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2006 - 2011
Flip Video
“Press the red button.”
- Birth year
- 2006
- Shutdown year
- 2011
- Lifespan
- 5 years
- Peak era
- 2007-2010
- Company
- Pure Digital / Cisco
- Category
- Devices
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On Video
A Flip Video camera TV advert
Plays from YouTube when you press play. Views, length and date from YouTube, October 2026.
About This Video
- From:
- Philip Hodges
- Added:
- November 28, 2009
- Length:
- 0:30
More Videos4 videos
What Was It?
Flip Video cameras made filming simple: one big red button to record, a tiny screen, and a USB plug that flipped out of the side so the footage could go straight onto a computer and then to YouTube.
Made by Pure Digital Technologies from 2006, Flips were everywhere at birthday parties, concerts and early video blogs. Cisco bought the company in 2009 and released HD versions such as the MinoHD and UltraHD.
In April 2011 Cisco shut the line down as it left parts of its consumer business. Smartphones with good video cameras had already made a separate pocket camcorder hard to justify.
Things You Probably Forgot
- The flip-out USB arm
- A single red record button
- Uploading straight to YouTube
- Grainy concert footage with booming sound
The Story
- 2006 Pure Digital Technologies released the first Flip Video cameras.
- 2009 Cisco Systems bought Pure Digital in March.
- 2011 Cisco discontinued Flip Video in April.
How It Died
Cisco discontinued Flip Video cameras in April 2011 as it exited parts of its consumer business, with smartphone cameras eroding demand.
What Replaced It?
Memories
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