If you've followed my blog then you know that I'm a BIG FAN of TiVo HD! I just LOVE the TiVo interface and I have a few of them in my home (ok more than a few). However, I got an email from a few buddies asking if I was going to upgrade to the NEW TiVo Premiere unit. Quite frankly I said "no". I had heard about the New TiVo Premiere and I had read some of the info, but there wasn't anything that jumped out at me as a must have. Now don't get me wrong. If I was in need of another unit for another room or if one suddenly died I'd be getting a Premiere in a heart beat. However, I didn't see anything that would justify the hassle of selling my old one, figuring out a way to transfer/keep the lifetime service and dealing with Comcast to come out and install the new one.
TiVo posted a $10.2 million quarterly loss
Although TiVo has THE BEST product in the DVR category, they are still not winning. They just posted a $10.2 million quarterly loss. The way I see it is that TiVo suffers from two problems and neither of them has anything to do with the product. The first problem and probably the biggest one is that TiVo competes with the Cable Company's "good enough" DVR. Think about it. If you get Cable TV, your cable provider will happily bring a DVR to your home, install it for you and even spend a few moments showing you how it works. The DVR itself is functional and for most people that have never experienced a TiVo they will think the experience is fine. On the other hand If you go with a TiVo, you have to buy it (cash upfront), then have your cable company come out and install a CableCARD in it (a hit or miss process with most Cable installers ie. contractors), and then you still have to sign up for TiVo service and pay either a monthly, annual or one-time lifetime fee and you still won't have access to the cable company's pay-per-view content. The average consumer that doesn't know what TiVo is and they're going to take the easy route of going with the "free" or cheap (inferior) cable company DVR.
The second problem is that TiVo doesn't market well. Here's why I say this. Every time I bring up TiVo to a friend, the first thing they ask me is what does TiVo offer that the Cable Company DVR doesn't. Once I rattle off:
I can set it to record over the internet
I can transfer shows from it to my computer to watch on the road
I can transfer shows from it to burn to a DVD or put on my iPod/iPhone
I can transfer shows from one TiVo in my house to another one via my Network
I can easily put it on WiFi in rooms that don't have internet
I can access Amazon on Demand content
I can access Netflix Streaming Content
The interface is a million times better
They usually say OH! The problem is it's not my job to tell the world why TiVo is better, it's their marketing departments job and I have yet to see much of any of these benefits advertised.
The Bottom Line
As much as I LOVE TiVo DVRs, if they don't fix these two problems they will go the way of the Apple Newton.
Hey TiVo: Just a thought, but you have this really cool comparison info on your site if people go to find it. How about turning this into an Ad campaign, TV commercials, etc.? Just a thought….
A few days ago I wrote a post called "Are camera phones the new point and shoot cameras" and I guess the same thing could be applied to video cameras as well. I have a big older 3CCD Sony VX2000 Mini-DV camera as well as a newer Canon VIXIA HF10 HD camera that I LOVE! However, unless I'm specifically doing an event recording I'll probably just capture something quick on my iPhone 3GS and share it. The Canon is small but it's not pocket small. So this time I really do have a need for something in between. While the Canon is great, I don't always have it with me. While I do always have my iPhone with me the video is not the best. First off it's only VGA (640×480) and not widescreen. Everything I do nowadays is widescreen or HD unless it's something personal and fun just to share with friends/family.
I was leaning towards the Flip camera until I ran it by my buddy Dave Helmly (guru of all things video) and he has both cameras and said hands down the Kodak was better. Since they're the same price, I didn't look any further and I bought the Kodak Zi8. I gotta say, I'm blown away by what this little thing does. First off it supports video at full 1080p HD! My HF10 only does 1080i. It has a built-in SDHC slot so I just stuck in one of my Transcend 16GB Class 6 SDHC cards and started shooting. My use for this camera will be mostly for video podcasting/blogging and a few interviews here and there. Speaking of interviews it has a stereo mic input. Another huge plus as I can plug in any mic I want. I'm starting with this one. The Zi8 is about the same footprint as my iPhone 3GS and maybe 1.5 times as thick.
I recorded my first video in 720p mode with it here. This is using the built-in Mic. (Don't forget to switch the YouTube playback to 720p to see the maximum quality):
The experience was great. I used a Gorillapod to hold and angle the Zi8 and once I was done recording, I plugged in the Zi8 to my Mac Pro via the built-in USB pop out cable and stared editing in Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 right off the camera. Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 natively supports these tapeless formats and my buddy Dave did this video on editing from these USB cameras.
A couple of gotchas
Although the camera mounts right on the desktop via the USB plug, I will most likely just use a card reader going forward. Why? because once I was done editing and then started exporting the video using the Adobe Media encoder the Zi8 went to sleep and unmounted itself from the desktop. It appears that once it's fully charged and thinks it's "not in use" it shuts off. So from here on out I'll either edit off the card just like I do with the Canon or copy the video from the Zi8 via the cable. Another small thing is that you have to remember that there is NO ZOOM (optical or otherwise). CORRECTION: There is a 4x Digital Zoom. There is however a Macro mode switch right on the top of the unit. So while this camera is great for up close and personal stuff (what I plan on using it for) it would be very challenging to do event recording.
Sample Files
Here's a 5MP still shot I shot from the Kodak Zi8 right off the camera.
Here's a few seconds of 1080p HD footage I shot with the Zi8 in the native .MOV format right off the camera so you can see the quality and test compatibility with your editor.
The Bottom Line
The Zi8 is a GREAT buy at this price of $199 (on sale here at $179) yes I got the black one in case you were wondering ). It also features a 5MP still camera and can do full HD if needed. The mic input is a huge plus and it even has HDMI out for connecting directly to an HDTV to watch the footage. My primary use will be HD on the web/youtube and that's mostly 720p which this camera does great at. So I'm happy. If I ever need 1080p it does that too.
Also since I'll always have it with me it means that I can do more video reviews on the road.
Happy New Year! It's that time once again to take a quick look at my favorite gadgets of last year. The gadgets I've chosen were the ones that I used the most and that had the most positive impact on my day-to-day life. These gadgets were either introduced in 2009 or had significant updates in 2009. These are the gadgets that I would recommend to a friend without hesitation. So let's get to it…
iPhone 3GS
Anyone that knows me knows that the iPhone 3GS is my communications device of choice. The 3GS made my life easier this year with more memory, a faster processor, and graphics to run apps that I never dreamed of right from the palm of my hand. I use my iPhone quite a bit in my day to day routine. I actually get a ton of work/communications done with this device. I get both work and personal email, SMS and MMS messaging, productivity and business apps, and yes even the ability to make calls. This is the one gadget that I now couldn't imagine being without. See my original iPhone 3GS review here. Learn more about the iPhone 3GS here.
See my favorite iPhone and iPod touch accessories here.
Logitech Harmony One Universal Remote
When I am at home and not producing content, I enjoy my home entertainment systems and home theater. The one remote that has worked for me better than any other remote I've tried is the Logitech Harmony One. This remote is configured from your computer to do exactly what you want. Anyone with more than a couple of entertainment components should do themselves a favor and check out the Harmony One. See my original review here. Get the Harmony One Remote here.
Nikon D700 DSLR
As both a professional and a guy just likes to take pictures sometimes, I've been quite pleased with my Nikon gear over the years. Since I don't make my living doing photography, my needs are not as strong as a guy who does. However, that doesn't mean that I don't want professional results when I shoot. The Nikon D700 has been that nice blend of a GREAT DSLR without the relatively high price tag of say a Nikon D3s. This camera has been a joy to work with all year long, and I haven't had a moment's problem out of it. You can get the D700 body here.
Garmin Nuvi 765t
My cars have built-in navigation systems that are actually quite good, I don't really need a portable GPS until I travel. While the iPhone GPS navigation apps have continued to improve and will probably become my default choice in 2010, for 2009 my favorite GPS was the Garmin Nuvi 765t. This thing has performed very well for me and aside from the dumb default setting of allowing me to go on unpaved roads (read my adventure here), it has been a real joy to use. Read my original review here and you can get the Garmin Nuvi 765t at a sweet price here.
Apple TV 3.0
Apple TV is not new and I've been a fan for a while now. However, Apple did upgrade the firmware to 3.0 this past year and I gotta say that I think they nailed it this time. Yes, of course there is room for improvement, but I found myself using my Apple TV units more this past year than I ever have before. I converted all of my movie DVDs to create my own personal on-demand system (read about that process here). The ability to rent/download movies, play music videos, play my entire music collection, and play my own home movies makes this an indispensable gadget in my home. You can get the Apple TV here.
di-GPS Pro
Yep, I love gadgets. So I'm intrigued by the ability to Geotag my photos. Hands down the best GPS for my camera that I've used or seen is the di-GPS pro. I used it for just about all of my landscape and vacation shoots in 2009 and with the amount of travel I have coming up for this year, this device will be a permanent resident in my bag. You can see my original review here. You can get the di-GPS Pro here (new models!).
Wacom Intuos 4
Wacom really outdid themselves with the Intuos 4. This tablet has become such an intregal part of my workflow that I keep an Intuos 4 Small tablet in my computer bag at all times. I just really couldn't imagine using Photoshop without one, and if I have to retouch a photo and but can't use my tablet, I'll wait!
See my original Intuos 4 video review here. Get the Intuos 4 here.
TiVo HD
Who has time for live TV anymore? I certainly don't. So when I do have time to sit and watch something, it's usually after the show has aired. TiVo HD has continued to be the gift that keeps on giving. Each new update that happened in 2009 brought useful features to enhance the value of this box. Now with Amazon movies on demand, Netflix streaming, YouTube, the ability to transfer shows from one TiVo HD to another, and, most importantly, the ability to transfer shows to my computer to take with me, this gadget is definitely tops on my list. Also, being able to program it to record a show from anywhere I have an internet connection (including my iPhone) is just icing on the cake. You can read my original review here. You can get the TiVo HD here or the TiVo HD XL here.
HyperMac and TruePower IV
I tried to keep this list to my Top "10" Gadget Picks of 2009, but I just couldn't. So I'm going to cheat here and group these two products together as one. Don't hate me. I've used the HyperMac Battery (see my original review here) more than I ever thought I would when I first bought it. Not only do I use it in travel, but now I'm finding that I use it for things like meetings in rooms where power isn't as easy to get to. The fact that it can keep both my MacBook Pro AND my iPhone going is a big plus. I have it with me on every flight and on every flight I arrive to my destination fully charged (well at least my gear anyway). You can get the HyperMac Batteries here.
Although the HyperMac battery is great, I don't always have my computer bag with me. So in those cases I'm just using my iPhone. My favorite iPhone battery is the TruePower IV. While it is bigger than some of the newer options out there, I still love the feature set and design. You can read my original review here. You can get the TruePower IV here.
Apple MacBook Pro
It all comes back to my MacBook Pro. I don't know what it is about this notebook, but I use it probably 95% of the time. Sure I have other computers around the house. I have faster desktops for sure, but I do the bulk of my work on my MacBook Pro. Unless it's heavy duty video editing (which I have done on this thing too), I just like the convenience of being able to work in any room, out by the pool or just about anywhere. I'm not even on the latest model, but I love using it. Although I haven't found the glossy display to be a problem or slow me down, my next 15" MBP will definitely have a matte display. I saw them side-by-side in the Apple Store and the difference was night and day from a glare perspective. Otherwise, this is the one gadget out of all of them that I couldn't give up. You can learn more about the MacBook Pro here.
I work for Adobe, but…
Since I work for Adobe it would be pretty self-serving to include these next two products in my top 10 list. However, quite frankly I couldn't have produced all of the content that I produced this past year had it not been for the Adobe Creative Suite 4 Master Collection and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2. Every single image that appeared on this site was processed via Photoshop. Every video review I did was edited in Adobe Premiere Pro CS4. My animated openings were done in After Effects CS4.
All of my photography for the entire year including the live shoots I've done on the show floor at various tradeshows were done in Lightroom. So while I do work for Adobe, I couldn't imagine doing this site and all of the reviews I do without these products. Take it for what it's worth! These products rock! Learn how to use the Adobe Creative Suite and Lightroom products here.
DVD Extras have never really excited me. I can't think of a single DVD movie that I bought because it had great extras. Director's commentaries, deleted scenes, alternate endings, interviews and trailers are all cool, but I almost never look at them. So needless to say when Apple announced iTunes Extras in iTunes 9, I wasn't even remotely interested. Then something happened…
I saw that I can have visual chapters now?
I loved the NEW Star Trek movie so much that I bought it on iTunes immediately and later on Blu-ray (yes, I know the Blu-ray comes with a Digital Copy. I was excited OK?). I hadn't had a chance to watch it again until recently. I decided to watch it on my Apple TV. I was pleasantly surprised by the menu that came up. Sure I knew about the possibility of Extras, but what I wasn't expecting was a more "DVD like experience" in the form of a menu and more importantly CHAPTER perspective.
iTunes Movie downloads (and DVD/Blu-ray Digital Copies) have always had chapters that you could skip to. However, there was never a visual menu to access them before now.
Although the chapters give you a nice icon and I imagine can also be video thumbnails, they are still just labeled as numbers instead of chapter descriptions/names.
Yeah, the other Extras are OK too
I would be remiss if I didn't at least talk about and show you the other extras while I've got your attention.
The Star Trek Extras include: A J.J. Abrams Featurette (19:31), musical Score, Trailers, Movie Poster Art, Artwork for all the various aliens in the movie (this was actually pretty cool) and links to various sites, including the music from the movie on the iTunes store and Apps for your iPhone/iPod touch: Star Trek Captains Log and Star Trek Phaser App.
The Bottom Line
It's clear that Apple is continuing its move away from optical media. We may never see Macs with Blu-ray players in them (I hope we do) at this rate. This is one more step towards the "you don't need a disc" argument. (yes I know Blu-ray is better. I'm not saying it's not. Remember, I bought it on Blu-ray too?). I still can't say that I would buy a movie just because of the Extras. However, having a DVD style menu for the movies that I do buy on iTunes is certainly welcomed. iTunes Extras display in iTunes on your Mac/PC or on your Apple TV. Yes, Star Trek is just as good the second, third and forth time too
My close friends know that I'm not really a fan of Samsung products. However, I have to give credit where credit is due. I recently came across the Samsung BD-P4600 Blu-ray player and the thing that caught my eye was that it was wall mountable AND it has built-in Wi-Fi. It still floors me that [...]
). It also features a 5MP still camera and can do full HD if needed. The mic input is a huge plus and it even has HDMI out for connecting directly to an HDTV to watch the footage. My primary use will be HD on the web/youtube and that's mostly 720p which this camera does great at. So I'm happy. If I ever need 1080p it does that too. 
