The biggest difference is the recording time: 2 hours now. In addition they are still using 2 AA’s which is great.  The Slim had that awful on-board rechargeable battery issue.

Anyway for now here are pix and the press release.  Until I get my hands on one to try here it is:

Flip Video™ Introduces All-New Flip Ultra™ and Flip UltraHD™

They look about the same as before. Click to enlarge

Best-Selling Camcorder Line Now Offers a New HD Model, Double the Memory and a Larger Screen

Pure Digital Technologies, Inc. – the maker of the acclaimed Flip Video family of camcorders – today announced the second generation of its Flip Ultra line, America’s number-one selling camcorder since its debut in 2007. Now available in both high-definition and standard-resolution models, the new line offers everyday consumers the easiest and most affordable way to capture and share high-quality video. The new Flip Ultra and Flip UltraHD feature two hours of recording time, a large high-resolution two-inch screen, and convenient battery recharging through the built-in USB arm.

“The original Flip Ultra changed the way the world captures and shares video by making it easy, accessible, and, most of all, fun,” said Jonathan Kaplan, chairperson and CEO of Pure Digital. “Our new Flip UltraHD takes this to the next level by making it incredibly simple and affordable for anyone to capture and share hours of video in stunning HD.”

The new Flip Ultra and UltraHD camcorders set a new standard for convenient and affordable video capture. Both new models offer a full two hours of recording capacity, a bright two-inch transflective screen for no-glare viewing even in direct sunlight, and an innovative AA rechargeable battery pack that can be conveniently recharged through the camera’s built-in USB arm. The Flip Ultra is priced at just $149.99, while the Flip UltraHD sells for $199.99.

Like all Flip Video camcorders, the new Ultra line is pre-loaded with FlipShare™, the on-board software that leads consumers seamlessly through the process of organizing, editing and sharing videos. Consumers simply plug the built-in USB arm directly into any Mac or PC to begin sharing their videos immediately.

The second generation Flip Ultra camcorder promises to build on the success of the Flip Video family, which has sold more than 2 million camcorders since first introduced less than two years ago. The Flip Ultra continues its reign as the number-one selling camcorder in the U.S., while the Flip MinoHD, launched last November, is currently the top-selling HD camcorder in the country, both according to first quarter 2009 rankings from leading market research firm The NPD Group.

Flip UltraHD Camcorder Features:

SRP: $199.99
Colors: Black, White (with chrome trim)
Video Resolution: High Definition, 1280 x 720
Records: 2 hours (8 GB built-in memory)
Screen: 2 inch – transflective (anti-glare)
Batteries: 2 x AA (rechargeable AA battery pack included)
TV Output: Widescreen with HDMI™ output
Zoom: 2 x Digital
Flip Ultra Camcorder Features:

SRP: $149
Colors: Black, White, Yellow and Pink
Video Resolution: 640 x 480
Records: 2 hours (4GB built-in memory)
Screen: 2 inch – transflective (anti-glare)
Batteries: 2 x AA (optional rechargeable AA battery pack sold separately)
TV Output: SD Composite Video
Zoom: 2 x Digital

First, why I needed to know this.

I have clients from time to time who have self produced videos on a DVD they would like to add to their websites, either progressively streaming off of their hosting server or through one of the myriad of video sharing sites (ala YouTube, Blip.TV, Vimeo etc.)

In the past, when we were a PC only web shop it frankly was easy.  Rip the VOB file you need as an AVI (with something as simple as Pinnacle), convert to FLV and that was it basically.

However on the MAC (Specifically MacBook Pro with Mac OS X 10.5.6) I found it a bit more of a challenge without investing in more apps for a purpose that doesn’t come up all that often.  Let’s face it, I’m cheap.  It shouldn’t be that hard.

Let me be clear, I’m not talking about commercial, copyrighted material. These are in-house production quality videos that my client,  XYZ company, shot of someone using their auger system, of making a cappuccino, or whatever.

That said, I found this solution in bits and pieces on a various forums  and was able to create my own work-flow that I will now share.

The Problem

Basically with DVD video you have files called VOB (video object files).  You may have several VOB files on the same disc if you have chapters of several smaller videos on the same disc.  OK, that said,  the problem is getting iMovie, let’s say, to recognize a VOB.  It won’t.  Hence you cannot import it. The image to the right show these files.  Notice the dark color of the files.  When you look at them in iMovie they will be grayed out, meaning they are not a valid file type for iMovie as such.

The Solution

The key then is simply getting the VOB file in a format iMovie will import.  It’s actually very simple.  You just need to make a disk image (.dmg).  Here’s how.

1. Insert your DVD
2. Open the Disk Utility (Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility)
3. Your DVD should show up in the upper left hand corner under yo other drives (HDD, any external, etc.)
4. Highlight it and choose New Image from the toolbar.
5. I used the default settings in the drop down and save it to the desktop (or wherever you choose)
6. Click SAVE.

Let Disk Utility chew on that a few minutes and presto-chango you have a disk image (.dmg) of your DVD.

Now, with iMovie open, you have to “mount” the disk image by double-clicking on the .dmg file (the disk image file) you created.

Next  iMovie’s IMPORT window will pop-up and you will notice that the disk image is recognized as ….a camera!  How about that.

Now choose IMPORT ALL and get to editing once it is in iMovie.  That’s it!

Assuming you know how to export, you’ll end up with a .M4V file that can be uploaded and let  YouTube, Vimeo, et al, do the rest.

One note: Occasionally  you may get errors when importing and from my experience this is most often because the disk I am working from is a bad/damaged copy.

Hope this is helpful in getting you going the right direction.

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DISCLAIMER: Note that this is relating my own experience using iMovie 08 and this process.  This may or may not work with other versions of iMovie.  Be sure and check the comments as several others have tried other solutions with other versions of iMovie and found work-arounds.  The idea for this was a collaborative place to share ideas.

Click to enlarge

About a week ago I was recording a Skype phone-interview using Call Recorder on my MacBook Pro for a client podcast episode. I was using an excellent Plantronics analog, noise-canceling microphone/headset.

After I finished, I listened to the playback and overall it was fine, except for the occasional sound of my papers shuffling on top of the computer keyboard. It was as if the on-board mic was recording and not the headset. So I began investigating and discovered my Plantronics was not registering a signal on the Mac’s VU meter.  Probably should have checked that first.  Right?  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.

Anyway automatically I assumed it was a faulty sound port or card.  But a few clicks on Google later I discovered via several forums that the problem was that the input is a “Line-in” audio.  Not the same as a more common “Mic-in” (that’ll have the little microphone icon)

Here’s the issue though: In reality, all microphones capture analog signals. Analog signals are basically sound waves and in speech recognition these sound waves are our voice.  But, computers cannot recognize analog sound waves.  Therefore the signal has to converted to digital.

Bottom line, here are our options:

Griffin Technologies iMic (click to enlarge)

1. Get an ADC or analog to digital converter.  There are several, but the Griffin iMic ($49) is one you’ll see pop up a lot on podcasting blogs. iMic allows you to connect many microphones and sound input devices to your iBook, PowerBook, PowerMac or other Mac or PC systems with a USB port.

2.Get a USB mic or USB Headset.  Popular headsets are made by Plantronics (about $70).  Good enough USB mics are made by Snowball, Samson and others.  Another option in this category I have gone to is the Zoom H2.  I chose it because it is a multi-tasking digital workhorse offering a lot of options:

a. The H2 can be used via USB cable as a stand-alone mic

The H2 Zoom is an .mp3, .wav recorder that can also double as a very good USB mic on a Mac. Win Win!

b. It can record 2 or 4 channel stereo onto an SD card or

c. You can use an analog mic via it’s mic-in port to record onto an SD card or to digitally pass-through your signal to your computer.

All for about the same price ($150) as a good quality, stand alone USB mic.

In any event,  if you’ve had this problem hope this post helps ease your anxiety.  Your computer is probably fine.  You just need the right equipment!

As with 99% of what I know about technology, here is a great tutorial from my own learning experience on how to convert  .MOV audio to an .MP3 file.

First why did I need to do this?

I’m using a program for recording Skype phone calls called Call Recorder by Ecamm. The options for saving calls is either Uncompressed, 2:1 Compression or AAC Compression. The default is AAC which produces a file with the extension .mov. The initial tests using AAC Compression produced very clean recordings of my phone interviews and I was pleased. But there was one issue.  To include them into a podcast series I am developing along with another new web project (IAMA), I needed the Call Recorder files in MP3 format.

So I began looking at how to get the MOV converted to MP3.

Option one: purchase QT Pro or other conversion programs for $29.00+.  That may be where you want to go.  But I also found another way.

Option two: using an available AppleScript and the built in QuickTime AppleScript tools I could convert the .mov to .mp3 for free and get the same results, albeit one or two extra steps.   Plus I learned something new.  So here goes. It’s very simple, really.

1. Get the AppleScript

Here it is:

set saveRef to (choose file name with prompt “Save audio track as AIFF” default name “untitled.aiff”)
tell application “QuickTime Player”
export movie 1 to saveRef as AIFF
end tell

Copy the script.

2. Open your .MOV file in QuickTime

Click to enlarge

3. Choose QuickTime Player/Services/Script Editor/Make New AppleScript

Click to enlarge

4. Paste the AppleScript into the window like so:

Click to enlarge

5. Choose RUN then follow the prompts to name the file and pick a location then SAVE.  Next choose RUN in the top window.

Pick a place you can find it easily like Desktop.  You’ll be importing it into iTunes.

Click to enlarge

6. Now it will export the .mov  file as an .aiff file to the location you chose.

Click to enlarge

7. Now open iTunes, import the file to your music library and then choose Advanced/Create MP3 Version like you might normally.

Click to enlarge

Now you have two versions in your iTunes library, one .aiff and one .mp3 and you saved $29.00!

Hope this helps you along the way!

Last year when I switched to the Mac platform however the options were slim to none in this arena. I tried several apps that were supposed to work but again, I got wonky results.

But, finally I have found a recording app that really does what it says it will, and it is called simply Call Recorder from a company called Ecamm.

Wow.  It is SIMPLE to use.  When you log onto your Skype account it starts up in a little side window.  When you are ready to start recording just click on the record button and that’s it.  When you’re finished, press stop.  The result is a very nice, crisp, natural sounding .mov audio file.  I’ve only tested it a few times but one conversation was 20 minutes and there was absolutely no out-of-sync issues.  FWIW,  I chose Medium Quality setting and the quality was superb!

However what makes this even better is the ability to also record video chats via Skype with PIP option as well.  Haven’t tried that yet, though.

They give you a fully functional 7 day trial which is also great (for those like me that’ve been burnt a few times with these type apps).

How much?  That’s even better: $14.95.  Wow again!

Thank you Ecamm for this great product!

Why not produce your own content?  It’s a reasonably priced option and easier than you might think to produce your own “show” for potential clients.

Let Mango show you how.

______________________

We have produced several dozen podcast for clients large and small.

The real beauty of podcasting as a push-marketing tool lies in it’s modest cost when compared to other big-ticket forms of traditional push marketing media such as TV, Newspaper and Radio.

Virtually live and available  24/7/365 to potential clients around the world.  In addition you can develop quite a following via service such as I-Tunes where your podcast episodes are available for download.

Visit our Media Vault to see some examples.