Quick hands on: Flip minoHD

PureDigital, the current champ of quick-and-easy video recording, upped the ante on Wednesday with its new Flip minoHD camcorder, which is able to record widescreen video in 720p.

Here's a quick rundown on the new product: The minoHD features recording in 16:9 widescreen at 1280 x 720 pixels, 4GB of embedded flash for up to 60 minutes of recording, a lithium-ion battery with a two-hour battery life, a TV-out port, touch-sensitive buttons, and full case customization if purchased online.

At first glance, the camcorder is very glossy and sleek and fits in the palm of your hand very nicely. The screen feels a tad small but is manageable. The touch-sensitive buttons are responsive, and the USB plug is well concealed.

After playing around with it in Union Square, I noticed that the minoHD had very crisp video and pretty good sound recording, although in some fast panning/action sequences, there would be some minor tearing. UPDATE: I'm pretty impressed with how well this camcorder records in well lit areas. However, for areas not well lit, I noticed granular images. Still good for quick-and-dirty movie taking though.

The minoHD does feature TV out, but only in standard resolution (480i). I haven't been able to get my hands dirty with that function yet, but I'll keep you all posted. UPDATE: Although I would have loved to see 720p out, playback via composite was surprisingly clear with well-lit movies.

Two small changes I would make: Add different recording modes to save space, instead of only allowing 720p recording, and also, I'd like to see a microphone-in jack for the possibility of high-quality audio recording.

Overall, I can't help but grin while looking at the minoHD—it's a neat device. At $229, it's on the pricey side, but if you're looking for super-easy HD recording on the go, the minoHD is fun gadget. And the fact that you can customize the look of it makes it a great stocking stuffer.

TheFlip.com - Flip minoHD