Flip Mino Goes HD

— -- The makers of the Flip Camcorder, Pure Digital Technologies, today launched a new product: the Flip Mino HD. The new camera weighs a little over 3 oz., records 60 minutes of HD video, takes HD still photos, and sells for about $230. FlipShare software is preloaded on the device, which allows you to share videos and edit them on either a Mac or Windows system. As with the original Flip, the Mino HD connects directly to your computer via USB. FlipShare software is also available as an upgrade for owners of older Flip models.

Pure Digital just can’t seem to sit still; in 2007, the company released its original VGA-quality Flip camcorder, which has already become wildly popular with customers. The company says it has sold 1.5 million Flip units after a full year in the marketplace. For some perspective on that claim, consider this: U.S. customers purchase an average of 3 million camcorders a year. Pure Digital has surely increased the size of this customer base, so it seems unlikely the company owns more than 50 percent of the marketplace, but there is no question the company is the number 1 camcorder maker in America.

With its simple product line, Pure Digital has made huge inroads against major manufacturers, and The New York Times is reporting that Pure Digital is also the fastest growing tech company in Silicon Valley. The company has increased by 44,667 percent over the last year with an employee base of 90 people. If the company can keep coming up with affordable and innovative devices, it may be the leading camcorder maker for years to come.