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Surf the Net on a Digital Camcorder

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the two-scoops-of-yummy dept.

Daniel Rutter writes "Sony's DCR-IP7 Network Handycam IP is digital. It's really small. And it's got a super-tiny one hour cassette, USB, i.LINK and Bluetooth connectivity, a Web browser, an e-mail client, and a quite long list of other features." Pricey, but interesting. The review kinda pans the device, but I still dig the idea.

2 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. Convergence.... by Teancom · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This isn't a new idea, but when are we going to stop calling things by one name? For instance, what makes this more of a digital camera, than a portable web client with video capture capabilities (aside from marketing)? When something can capture video, surf the net, send email, host a website, play videogames, and play mp3s, I call it a pc... I'm not saying that they should immediately switch naming schemes or anything, I'm just interested in where you guys think this is going. Where do you draw the line between a camera with extra features, and a pc with a camera?

    p.s. I'm not saying that this particular "camera" can do all those things, I'm theorizing that it will be only a matter of time before they can.

  2. Re:Only one question- by SteveM · · Score: 3, Interesting

    And email? On a video camera?

    The site is /.'d, so I could not check the specs. Nor could I see who this camera was intended for.

    While this doesn't make sense for a consumer grade camera today, it might make sense for a pro grade camera for use by reporters in the field.

    Consider some one in Afganistan with one of these. No need to take a laptop, and thus one less gadget to lug around. Just send the video directly from the camera.

    But if this is intended as a consumer product, then I agree with you. It makes little sense.

    Steve M