Tiny Camcorder Targets YouTube Fans

Pure Digital Technologies - best known for their disposable digital cameras and camcorders - on Wednesday announced the Flip Video Ultra, a pocket-sized camcorder that works with Macs and PCs. It's priced starting at $149.99 and it's available from big box retailers.

Using a similar form factor to Pure Digital's disposable camcorders, the Flip Video Ultra is rectangular, with a fixed lens located off center on the front. It connects to a Mac or PC using an integrated USB 2.0 interfaces, and features on-board software so you can edit your video for uploading to YouTube and other video sharing services.

The camera features 2x digital zoom, 1.5-inch display on-camera playback and delete, one-click video e-mailing or video "greeting cards," custom editing of movie mixes, capture of still frames from video, a built-in tripod, and DVD processing at more than 9,400 labs nationwide.

Aimed squarely at consumers who might be intimidated by higher-priced, more feature-laden cameras, the Flip Video Ultra records video at VGA quality (640 x 480 pixels) at 30 frames per second.

The camera comes in 1GB or 2GB models - the 2GB model can store 60 minutes of video, according to the manufacturer - for $149.99 and $179.99 respectively. The 1GB model comes in white and black, and the 2GB model is available in white, black, orange or pink.

Pure Digital is also offering accessories for the Flip Video Ultra, including a pouch, tripod, action mount and USB extension cables.