Check this out. Sanyo’s got a cool, new flash-memory (SD card) “Xacti VPC-HD1″:1 camcorder that shoots in 720p (1280×720 high definition) for $799. The camcorder also shots stills at 5.1 MP and has a relatively small formfactor.

Here’s some of the stats and info on the VPC-HD1 from “Amazon”:2.

* Compact, measuring only 3.1 x 4.7 x 1.4 inches (W x H x D)
* Digital media camera takes combines the functionality of a digital camera with a digital camcorder
* Records 720-pixel high-definition digital video and high-quality 5.1-megapixel digital still images simultaneously
* Clear 2.2-inch, OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display with 210,000 total pixels
* Highly efficient 10x optical zoom lens and 10x digital zoom

bq.. As with all of Sanyo’s previous digital media cameras, the HD1 can record still images in addition to video. A newly developed CCD captures beautiful 5.1-megapixel still images which are stored directly onto any standard SD memory card. The camera also features rapid continuous still shooting, red eye reduction, and an anti-shake digital image stabilizer. While conventional digital camcorders can often snap stills, they are usually low quality. And while conventional digital cameras can record short video, they are frequently grainy with a slow response speed. The Xacti HD1 can do it all, recording both 5.1-megapixel still images and high-definition (1280 x 720-pixel) digital video on the same unit. You can even snap a still image while recording digital video with the simple press of the shutter button.

The HD1 can record over 21 minutes of 720-pixel HD video on a single 1 GB SD card, or over 42 minutes on a 2 GB card. Alternately, the camera allows you to record in Standard Definition (640 x 480-pixels at 30 frames per second progressive) for up to two hours on a 2 GB SD card. If you’re looking to shoot home videos of the kids carving pumpkins or a dance recital, you can easily store hours of video footage using the standard definition setting. If high quality is your goal, then change the settings and get crystal clear high definition video. Switching between recording modes is a breeze; you simply press the “HD/Norm” button located on the display side of the camera body. Last, but not least, the Xacti HD1 is ergonomically designed with a comfortable, one-handed grip and convenient, thumb-operated controls that make it exceptionally easy to use whenever opportunity strikes.

p. Steve’s Digicams has a great review you can find “here”:3 (hint, they really like it). At the end of the review Steve has some sample shots and videos.

8 hundo is a bit much for a splurge, but if you’re gonna buy a camcorder or even a point-and-shoot digicam, this is one to seriously consider.

*_Update: 2006-03-07
Reader Jeff says that this “review”:4 might just be a good read before buying… the title is “Sanyo HD1 Camcorder’s Video Quality Called ‘Disastrous’”.

[4(Gizmodo on the Xacti)]http://us.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/sanyo-hd1-camcorders-video-quality-called-disastrous-157656.php

[3(Steves review page)]http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/hd1.html

[2(Amazon page for the HD1)]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000E0E6YC/103-5447449-7347004?v=glance&n=502394

[1(Sanyo homepage for the HD1)]http://www.sanyodigital.com/HD1/

I stumbled across this graph on Macromedia’s “site”:1 (aka, Adobe) today.

And “this”:2…

bq.. In September 2005, NPD Research conducted a study to determine what percentage of Web browsers have Macromedia Flash pre-installed. The results show that 97.3% of Web users can experience Macromedia Flash content without having to download and install a player.

p. I never knew that Flash was that ubiquitous. Amazing.

[2(Information about the NPD study)]http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/survey/

[1(Flash install base)]http://www.macromedia.com/software/player_census/flashplayer/

The other day I wrote a post that linked to the “W6BUL-5″:1 lightning-detection page. I was curious how this apparent hobbyist meteorologist had built a lightning-detector/display application. Searching on the term “stormvue” (which is displayed as the W6BUL-5 lightning-detection application loads) brings up “Astrogenic Systems”:2 as the first hit on Google.

One of the products that Astrogenic sells is called “StormVue”:3 which is designed to work with “Boltek lightning detectors”:4 (Stormvue is the front end of Astrogenic’s NexStorm application that runs $135).

Boltek makes a product called “StormTracker”:5 which is a $500 PC-based lightning detector antenna/PC-card solution. In Boltek’s words…

bq.. Boltek’s StormTracker uses state-of-the-art technology to make real-time lightning detection affordable. How does the StormTracker work? The StormTracker is an add-on to your IBM PC or compatible computer allowing you to not only tell if lightning is near but see where it is. StormTracker detects lightning strikes up to 300 miles away and plots them in real time on a map of your area.

StormTracker’s antenna is a small black box (3″x2″x1-1/2″) which may be mounted indoors (in a wood framed house for example) or outdoors. The antenna is typically mounted ten to twenty feet above the ground, away from large metal objects and sources of electrical noise such as televisions and computer monitors.

p.

A variety of third-party applications are designed to work with StormTracker including Astrogenic’s StormVue/NexStorm.

Pretty essoteric, but it’s pretty amazing what is possible with technology these days. I mean, who would have thought that for around $600 you could create your own real time, web-based lightning-detection application?

[5(StormTrackers homepage)]http://www.boltek.com/stracker.htm

[4(Bolteks homepage)]http://www.boltek.com/default.htm

[3(Stormvues homepage)]http://www.astrogenic.com/stormvue.html

[2(Astrogenics homepage)]http://www.astrogenic.com/

[1(W6BUL-5 lightning detection page for California)]http://members.dslextreme.com/users/eltorodelrio/Lightning/StormVue.html

The porn and Viagra comment spammers seem to have given me a break lately. However, I occasionally see a more sophisticated form of comment spam such as this one left on my post entitled “WSJ — The Art of Outsourcing”:1…

bq.. Outsourcing is most common for companies whose IT needs are well known in advance. IT outsourcing can also mean hiring someone to be your IT department. Such a partner must have people who can work closely with your staff to understand your unique business problems so that you can deliver.

p. Ok, maybe it’s not that sophisticated of a comment, but it’s clearly spam whose aim is to direct traffic to the spammer’s site (in this case, an outsourcing company in India). And sorry, no link love for the spammer.

Zoinger says, hit the delete and buh bye comment spam.

[1(Original Zoinger post on outsourcing)]http://www.zoinger.com/words/archives/2005/06/08/wsj-the-art-of-outsourcing/