What’s the Future for Flip?
In March Cisco announced intention to acquire Pure Digital, producers of the Flip video camera. The Flip fits well into Cisco’s video architecture stratigies as well as leveraging growing “Web 2.0″ growth.
Sadly for Cisco, I fear that the Flip, like Tivo is doomed. However, like Tivo, Netflix and iPhone, the Flip is another SF Bay Area based innovation that is likely to have a significant impact on our personal relationships with technology, our lives and on future innovations.
Shortly after I launched the BlackBerry App store, I saw the first writings on the wall. The Qik App allows you to stream live video footage through a flash player on their website. It records as it streams and invites whoever you want to come view it. This cuts out several steps in the Flip process, which has been hearlded for it’s simplicity, ease of use and quick ability to share. Not only that, I’ve tested the feature that auto posts the videos to my Facebook page after I push “stop recording” and “ok” on my BB.
While video quality at the moment is not on par with Flip, especially the HD Flips, but it’s clearly just a matter of time before they start beefing up the video cameras in our phones.
Web based video editing is also a reality. You can go over to Jay Cut and edit the Qik videos (or any other video, including Flip videos). The tools are even more robust that Flip’s while remaining just as simple!
While Qik and Jay cut sit nicely on the horizon, there is a more imminent threat to Cisco’s Flip ROI. Apple is rumored to be expanding the video camera feature into their iPod line.
What’s Cisco to do? First thing I’d suggest to Chambers is to start working on more useful video editing features. Second, I’d suggest he start finding a way to package Flip Software as an App in the BB and other phone stores. Allow people to use the cameras they already have and get the sharing going with the “Flip level” of ease of use. Lastly, maybe find a phone partner to make a “Flip Fone”.
At the end of the day, the last thing I want is to be hauling around is $1,500 in the form of 4 gadgets (phone, DAP, vid cam and don’t forget your trusty point and shoot digi cam!). For this reason alone, I think the Flip is doomed.