HD Video

Biscotti this week unveiled the Biscotti TV Phone, a device that lets you make free video calls on your HDTV to family and friends around the world on their TVs, computers, smartphones and tablets that support Google voice and video – all with no monthly fees. Biscotti can even be programmed to automatically answer calls from select contacts and turn on the TV when you receive a call.

The small, the biscotti-shaped device is easy to use too. All you need is a TV and Wi-Fi – just plug it in and start making free calls. The high-definition camera and microphone can capture the entire room, so if your family is together for the holidays but Aunt Jane is stuck in Wisconsin, everyone is visible when you call to say how much she's missed.

Biscotti TV Phone works with Wi-Fi uplink speeds as low as 256 Kbps and delivers true high-definition at speeds of 1 Mbps or greater. It is compatible with HDMI-enabled TVs and popular cable and satellite boxes. A six-button remote control is included. Read more

Today, Kodak was named the official camera partner of Burton Snowboards - and with that announcement comes the special Kodak PlaySport Video Camera, Burton Edition featuring a bold, orange design resembling Burton's Custom 154 Snowboard.

The Kodak PlaySport is a rugged, pocket-size HD video camera that's waterproof up to 10 feet, offers full 1080p HD video, 5-megapixel still capture, and includes electronic image stabilization and an LCD Glare Shield feature. It also has built-in software and a USB cable output so you can easily edit and share your videos on social networking sites and via email.

This limited edition PLAYSPORT comes with a custom camera holster that fits around the arm or leg, a Kodak remote control, a Kodak lithium-ion rechargeable digital camera battery and a 4GB Kodak SDHC memory card which can capture up to 80 minutes of HD video. The product bundle will be available for $199.95 beginning in January 2011 at Burton.com and Kodak.com.Read more

Zoom on Wednesday announced the availability of the Q3HD Handy Video Recorder – the only handheld point and shoot to record both HD video and HD audio (24-bit/96kHz).

The Q3HD features a new lens and imaging sensor that records in both Full HD 1080p at 30 fps and 720p at 30 or 60 fps. It has three lighting settings: Auto, Concert, and Night, allowing you to capture detailed videos in almost any light. You can then view captured videos on the color 2.4-inch LCD screen in 16:9 format by simply turning the Q3HD on its side. A built-in HDMI port is included for watching recorded content on your HDTV, as well as a USB 2.0 cable for transferring movies to your computer.

On the audio side, two studio-quality condenser microphones configured in a wide 120 X/Y pattern give the Q3HD its clear stereo sound. Audio levels are easy to set too, thanks to the onboard level meters and mic gain switch with auto gain control.Read more

Kodak has a new pocket video camera hitting stores shelves this fall, the Kodak Playtouch. The Playtouch records video in 1080p and features a 3-inch capacitive touchscreen as well as on-camera editing. It also has a Share Button which lets you tag videos directly on the camera for automatic uploading to social networking sites.

Additional features include built-in image stabilization, LCD glare shield, an external microphone jack, built-in USB arm, HDMI output (HDMI cable included), and it has an expandable SD/SDHC card slot (up to 32 GB). The Playtouch runs on a Li-Ion rechargeable battery and features in-camera charging.

The Playtouch also has 4 capture effects, including B&W, sepia, high saturation, and '70s film look. In addition to shooting HD video, the Playtouch takes 5 megapixel stills and is compatible with PC and Mac iLife. Read more

Do you ever worry about what's going on at your house when you are away on vacation? Or wonder if your kids made it safely home from school? Logitech today introduced Logitech Alert, an HD digital video security system that lets you monitor your home both inside and out.

Two systems are available, the Logitech Alert 750i Master System and the weatherproof Logitech Alert 750e Outdoor Master System with night-vision. Both master systems come with a smart HD camera, PC and Web software, and free remote viewing on a computer (PC or Mac), or smartphone.

Both systems can be set up in three steps: install the Logitech Alert software, connect to your network, and plug in your camera. That's it. Logitech's HomePlug AV networking uses your existing electrical wiring and outlets to connect your cameras to your network.

The cameras capture HD 720p video, feature a 130-degree wide-angle lens have a 2GB MicroSD card for storage, enough space for about a week of video (depending on the amount of motion-triggered recording). The system's built-in DVR automatically starts recording when motion is detected, and the recorded video is automatically backed up when your computer is connected to your network. Read more

The folks over at Panasonic have been busy bees lately. Yesterday we told you about the new 3D camcorder and today we have two new Panasonic camcorders that double as web cams, the HDC-SDX1 and HM-TA1.

The HM-TA1 is a pocket camcorder that shoots 1080p HD video as well as 8 megapixel stills. It also doubles as a web cam and microphone by just connecting it to a computer via (included) USB port. Software is integrated as well, so using video chatting services such as Skype easy.

The TA1 features a 2.0" LCD monitor, 4x digital zoom, and records to an SDXC/SDHC/SD memory card. A built-in LED light is included for shooting in dimly-lit locations. This pocket cam measures just 2.09 inch (w) x 0.70 inch (d) x 4.09 inch (h), and weighs just 0.25lb (and that's with the battery and SD card!). Read more

Last week Sony introduced the NEX-VG10, an HD camcorder featuring the first consumer interchangeable lens. It also is the first Handycam with an extra-large Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor (about 19.5 times bigger than your standard camcorder sensor).

The NEX-VG10 features a 3.0" LCD swivel display and records full 1920x1080 high definition video at up to 24Mbps. Its' E-mount 18-200mm lens has 11x optical zoom, a silent auto-focus system and Optical Steadyshot image stabilization with Active Mode.

The camcorder also shoots 14 megapixel stills with DSLR-quality features like Auto HDR, Handheld Twilight, and Anti Motion Blur, and has a continuous burst rate of up to seven fps.Read more

EchoStar and XStreamHD recently entered into a long-term satellite service agreement allowing XStreamHD the use of satellite capacity from the EchoStar AMC-16 satellite. With the agreement, XStreamHD's 1080p HD entertainment can be delivered via satellite directly to homes.

Per the press release, "XStreamHD offers HD entertainment in a 1080p format, the highest quality viewing experience, delivered via satellite directly to homes. Its patent-pending technology enables XStreamHD to deliver a higher standard of digital entertainment that is equivalent to the quality of physical media. Utilizing Fixed Service Satellite (FSS) capacity from the AMC-16 satellite, XStreamHD transports multiple streams of Pre-Fetched Entertainment (PFE) to a subscriber's sophisticated XStreamHD Media Server. With PFE, consumers enjoy a better level of entertainment convenience by having access to a customized storefront of movie titles that are automatically placed in their media server's personal library based upon their unique user preference and distinct title selections."Read more

Logitech wants to bring HD video to anyone, anywhere, and they are well on their way. The company just announced a full lineup of HD webcams as well as Logitech Vid HD, software which lets you make free HD video calls.

First in the lineup of HD webcams is the new Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910. It features 720p video calling, Full HD 1080p video recording, Logitech Fluid Crystal technology and one-click HD-uploading to Facebook and YouTube. The HD Pro C910 also gives you stereo sound with its two mics – one on either side of the webcam lens. It will be available in August for $99.99.

For portable HD video calling and recording is the Logitech HD Webcam C510. Featuring a folding design; it is easy to carry in a backpack, purse, even your pocket. It also rotates a full 360-degrees so you can include more people on your video calls and recordings. The Logitech HD Webcam C510 will be available in June for $59.99. Read more

Cisco just announced a brand new Flip camcorder with a cool, new design – the Flip SlideHD. You can record up to four hours of HD video on the camcorder, and then view it on its slide-up 3-inch widescreen display. The device also allows you to store up to 12 hours of videos, photos, and content from Flip channels; features a touch screen; and is the first Flip with real-time video sharing.

The SlideHD is pre-loaded with FlipShare software for organizing, creating, and sharing your videos. Using your computer (PC or Mac), your Flip video content can be uploaded and shared instantly with friends on Facebook, YouTube and other social media sites.

The Flip SlideHD is available now for $279.99. Choose the standard white/silver design, one of the thousands of designs offered on www.theflip.com/store, or upload your own image to make it unique. Read more