video camera comes with a quick-start guide,it lacks a how-to manual, and this full-color book fills that void!Packed with full-color screen shots throughout, Flip Video ForDummies shows you how to shoot the best possible footage in avariety of situations. You'll learn how to transfer video to yourcomputer and then edit it and share your Flip Video movies. * Walks you through the basics of using a Flip Video camera andconnecting it to your Mac or PC * Explains how to shoot footage indoors, outdoors, and evenunderwater * Covers editing video footage using FlipShare, Windows MovieMaker, or iMovie * Shows you how to share Flip Video movies or upload them toYouTube, Facebook, and other sites You'll flip out when you discover just how easy a Flip Videocamera can be when you have this book by your side!

Leseprobe

Flip Video™ For Dummies®

Table of Contents

Introduction

About Flip Video For Dummies

Foolish Assumptions

Conventions Used in This Book

What You Don’t Have to Read

How This Book Is Organized

Part I: Getting to Know Your Flip

Part II: Putting Your Flip to Work

Part III: Creating and Sharing Movies with FlipShare

Part IV: Editing and Sharing Movies with Mac and Windows Programs

Part V: The Part of Tens

Icons Used in This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I: Getting to Know Your Flip

Chapter 1: Touring Flip Models and Features

Flipping Over Flip Video

Familiarizing Yourself with the Flip Way

Flipping through Flip Models

Key specifications and features

Reviewing the latest Flip models

Designing your own MinoHD or SlideHD

Installing FlipShare

Chapter 2: Adjusting Flip Settings

Getting Acquainted with Flip Settings

Making Flip Options Suit Your Taste

Activating the Flip Delete Lock Feature

Chapter 3: Maintaining, Upgrading, and Troubleshooting Your Flip

Updating Your Flip Video and FlipShare Software

Responding to an Unresponsive Flip Camera

Manhandling misunderstood Flip features

Tackling typical Flip troubles

Power and Battery Issues

Resolving Common FlipShare-Related Problems

Color Scheme changed to Windows Basic

FlipShare preferences

Managing your FlipShare Library folder

Online sharing issues

Part II: Putting Your Flip to Work

Chapter 4: Recording and Viewing Videos

Getting in Touch with Your Flip’s Buttons

Recording Videos

The basics of shooting video

Taking your best shots

Viewing Videos

Watching and controlling videos

Watching videos on your TV

Deleting Videos

Tapping into Unique SlideHD Features

Chapter 5: Transferring Video to Your Computer

Practicing Safe Flip Plugging

Turn off your Flip before plugging it into a computer

Connect your Flip with an optional USB cable

Properly eject your Flip from your computer

Deciding What Your Computer Does When You Plug In Your Flip

Choosing whether FlipShare runs when you plug in your Flip

Selecting a Windows AutoPlay option

Selecting your Mac’s default program

Getting Video Files from Your Flip to Your Computer

Using Windows Live Photo Gallery

Using Image Capture

Using iPhoto

Using iMovie

Using FlipShare

Using the drag-and-drop method

Part III: Creating and Sharing Movies with FlipShare

Chapter 6: Getting Familiar with FlipShare

Touring the FlipShare Interface

The FlipShare main window

Navigation pane

Progress box

Workspace

Action bar

Organizing Videos, Snapshots, and Folders

Playing with Favorites

Creating and renaming folders

Naming and renaming files

Copying files

Moving files

Deleting files and folders

Chapter 7: Creating Movies, Snapshots, and Photo Slideshows

Creating Your First Magic Movie

Creating a Full-Length Movie

Trimming video clips

Capturing Snapshots from video clips

Making the final movie file

Creating Photo Slideshows

Sharing Your Movies and Slideshows

Chapter 8: Creating Video E-Mails, Greeting Cards, and DVDs

Sending Video and Picture E-Mails

Creating and Sending Video and Picture Greeting Cards

Burning Movies and Pictures to DVDs

Using FlipShare

Using iDVD

Using Windows DVD Maker

Chapter 9: Uploading Your Creations to the Web

Using FlipShare to Upload Your Movies and Pictures

Using Flip Channels

Activating and signing in to your Flip Channel account

Working with your My Flip Channel folder

Creating and sharing new Flip Channels folders

Adding and removing items and people in a shared Flip Channel

Renaming or deleting a shared Flip Channel

Viewing received Flip Channels

Deleting your Flip Channels account link in FlipShare

Uploading Items to Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube

Facebook

MySpace

YouTube

Deleting Login Information from FlipShare

Saving Files for Uploading

Part IV: Editing and Sharing Movies with Mac and Windows Programs

Chapter 10: Making Movies with iMovie

How iMovie Works

Importing a Video into the Event Library

Importing from your Flip camera

Importing a digital video file

Organizing the Event Library

Working with Projects

Creating a new iMovie project

Selecting video clips

Deleting video clips

Deleting a project

Organizing the Project Library

Editing Video Clips in a Project

Rearranging the order of video clips

Adjusting the size of a video clip

Adding titles

Adding transitions

Adding audio files

Saving a Video

Saving a project as a digital video file

Saving (and removing) a video for iTunes

Saving (and removing) a project for YouTube

Saving (and removing) a project in the Media browser

Chapter 11: Making Movies with Windows Live Movie Maker

Running Windows Live Movie Maker

Understanding the Windows Live Movie Maker Process

Copying videos to your computer

Importing videos into Movie Maker

Saving, creating, and deleting Movie Maker projects

Viewing and Organizing Videos

Watching and controlling videos

Adjusting display options

Organizing videos

Editing Video Clips in a Project

Adjusting the size of a video clip

Splitting a video clip in two

Adding text titles, captions, and credits

Adding animated transitions

Adding special effects

Adding audio files

Making a Quick Movie the AutoMovie Way

Saving and Sharing Your Movie

Saving a project as a movie file

E-mailing a movie file

Burning a movie to DVD with Windows DVD Maker

Uploading a movie to YouTube

Part V: The Part of Tens

Chapter 12: Ten Super Shooting Tips

Shoot Happens

Brace Yourself

Seek Stabilizing Relationships

Shoot with an Eye on Editing

Sound(track) Advice

Light Up Your Life

Listen Up!

Framed!

Keep It Moving

As You Like It

Chapter 13: Ten Excellent Editing Tips

Cut the Bad Bits

Easy Does It

Edit for Story

Slave to the Rhythm

Viewer Consideration

Cuts and Crossfades

Affecting Effects

Graphically Speaking

Two-Track Mindset

Experiment, Experiment, Experiment

Flip Video™ For Dummies®

by Joe Hutsko and Drew Davidson

Flip Video™ For Dummies®

Published byWiley Publishing, Inc.111 River St.Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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About the Author

Joe Hutsko is the author of Green Gadgets For Dummies, Macs All-in-One For Dummies, 2nd Edition, and The Deal: A Novel of Silicon Valley. For more than two decades, he has written about computers, gadgets, video games, trends, and high-tech movers and shakers for numerous publications and Web sites, including The New York Times, Macworld, PC World, Fortune, Newsweek, Popular Science, TV Guide, The Washington Post, Wired, GameSpot.com, MSNBC, and Salon.com. Before becoming a writer, Joe worked at Apple from 1984 to 1988. You can find links to Joe’s stories on his Web site, JOEyGADGET.com.

Drew Davidson purchased his first film camera at a garage sale (an 8mm Kodak Brownie) and has since enjoyed all types of home and professional filmmaking. That first purchase opened the door to the wide world of filmmaking: from editing to camera work, from stop motion animation to documentary cinéma vérité, from complex computer-controlled motion control cameras to cameras duct taped to his mountain bike on his many mountain biking forays around the world. As a professional editor and cameraman, some of Drew’s credits include Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, and MTV’s Celebrity Deathmatch. Clients he’s worked with include GameSpot.com, Time Inc., The American Museum of Natural History in New York, The New York Historical Society, the Intrepid Air and Space Museum, and the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. His video work is represented by Getty Images, and his full body of work can be viewed at www.drewmovie.com.

Dedication

Both authors wholeheartedly dedicate this book to Sue Godfrey. “You said . . .” :-)

Authors’ Acknowledgments

Both authors would like to thank agent, Carole Jelen, of Waterside Productions; and awesome project editor, Nicole Sholly, for her intelligent guidance, brilliant organization, incisive editing and, above all, tremendous wit and generous sense of humor. Thank you, Nicole!

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register/.

Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:

Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Development

Project Editor: Nicole Sholly

Acquisitions Editor: Amy Fandrei

Senior Copy Editor: Teresa Artman

Technical Editor: Claudia Snell

Editorial Manager: Kevin Kirschner

Editorial Assistant: Amanda Graham

Senior Editorial Assistant: Cherie Case

Cartoons: Rich Tennant (www.the5thwave.com)

Composition Services

Project Coordinators: Katherine Crocker, Patrick Redmond

Layout and Graphics: Samantha K. Cherolis, Joyce Haughey, Kelly Kijovsky

Proofreaders: Susan Hobbs, Lauren Mandelbaum

Indexer: Sherry Massey

Publishing and Editorial for Technology Dummies

Richard Swadley, Vice President and Executive Group Publisher

Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher

Mary Bednarek, Executive Acquisitions Director

Mary C. Corder, Editorial Director

Publishing for Consumer Dummies

Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher

Composition Services

Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services

Introduction

Your Flip is probably the easiest-to-use camcorder in the world. Just point, shoot, and copy to your computer. A few clicks later, friends, family, and even strangers around the world can view your creations on Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and other sharing Web sites. Burning your movie to a DVD so that others can watch it on TV or their computer is nearly as quick and easy as the online sharing options. So why, you might wonder, would anyone need a whole book for such an easy-to-use gadget? Let me count the ways. . . .

About Flip Video For Dummies

Options, baby, options. Sure you can shoot and upload your video in a few clicks. By editing your video and adding titles, credits, special effects, and a music soundtrack, however, you can make your movie more interesting to others. You’ll see how to do that in this book. Want to capture individual snapshots from your videos and then string those pictures together to create photo slideshows? It’s in here. Wondering how to upgrade your Flip’s internal software (firmware) and desktop FlipShare program so you benefit from the latest and greatest features? It’s in here.

And while you’re mastering those things, you’ll also pick up tips and tricks for capturing and editing your videos, thanks to the expert advice the filmmaker-half of the author duo’s contribution to this book, which will help you get the very most from your Flip camcorder.

Here are some of the things you can do with this book:

Learn about the features unique to each of the current Flip camera models.

Find out how to properly connect (and disconnect) your Flip to (and from) your computer.

Import your videos to your computer, share your videos online, or burn your videos to DVDs that you can give to others.

Turn your simple video clips into fuller, richer mini-movies, complete with titles, rolling credits, and music soundtracks.

Install free updates to ensure that your Flip camera and the FlipShare program give you the latest and greatest features.

Learn simple expert tips to help you take your best shots — and edit those shots so they’re interesting to your views.

Foolish Assumptions

In writing this book, we made a few assumptions about you, dear reader. To make sure we’re on the same page, I assume that

You know how to turn your computer on and locate and run programs.

You can navigate your computer to store (and later find) files.

You have a favorite Web browser and are familiar enough with navigating the Web to download a file, such as a program update installer file, and can then open that file.

You appreciate the speed at which technology-based products — such as the Flip camera — change, with newer, sleeker, better, faster models replacing previous versions in as little as a few months.

Conventions Used in This Book

To help you navigate this book, we use a few style conventions:

Emphasized terms or words are italicized (and defined).

Web site addresses, or URLs, are shown in a special monofont typeface, like this: www.joeygadget.com.

Numbered steps that you need to follow and characters you need to type are set in bold.

What You Don’t Have to Read

You don’t have to read anything that doesn’t pertain to what you’re interested in. In fact, you can even skip a chapter entirely. We hope you don’t, though, because we believe that reading every chapter can make your overall reading experience more efficient and (dare I say it?) enjoyable.

As for sidebars you encounter throughout this book, feel free to ignore them because they contain, for the most part, tangential thoughts, miniature essays, or other bits of information you don’t need to know to do the things we show you in the book.

How This Book Is Organized

Flip Video For Dummies is split into five parts. You don’t have to read it sequentially, and you don’t even have to read all the sections in any particular chapter. You can use the Table of Contents and the index to find the information you need and quickly get your answer. Here is what you’ll find in each part.

Part I: Getting to Know Your Flip

This part is all about getting comfortable with your pocket-sized camcorder — or learning about one you’re thinking of buying if you don’t already own a Flip. You can read about the latest Flip camera models, how to adjust your Flip’s settings, and how to upgrade FlipShare. Troubleshooting information is also contained in this part.

Part II: Putting Your Flip to Work

Using your Flip involves two activities: Shooting videos and transferring the videos you shoot to your computer. In this part, you’ll dive right in and start recording videos with your Flip while picking up tips to help you capture the best shots possible. Here’s where you find out how to transfer the videos you shoot to your Mac or Windows PC.

Part III: Creating and Sharing Movies with FlipShare

Sure, you can share your video clips with others exactly as they appear, but your intended audience will find your videos way more interesting if you trim out boring parts and add movie-like elements like a title, a music soundtrack, and even closing credits that crawl up the screen when your viewers come to The End. Taking center stage in this part is the FlipShare program, which you use to create Magic Movies and Full Length movies and send your movies (and snapshots!) as e-mail messages and greeting cards. You also see how to burn your movies to DVD and upload movies to Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube.

Part IV: Editing and Sharing Movies with Mac and Windows Programs

Editing your clips using your Mac or Windows computer’s free video-editing program (iMovie or Windows Live Movie Maker) is how you turn your more serious moviemaking dreams into realities. In this part, you’ll perform movie magic by turning your video clips into fuller, richer movies that boast the look and feel of movies you see at the Cineplex.

Part V: The Part of Tens

If you’re looking to stabilize your Flip (out of the box, it lacks image stabilization) or take your editing to the cutting edge, the Part of Tens has the information you need. Here, you’ll find lists of shooting tips and editing tips.

Icons Used in This Book

The icons you encounter throughout Flip Video For Dummies are tiny road signs to attract or steer your attention to particularly useful information — or, in rare instances, potential trouble.

The Tip icon points out useful information that can help you be more efficient or direct you to something helpful that you might not know about.

When you spot this icon, it steers your attention to something that’s interesting or useful; either way, you’ll want to read it. And remember it.

When you see the Warning icon, you know to proceed with caution in regard to a topic, an issue, or a series of steps that it’s cozying up next to.

Where to Go from Here

If you recently purchased a Flip camera or you’re thinking about purchasing one, Part I is definitely the best place to begin using this book. Parts II and III have the nitty-gritty details for shooting footage with your Flip as well as creating a masterpiece with FlipShare. But if you’ve been there and done all that and you’re ready to get more serious about this movie-making business, head straight to Part IV and jump in to video editing with Windows Live Movie Maker or iMovie. At any time, feel free to turn to the Part of Tens section to pick up expert tips that aim to improve your video shooting and editing skills, and to find great add-ons to help you enhance your Flip experience in more ways than one (actually ten, but who’s counting?).

Part I

Getting to Know Your Flip

In this part . . .

Afew years ago, shooting your own videos involved wrangling bulky camcorders and juggling cumbersome videotape cassettes — not to mention extra batteries you had to carry to keep your camcorder juiced throughout the day. Thanks to the Flip, those days are gone (at least for us everyday folks who just want to have fun shooting and editing videos).

This part introduces you to the Flip phenomena that has millions of consumers literally flipping over Flip cameras. You start out with a big-picture view of what it means to Flip; then you zoom in for a closer look at Flip models. You also get the 411 on adjusting your Flip’s settings, as well as upgrading your Flip and FlipShare software so they can be all that they can be, thanks to regular free updates that you can download and install.

Chapter 1

Touring Flip Models and Features

In This Chapter

Considering the big Flippin’ picture

Getting acquainted with current Flip features and specs

Taking a closer look at the SlideHD

Designing your own custom SlideHD or MinoHD

Installing FlipShare on your Mac or Windows PC

Got a new Flip (or an older model) and want to find out what it can do so you can put it to good use? Or perhaps you’re thinking about buying a new Flip, but you’re not sure which model to choose?

Either way, you’ve come to the right place to get up to speed about what you can do with the Flip camcorder you already own — or the one you’re thinking about purchasing.

From getting your head around the bigger picture of what Flips are all about, to wrapping your hand around individual models and figuring out which buttons do what and what features you can use, this chapter marks the best place to begin your journey into the world of Flip camcorders.

Flipping Over Flip Video

Here a Flip, there a Flip, everywhere a flippin’ Flip. Or that’s how it seemed to me when my editor asked whether I wanted to write this book. When I said yes, I was suddenly seeing Flip camcorders everywhere. From the local news replaying winter storm footage captured by ordinary Joes to American Idol contestants hamming it up on those excursions they take between episodes, everywhere I looked, people were Flipping.

So what makes the Flip so ubiquitous (and the reigning #1 bestselling no-brainer camcorder brand on Amazon.com for more than a year, as I write this)? That’s simple: simplicity. Apple’s iPod has enjoyed a longtime reputation as one of the world’s easiest-to-use gadgets ever (and it is), but the Flip camcorders are even easier to use.

Never before has shooting and making movies been so easy. Point, shoot, save, edit (or don’t bother), and share. Just like that, you’re making movies.

Thanks to the Flip’s small size and super-easy controls, carrying a Flip on your person and spontaneously capturing videos wherever and whenever you want becomes second nature. Don’t like what you captured? No big deal; just delete it and try again.

I could go on and on about why Flip camcorders are so attractive and popular to ordinary people, in a way that their predecessors — videotape-based video cameras — never were. I could also list the ways that Flips are a bigger hit with more of us average Joe-types than the higher-end “prosumer” camcorders that capture video at quality high enough to make movies that play in theaters and film festivals. But why waste precious space and time going over what was and what isn’t. The fact is that you’re holding this book, and that’s evidence enough that you’re more interested in focusing your energy on doing the Flip thang. Time to get Flippin’!

Familiarizing Yourself with the Flip Way

Turning something that starts as an idea into a reality — be it sculpting a heart-shaped modeling clay teacup, or writing a book about Flip video cameras — typically begins with getting familiar with the tools or implements you can use that are best suited to your task at hand. The next step is discovering how you can use those tools and implements to construct and produce a tangible creation to share with others.

When it comes to creating and sharing movies with your Flip camcorder and your computer — the Flip Way, if you will — your tools and the ways you can use them include

Directing and shooting: Your Flip camera aimed at someone or something that interests you is all you need to start capturing video footage that you can eventually turn into a movie and share with others. What, when, where, why, and how you capture video footage with your Flip is up to you. Want to make a movie of your puppy’s first tussle with a tennis ball? Go for it.

Managing and editing: Your Mac or Windows computer and the FlipShare program that comes preloaded on your Flip camera provide the basic tools you use to manage and edit videos you capture and then copy to your computer. Using video-editing programs that offer greater flexibility and more features than FlipShare (like iMovie [Mac] and Windows Live Movie Maker) allows you to enrich your movie with special touches, such as transition effects between shots or rolling credits at the end of your movie that crawl by just like the ones you’ve seen on the big screen.

Producing and sharing: Shooting and editing a movie that plays to an audience of one — that’d be you — has its rewards, but the fun really begins when you share your Flip movies with friends, families, co-workers, and even strangers. Producing your movie and then sharing it with others quickly and easily is, for many Flip owners, the ultimate reward in this journey known as the Flip Way. You can share the movie as a DVD that you can hand to someone to play on her DVD player or computer; or send your movie as a birthday e-mail greeting card; or upload your movie using the free Flip Channel feature on the Web; or post your movie to one of the other popular Web-based venues, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and MySpace.

Flipping through Flip Models

When I mention the Flip line of camcorders, I’m referring to the models available as I write this book. Those models, and the length of recording time each offers, include the following:

SlideHD

240 minutes

MinoHD (two models)

60 minutes

120 minutes

UltraHD

120 minutes

Ultra

120 minutes

I refer to these models throughout this book, explaining obvious and not-so-obvious stuff on a need-to-know basis: factoids like how the letters HD on some models stand for high-definition (or hi-def), and how most fully charged Flip models (except the SlideHD) will never run out of battery juice before you run out of shooting space on the Flip’s built-in memory because the camcorder’s battery life lasts longer (from 2 to 4.5 estimated hours) than the actual length of time you can capture live video footage.

Now and then I also talk about earlier Flip models, including one you might own. To ensure we’re on the same proverbial page, I give you a fuller rundown of specs and features in the next section so you can determine what your current Flip model can or cannot do, and so you can weigh the pluses and minuses of those models against the current models in case you’re considering buying a used or new Flip camcorder.

Key specifications and features

Each Flip model is built with particular features and specifications. Some models have many of these features in common, and other models might not have some of these features.

Here are the features you’ll find on Flip models as of this writing:

A video camera and microphone for recording video and audio that are saved in video files on your Flip camera’s built-in memory.

An LCD display that acts as a

•Live viewfinder to show you what you’re capturing when you press the Record button so you can properly frame what you’re shooting.

•Playback display so you can watch videos recorded and saved on your Flip, or existing video files copied from your computer to your Flip.

Control buttons for turning your Flip on and off, recording video, controlling video you watch on the Flip’s display, zooming in and out, increasing and decreasing playback volume, and deleting video files you don’t want to save.

In the case of the SlideHD, these “buttons” aren’t actual physical buttons you push, but rather simulated buttons that appear on the 3-inch touchscreen when the screen is closed. The buttons disappear when you slide up the screen to view videos you recorded and saved with your SlideHD.

A USB connector that “flips” out at the press of a latch, so you can plug the connector into your Mac or Windows computer to copy files between your Flip and your PC. The USB connector also charges the Flip when plugged into a computer or an optional AC charger adapter.

Preloaded FlipShare installation software for Windows and Mac computers, so you can install the FlipShare program on almost any computer you plug your Flip into.

Understanding Flip model technical specifications and how they benefit (or if they’re absent, don’t benefit) your Flip experience can help you determine what your current Flip can do, or what a new Flip you’re thinking about buying can do.

Like with most high-tech gadgets (except when discussing weight), higher numbers typically translate to higher performance and capacity (which in turn translate to higher prices). When it comes to Flip models, higher technical specification numbers translate to higher-quality video recordings and more storage space for saving videos. These technical specifications and other features for current models include

Memory capacity and estimated number of minutes of video you can record and save (4GB, 8GB, or 16GB of memory to capture 60, 120, and 240 minutes of video, respectively)

Camera resolution, which is the level/quality of the video footage: standard-definition (SD) 640 x 480 pixels (px) on the Ultra, and HD 1280 x 720 px on all other models

Display screen diagonal size and resolution, for viewing live video that you’re recording or watching video that you’ve recorded and saved

Display screens range in size from 1.5 inches and 176 x 132 px to 3 inches and 400 x 240 px.

Microphone type (stereo versus mono)

Built-in speaker (stereo speakers on SlideHD only)

Headphone jack (SlideHD only)

Battery capacity and type (2-hour internal battery for SlideHD, Mino, and MinoHD models versus a 2.5–4.5-hour, replaceable, rechargeable battery pack for Ultra and UltraHD models)

Video-out port (HDMI or composite type)

Tripod mount

Other video-related specs that I don’t detail at length:

• Video sensor type

• Light sensor type

• Video performance processor

• Frame rate (30 frames per second for all models)

• Bit rate

• Video format (H.264 video compression, AAC audio compression, and MP4 file format for all models)

• White balance/exposure (automatic white balance and black level calibration; automatic exposure control with dynamic exposure compensation for all models)

• Lens type

• Aperture

• Zoom (smooth multistep 2x digital for all models)

Reviewing the latest Flip models

Models come and go like the seasons, and the best way to find out which models are in and which are out is to visit the Flip Web site (www.flipvideo.com).

The Ultra and Ultra HD as well as the two MinoHD models distinguish themselves from one another (and from the SlideHD) in these ways:

MinoHD models: The smallest of Flip’s camcorder models, the MinoHD slips easily into your pocket and features an almost completely smooth, button-less electrostatic surface with smooth “buttons” that respond to your touch much like a notebook computer touchpad (except for the big red Record button in the middle, which is a good ol’-fashioned push-button). The MinoHD’s rechargeable battery is sealed inside, which means you can’t carry a spare or two for extra battery life when you’re out and about, nor can you replace the battery yourself when it eventually wears out. For that job, you must send the camera to Flip for a replacement (for a price, of course). The 1-hour model has a 1.5-inch screen, and the 2-hour model has a 2-inch screen and is a few hairs thicker than the 1-hour model.

Ultra and Ultra HD: The Ultra is the only SD model, which means it captures video at a lower resolution in a 4:3 format, whereas the UltraHD and other Flip models capture 16:9 widescreen-format HD video. The Ultra comes with two standard AA batteries, and you can buy an optional AA rechargeable battery pack that comes as standard equipment with the UltraHD. The Ultra and UltraHD are the bulkiest Flip models, have 2-inch screens, can record up to 2 hours of video, and have physical buttons instead of the button-less electrostatic buttons found on the MinoHD models, or the totally smooth touchscreen surface found on the SlideHD.

The most exciting new features in the world of Flip can be found on the new SlideHD model:

The world’s first “slider” camcorder comes with a slide-up 3-inch touchscreen that displays virtual buttons on the screen, and slides up to reveal a slider bar for browsing through videos with your fingertip.

Tap the touchscreen to choose the video you want to watch.

Hear recorded audio via built-in stereo speakers (albeit tiny ones) or by plugging headphones into the SlideHD’s headphone jack.

You can record up to four hours of video — the longest recording time for any Flip model.

A Space Saver feature lets you shrink the file size of videos you copy into FlipShare, and then copy back up to 12 hours worth of those Space Saver-compressed videos to your SlideHD.

The standout features that separate the SlideHD from the rest of the Flip pack — a wide-format touchscreen, headphone jack, Space Saver — are features that I’m guessing we’ll see on most if not every future Flip model. Hopefully, future models will come with longer-lasting batteries and lower prices as the number of new and innovative features go up!

Designing your own MinoHD or SlideHD

You can buy a Flip camera from a number of retail stores and online retailers. If you’re thinking about buying a MinoHD or SlideHD, you can choose a custom case design from a huge gallery of designs available on the Flip Video Store Web site (http://store.theflip.com) for either of those two models.

You can also create a custom design by using the Pattern Generator feature, or you can upload an image of your own, such as a favorite photograph, or your favorite book jacket artwork (as shown in Figure 1-1).

Figure 1-1: Apply the image of your choice to your Flip’s exterior.

The Flip Video Store offers a huge selection of predesigned sports, celebrity, and designer themes you can choose to customize your SlideHD or MinoHD. If you’re in a giving mood, you can choose one of many Flip for Good themes, and a portion of your purchase price is donated to a nonprofit charity. Flip for Good theme choices include LIVESTRONG and Stand up to Cancer, Feeding America and the World Food Programme, Polar Bears International, The Truth Fund, and a slew of other charitable causes, as shown in Figure 1-2.

Figure 1-2: Choose a Flip for Good theme to decorate your Flip.

Here are the basic steps you take to create your very own, custom SlideHD or MinoHD case design at no extra cost:

1. Go to http://store.theflip.com and click the SlideHD or MinoHD model you want. Then click the Select button to choose that camera.

2. Click one of the custom case design options (Design Gallery, Use Your Own Image, Use the Pattern Generator).

3. Follow the prompts to choose a design, or upload your own image, or use the pattern generator to create a new design, depending on your choice in Step 2.

4. Click the Add to Cart button and then continue to the checkout process to purchase your custom-designed Flip camera.

5. Wait 2 to 7 business days for your new Flip to arrive (depending on your shipping service choice), and then resume reading this book — or continue reading, anyway, so you can get familiar with all the ways you’ll use your Flip.

Your customized design is printed using an industrial-strength coating and curing process that protects your Flip’s special finish from humidity, sun exposure, and the wear associated with handling your camera. Although your Flip’s custom finish won’t peel or fade, it can show scratches if you expose your Flip to scratchy surfaces (or bear claws — the animal kind, and not the hairstyle).

Installing FlipShare

When you plug your Flip camera into your computer for the first time, your Flip’s preloaded FlipShare installer program automatically launches itself and prompts you to install the FlipShare program. A few clicks later, and voilà!, you’ve installed FlipShare on your computer.

Wait a minute: It just occurred to me that I might be telling you something you already know. As in, Hello?! Been there, done that! Earth to Mr. Author!? There are movies to be made! Okay, it’s more than a little bit likely you might have already installed the FlipShare program on your computer. If so, my sincere apologies for slowing your creative flow. By all means, feel free to skip this FlipShare installation business if you’ve already been there, done that.