iPhone 3GS vs Flip Mino, Ultra HD: Street video slap down

Which handheld mobile video recorder will rule the streets? There is no question which device offers better quality, but that’s hardly the only factor to consider in this wireless, mobile world where citizens are capturing the stories and images that define our times—from now on the broadcast is the revolution.

The world is an imperfect place and this comparison is a fine example of this maxim in motion. SFGate has posted side-by-side comparisons of iPhone 3GS and the Flip Ultra HD captured street video and the results are quite clear—Apple doesn’t win on image alone.

Nevertheless, make no mistake, Apple and its zeitgeist defining handsets still come out on top.

Then again, when you can capture, edit and post video on the spot that’s more than “good enough” using one device, there’s no question who wins.

That said, certainly the Flip Ultra HD has the quality to make the iPhone 3GS’ convenience seem downright contrived and meaningless, right? Well, if you have any doubts on that score, you’ll have to click through to see that result.

The broadcast is the revolution…

Regardless, even though the iPhone 3GS doesn’t win the quality comparisons, the bottom line is that, like consumer grade point-n-shoot cameras (another market dying as we speak), the writing is on the wall for cheap digital camcorders because Apple’s solution doesn’t require a host computer and is just gonna keep getting better and better. Moreover, with the arrival of the next-generation iPod touch in September, which is expected to include still and video capture, expect to see a massive explosion in mobile video capture, editing and uploading.

Honestly, how much better/engaging/timely would the citizen reportage of the Iranian street protests have been if they had been using the iPhone 3GS? The world’s definitely shrinking and whatever oxygen there is in the mobile video space is about to vanish…

What’s your take?

• 

Related posts:

1. Apple may be preparing flip version of iPhone
2. iPhone Video Recorder: record video with sound
3. Future iPhones, iPads to have video chat?
4. Apple’s next-gen iPhone to have video camera
5. Get The Wall Street Journal on your iPhone, iPod touch