The popular Flip video camera is no more, with Cisco announcing Tuesday it “will exit aspects of its consumer businesses,” which includes shutting down the Flip.
In a statement, Cisco says that it is realigning its consumer businesses to “support four of its five key company priorities.” On the subject of the Flip, Cisco says it will “close down the Flip business and support current FlipShare customers and partners with a transition plan.”
Read this short article and comment on what you think about this move. Wise decision or not? What's been your experience with the flip? Write at least two paragraphs in your response.
That was a short lived project. Really thought there was a market for this. Sounds like they just got lazy and don't want to pursue it anymore because they weren't seeing a large enough boom in the field. Maybe it's like the article said and it's just a halfway project to something bigger.
ReplyDeleteI've only used the Flip Cam a few times and in my experience it seems like a useful product. My dad uses it for holidays and family vacations all the time. It's more economical than a video camera but less versatile than a smart phone. I think it could have some improvements and be great.
Cisco has made a very wise decision to discontinue the Flip because there are so many alternative sources to use instead of the Flip camera. Most people have phones which have video on them so they will use that instead of buying another technical device. It was a good move made by Cisco to get out of that business now before it loses them more money.
ReplyDeleteMy experience with the Flip camera hasn't been so great. My first time to use the camera it failed on me in the middle of a project. I opted to use my phone instead which worked great. The iMovie program which I am working with has worked great so far. It was a good alternative move and I will never purchase a Flip camera.
I understand where they are coming from with this decision, but it does me zero good to spend years in the School of Journalism working with a FlipCam, only for them to discontinue it upon graduation. It seemed like a useable technology skill to know when entering the multimedia, digital age of the field of journalism. I realize there are other options on the market to replace the Flip, but that does mean starting the learning process all over.
ReplyDeleteMy experience has always been simple and straightforward with my FlipHD. It's easy to point, shoot and edit for small projects while still providing decent quality video.
The decision is fine, because it is not about the brand we are using anymore, it is about how efficient the product is. Multimedia approach is been around for some time, and things like these are not surprising.
ReplyDeleteI had good experience with the Flips, even though the only slight difficulty with them was transvering data to the computer.
I am not happy about this decision. I feel that the flip has been integrated into college courses successfully. While I am not familiar with the company's finances, I do not think that the company should discontinue the product. I believe that the Flip camera was very useful for ordinary people trying to capture ordinary things in an economical way.
ReplyDeleteI have had great experiences with my Flip camera. I make all of my videos via Final Cut Pro. I have appreciated the convenience that my Flip camera offers. I wish that the camera offered better focusing for long range shots, but other than that, I have been very pleased with it.
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ReplyDeleteI believe that this is not a wise decision because many journalists have conformed to using Flip video cameras. Flip cams are also very inexpensive and affordable for students who are studying journalism. These video cameras were easy to use and the editing software was simple enough for my parents to learn. Flip cams have helped multimedia succeed and it will not be the same without them.
ReplyDeleteMy experience with the Flip camera was great. I found the video camera very useful. There are some aspects of the camera that could use some improvements. These are more space for videos and a port to hook up an external microphone. Other than that, I love my Flip camera.
This project is the first time that I have used a Flip cam. I like how they are small, easy to use, hand-held devices. They are lightweight and very simple. I like how they are low cost and easy to upload the videos to sites like Facebook and Youtube. Yet, I still would not purchase one.
ReplyDeleteThe phenomenon of having a Wi-Fi enabled Flip never materialized or caught on to the masses. With the new Iphones, including built in video cameras, most people have no need for a Flipcam. These smartphones also have a built-in connection and can upload videos directly to the web with no computer required. It looks like the IPhone and other emerging smartphones will eventually supersede all other forms of technology. In addition, with the launch of the new iPad2, there is an additional decreasing need for FlipCams. Flip cams were a good idea but technology is always changing and it is hard to keep up.
First of all, I was surprised when I learned that the Flip was being discontinued. I figured that a low-cost camera that shot in HD and could easily upload video to YouTube would be popular with consumers.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I can see how the Flip would have been unpopular. I own the SD version, and I am not very pleased with how it works; the camera does not zoom in very close, and the picture quality can be a little grainy, especially when it is zoomed in.
The Flip Cam seems like a product that was never truly completed. It is almost as if it was a quick idea that manufacturers were excited about in the beginning and then quickly gave up on at the sight of competition. Anybody in the business world knows that when you put out a new product, especially as a technological leader, you have to watch it closely while updating and upgrading consistently.
ReplyDeleteMy little brother was given one for Christmas and used it sporadically and for no good reason until about New Year's Eve. Then he lost it and never thought twice about it. The only instances I really know of people using Flip Cams is in the journalism field- usually for a pre-planned interview. Which just shows that it is not as convenient as a smart phone.
One of the major mistakes made was that it never attempted to make improvements or advance itself in the marketplace. The Flip Cam idea made it halfway to huge success and then gave up on itself.
It was a smart business move in my opinion that Cisco decided to RIP their Flip Cam division. They are listening to the consumer and looking ahead at new developments toward the video phone. This is a technologically advanced society. Companies have to move with the consumer's behavior and see what their customers are wanting and what they expect. You can't compete with a phone that can directly upload to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The average consumer isn't going to want to upload their video through a USB cord when they can send it through the internet. It just isn't fast paced enough. Cisco is smart by stopping their production with the Flip Cam now and seeing that it will no longer be profitable.
ReplyDeleteI feel that Cisco is making a wise decision by discontinuing the Flip. I feel that it is just a more complicated video version of what is now available on all smartphones. The Flip was an innovative invention, but Cisco is in a fast-cycle market and they should focus on new research and development to come up with a new product.
ReplyDeleteI have had problems uploading Flip videos to my computer and am still having problems with background noise. I would rather use my iPhone video that I am already comfortable with.
To some people the flip cam may be considered extremely useful, and for other it may seem like just another tech savvy creation.
ReplyDeleteWe are living in an age where technology is ever evolving, and this means that we will see may products come and go over the next several years. The flip cam being one of the first to go.
In today's society, people want the most practical product, in the most convenient way. The flip cam was not offering consumers those characteristics. With inventions such as the Iphone, Ipad, and other such products that offer a multitude of different applications, the flip cam could not compete.
I have never had any experience with the flip cam, but with all of my other options out there, this product seems like the least practical device for me.
Today if your not the best the best in technology, you are not offering consumers anything.
I think that while the flip cam has been very useful to many students, Cisco is making the right business decision by taking the product off the market. Eventually, it seems that Cisco is going to start losing money from producing these...so why not quit while their ahead.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the flip cam just seems like an extra accessory journalists and students have to carry around in order to record a story. The majority of smart phones have video cameras installed in them, some even recording higher quality footage. Although there are a plethora of physical benefits surrounding the flip cam, I would never purchase one. It seems like a waste of money when I can record HD video on my smart phone.
I have never owned a flip cam and I have only used them sporadically; however, I have seen the benefits of having a cheap, pocket sized camera that more or less records quality video. The point that the article makes is that smart phones have replaced the need for a flip cam and I also think that's true. Flip cams are attractive but seem to have no additional qualities that cannot be found in the latest smart phones.
ReplyDeleteI dont have a smart phone, or a flip cam, and no I have not been living under a rock. But I assume consumers looking for a piece of technology to record video in that price range figure getting a smart phone is a better deal. With that being said, or known, I assume it's a smart business decision to move on from the flip cam. Their decision, I'm sure, comes after declining sales which the company clearly attributes to being an irrelevant technology.
Cisco was pioneering with the introduction of the Flip, but at some point in time, every technological device becomes obsolete by the creation of newer and better inventions. Now that most smartphones have video options and the ability to upload video straight to the web. The iPhone can even edit video without ever uploading it to a computer.
ReplyDeleteWhile I salute Cisco for their attempt, they are smart to discontinue the Flip. They assisted the world in progressing video, but at some point, everything has a time to go. It's better to admit it in advance than lose millions by praying for the comeback that will never happen.
It's disappointing to me that Cisco has decided to stop production on the Flip. It's true that hand held devices have improved dramatically, but the ease of using a Flip made the camera more accessible to someone who might be uncomfortable with more sophisticated technology.
ReplyDeleteRather than shutting down the brand, I think Cisco should have looked into advancing the Flip camera so that it could be a competitor with others on the market. That way the company would still have an easy to use camera for those who don't need bells and whistles, and another line of cameras for those who want all the technological advances.