Kodak

We’ve seen Flip Video impostors start to roll in (anyone remember the Creative Vado?), but Kodak’s Zi6, announced last night, is the first pocket camcorder that can give Pure Digital a run for its money: it shoots 720p video at 60 frames per second, has an SDHC slot that can accommodate cards as large as 32GB, and, unlike, the Flips, it can take still images (with a dedicated Macro mode, to boot). We were one of the first outlets to get a review unit, and we’ve already taken this little (or not so little) guy for a spin. Here are our first impressions.

Design

Compared to the Flip Mino, the Zi6 is gigantic, but it’s comparable in size to the older Flip Ultra, which was always more than light enough to carry. But whereas the Flip Ultra looks kind of like a Fisher-Price toy, the Zi6 has the same sleek look as the MOTOZINE ZN5 Kodak Camera Phone: it has a satin black (or pink) back, a non-protruding lens, matte silver accents, and a sharp 2.4-inch display. Next to the lens is a button that pops out the built-in USB connector. The Zi6 comes with 2 rechargeable AA batteries.

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Today Motorola and Kodak announced the result of a two-year partnership, and it’s one of the best camera phones I’ve ever seen. It really gives the Sony Ericsson Cybershots and Nokia N Series phones a run for their money. I was invited us to get up close with this new 5-megapixel shooter, called the MOTOZINE ZN5.

Key specs include a sharp 2.4-inch display, fast autofocus, a 3.5 mm audio jack (which doubles as A/V out), and a robust 350MB of built-in memory (optional 4GB microSD expansion). Plus, there’s Wi-Fi for uploading photos to Kodak Gallery and other services. Motorola didn’t forget this is a phone either, as there’s CrystalTalk technology on board for excellent noise reduction. Here’s why I’m excited about this camera phone, despite the lack of 3G. Yes, EDGE in 2008! Read the rest of this entry »