Around 2,100 of the staff losses will be through voluntary early retirement, which Cisco has already negotiated with its employees. Those redundancies in the US, Canada and “select countries” will be announced in the first week of August, with the remainder worldwide to be revealed at a later, unspecified date.

While cost-cutting is Cisco’s stated intention, the downsizing will cost it significantly. Overall, the combination of redundancies and early retirement offers are expected to exceed $1.3bn over the course of 2011 and 2012, with the bulk in Q4 this year. It won’t be the only cost-cutting the company attempts, either: Cisco has warned of other restructuring charges incoming as a result of its attempts to “simplify the organization, refine operations, and reduce annual operations expenses.”

Whether that – or the expensive, $799 Cius tablet – will be sufficient to turn around Cisco’s financial future as a whole remains to be seen.

[via Telecoms]

The iPhone microphone will be connected via Bluetooth, and will allow the user to record audio from the mic after pairing.

Scosche was named CES Innovations 2011 Design and Engineering Awards Honoree for their Flip freedoomMIC model. This microphone will connect to the Flip UltraHD 2 via USB and will also allow for wireless audio transmission.

Both of the microphones will retail for $99 and are still waiting for approval/certification, but we should expect to see them in March of this year.

Bluetooth Class 1 is used, for up to 100 foot range, and the microphone itself has noise-cancellation DSP and remote control buttons to start and stop the camcorder recording.  The rechargeable battery is good for up to 4hrs use, and will be in stores in mid-December priced at $99.99.

Press Release:

Scosche Designs freedomMIC™ Lavaliere Mic for new Flip UltraHD 2HR Video Camera

The new mic is the company’s first Designed for Flip Certified product

Oxnard, CA, – September 21, 2010 – Scosche Industries, an award-winning innovator of iPad, iPhone, iPod and now Flip video camera accessories, is proud to announce its first Designed for Flip certified products – freedomMIC™ lavaliere mic for the Flip UltraHD 2 HR/8 GB video camera. The Scosche freedomMIC receiver plugs directly into the UltraHD’s FlipPort™, which will come standard on all future flip video camera models, to provide users with the ability to wirelessly record high quality audio to accompany the Flip’s HD recording capabilities.

The freedomMIC features a high performance condenser microphone with DSP noise cancellation. Users can also wirelessly control record and stop functions remotely from the microphone/transmitter. The wireless system operates on Bluetooth Class 1 technology and provides up to 100 feet of wireless range. The complete system features the wireless transmitter and the microphone that that clips directly to the subject.

The freedomMIC is powered by rechargeable lithium ion batteries in both transmitter and receiver, which provide up to 4 hours of recording time. The receiver also features a pass-through tripod mount for securing the receiver to the camera and retaining the ability to use a tripod.

The Designed for Flip initiative teams Flip Video with leading companies in multiple product segments to provide a wide selection of general purpose and specialized products for both current and future Flip video cameras.

The freedomMIC will be available at scosche.com and from retailers that sell the new Flip cameras that feature the new FlipPort line in mid to late December 2010 for $99.99 MSRP.

That actually makes for a reasonable flexible pico-projector in its own right, and the iGo is capable of a 1200 x 800 picture in either 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio and with 20 ANSI lumens brightness.  Unfortunately it’s also a little more expensive than picos of recent months: Flip says it’ll be $349.99 when it arrives next month.

You also get a microphone input, allowing you to use the Mikey as a bridge for an external microphone, together with automatic volume control and a “Loud” setting that’s apparently intended for situations like concerts which might normally overwhelm a mic.  On the bottom is a tripod mount, and it’s powered by an AAA battery rather than sucking the juice out of your Flip.

Unfortunately, while the new Flip Video camcorders are on sale today, Blue Microphones don’t expect the new Mikey to be available until CES 2011 in January next year.  It’ll be priced at $69.

The two 8GB versions can store up to two hours of footage, while the 4GB models max out at an hour.  All but the cheapest UltraHD have image stabilization, and of course there’s the flip-out USB plug and preloaded copy of FlipShare for basic editing and uploading content.

The Flip Video UltraHD 4GB is $149.99 while the UltraHD 8GB is $199.99; the MinoHD 4GB is $179.99 while the MinoHD 8GB is $179.99.  They’re on sale today in various colors, or can be customized online at TheFlip.com.

Meanwhile Cisco has also kicked off a “Designed for Flip” accessories program, with various third-party companies taking advantage of the new FlipPort connector.  For instance, Blue Microphones will be offering the Mikey for Flip, an external microphone, while Scosche are readying a wireless clip-mic.  iGo have a new Pocket Projector accessory, a pico-projector which snaps onto the FlipPort for showing your footage at up to 70-inches.

Press Release:

Cisco Debuts All-New Flip Video Lineup

New Line Delivers Next-Generation Video Quality, Expanded Personalization Capabilities, and More Options for Fun
September 20, 2010 — San Francisco, CA
Cisco’s Flip Video™, the world’s leader in shoot-and share video cameras, today rolled out an all-new line of affordable UltraHD™ and MinoHD™ video cameras. These new video cameras feature Flip Video simplicity, enhanced HD video quality, hardware-based image stabilization, expanded product personalization options, and more ways to share video using pre-loaded FlipShare™ software. Flip also announced today Designed for Flip™, a new program offering fun accessories from a wide range of partners that include everything from wide angle lenses and external microphones to battery chargers and a portable projector (see separate release).

“This is without question the best line of Flip Video cameras we’ve ever created,” said Jonathan Kaplan, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco Consumer Products. “The new line combines Flip simplicity, affordability and fun with truly breakthrough video quality, image stabilization, and unlimited personalization options.”

Building upon the acclaimed Flip Video user experience — which makes it easy and fun for anyone to capture and share video — Flip Video’s new line has raised the bar again, by delivering amazing video quality without compromising Flip’s hallmark simplicity. By combining its innovative, always-on image stabilization technology with 720p resolution at 60 frames per second (fps), Flip now offers the consumer stunningly clear and steady video that’s both simple and affordable. The new Flip Video line is available nationwide starting at just $149.99, offering a video camera for every budget.

In addition, the entire Flip Video family is now available in personalized designs so Flip owners can express their own personal style with every Flip they buy, at no additional cost. Consumers can visit the Flip Online Store (TheFlip.com) to choose from thousands of designs from artists, celebrities, and iconic brands, or upload an image to create their own one-of-a-kind Flip video camera.

The new Flip video cameras also come pre-loaded with the latest version of FlipShare, which helps consumers easily organize, edit and share their videos. FlipShare upgrade now includes direct posts to Twitter™ – joining the convenient direct-share options already popular with Facebook™ and YouTube™. Flip Video users can count on stunning video no matter how they choose to view or share it – on a computer, their HDTV or using the simple direct uploads to social media sites.

New UltraHD Family
The world’s best-selling shoot-and-share video family – the Flip Video UltraHD – now offers two new models with even more reasons to own one. For the first time, the UltraHD line offers personalization through the Flip Online Store (TheFlip.com) with thousands of designs for users to create a video camera showcasing their own personal style. Along with always-on image stabilization and newly enhanced 720p/60 fps video quality, the new Flip Video UltraHD 2 hour also features a new slimmer design that fits easily in a pocket or purse. The UltraHD 2 hour is the first Flip video camera to feature FlipPort™ – a proprietary Flip-designed connector enabling new add-ons options as part of the newly announced Designed for Flip™ accessory program.

The new Flip Video UltraHD 1 hour is the first-ever HD Flip Video camera priced at $149.99. An industry top-seller and consumer favorite, this Flip offers more for less: one hour of high-quality HD video; Flip simplicity, no-hassle built-in memory; plus a choice of magenta, blue, white or thousands of unique designs.

New Flip MinoHD Line
The new MinoHD 1 hour and 2 hour video cameras are sleek and stylish with enhanced HD video quality. Like the new UltraHD 2HR, the new MinoHD video cameras now feature the built-in image stabilization and 720p/60 fps combination allowing consumers to capture incredibly clear and steady video. Flip customers can opt for black, silver or from thousands of designs at the Flip Online Store (TheFlip.com). To express their own personal style, consumers can easily upload their own image to create a one-of-a-kind Flip MinoHD video camera.

Availability
The new Flip video cameras will be broadly distributed and are available starting today at the Flip Video Store (www.TheFlip.com), Best Buy and Amazon.com and coming soon to Wal-Mart, Target and Staples.

Press Release:

Flip Video Expands Consumer Options with “Designed for Flip” Accessory Program

Shoot & Share Category Leader Offers New Ways to Extend the Fun with New Flip Accessories from Aquapac, Blue Microphones, Bower, iGo, Ikelite, Seagate and Scosche
September 20, 2010 — San Francisco, CA
Cisco’s Flip Video®, the shoot and share video camera leader, today announced an all-new accessory program called Designed for Flip™ to expand the Flip Video experience for consumers. New Designed for Flip accessories announced today include a range of products including: wide angle lens, two different types of enhanced external microphones, waterproof cases, battery chargers and a pocket projector.

“People choose Flip because it makes capturing and sharing video simple, affordable, and most of all, fun,” said Simon Fleming-Wood, senior director of marketing for Cisco’s Consumer Products. “The new Designed for Flip program extends the fun with more choices from leading accessory companies so Flip users can do more and go more places with their Flips.”

New Designed for Flip and FlipPort™
The all-new Designed for Flip line will debut several products starting today and then continue to roll out more accessories through the fall and beyond. The Flip Video Designed for Flip team is working with leading companies in multiple product segments to provide a wide selection of general purpose and specialized products for both current and future Flip video cameras.

A key component of the Designed for Flip initiative is a new Flip Video feature called FlipPort™. The FlipPort is a uniquely developed connector found on the bottom of the new Flip UltraHD 8 GB/2 hour video camera — also announced today — that will become a standard feature on future generations of Flip video cameras. The FlipPort, will allow a range of specialized accessories to easily plug right in to Flip video cameras and open up a world of new uses and creativity for consumers.

New Designed for Flip products using FlipPort include Mikey for Flip, from Blue Microphones™, a professional quality external microphone that lets Flip users capture even better sound quality ranging from a whisper to a rock concert. Scosche™ will also be offering a wireless lavaliere microphone that will enable up close audio ideal for interviews. iGo™ is also offering three new products: the Overtime Battery extender which doubles the Flip Video battery life; the Charge Anywhere power adapter can charge two products at once such as a Flip video camera and another USB accessory; and finally a new Pocket Projector will allow Flip owners to instantly project and watch their Flip video clips directly from the video camera anywhere and on any flat surface up to the size of a 70” TV. In addition, Seagate has plans to support Flip video cameras with FlipPort in the coming months.

For all Flip video cameras, the Designed for Flip accessory line also features a wide assortment of products to let users do more with their Flip. New accessories now available include Flip Waterproof cases from Aquapac®, which allow consumers to use their Flip video camera for activities such as sailing, snorkeling and skiing, a line of underwater cases from Ikelite™, ideal for scuba diving and a new magnetic Wide Angle Lens, from Bower™, that makes it easy to capture wide-angle video footage.

Pricing and Availability
Select Designed for Flip accessory products are available* today in the United States at the Flip Video Store (TheFlip.com) and will be coming soon to Amazon.com and other retailers.

For information about how to become a Designed for Flip developer, please contact developer@theflip.com.

Comptuerworld spoke to Martin De Beer at Cisco Live! and was treated to a few previews of coming products from the company. Cisco is looking at this Christmas to launch a version of the Flip that sports WiFi. Cisco also talked about an interesting product called Media Experience Engine that would allow Apple products to receive and view Flash content.

Cisco also has plans to fully support Apple FaceTime video chat and will develop a video client for supporting video on the iPhone 4 that will be sold on the App store. The app will be called Movi for the iPhone and no launch date was offered.

While the top display is a resistive panel, there’s also a capacitive touchstrip on the bottom section that can be used for whizzing through video timelines.  As well as an HDMI output and swing-out USB 2.0 plug, there’s also a 3.5mm headphone socket so that you can privately review your video on the move.

720p with a basic 2x digital zoom and neither optical or digital image stabilization doesn’t seem especially impressive for $279.99, and we can’t help but wonder whether Flip – or their parent Cisco – simply saw all the touchscreen furore of late and decided they simply had to include one in their new model.  It’s available to buy now.

Video demo after the cut

Apparently functionally the Slide HD is pretty much on a par with previous Flip camcorders, only it has a new 3.5mm headphone socket in case you want to preview your footage while on the move.  There’s 16GB of onboard memory, good for up to 4hrs of HD-quality video.

There’s no sign of an official press release from Cisco yet, but we’re guessing that if stock is already at – and leaving – retail stores then it’s likely to come sometime this week.  Still, you could always try to jump the queue and see if they’ll sell you one early.

The Business Insider reports that Cisco will launch a new set of Flip camcorders around the NAB show, which is slated to run from April 12-15.  Flip video cams have been wildly popular (and quite a good deal for the budding video aficionado).  What’s next, 1080P HD recording? (Hopefully).

The proprietary wireless is based on 802.11n, so it should be speedy enough for reasonably high resolution video content; certainly enough to cope with the sort of footage you could record with a Flip camcorder.  Flip Video reckon the FlipShare TV will be ideal for less tech-savvy users, though arguably a regular WiFi connection built into the set-top box and no requirement for installed software would make that an easier sell.

Walt Mossberg has reviewed it, and reckons it works – up to a point.  Considering Flip are billing it as a straightforward way to share content not only in your own home but with family and friends remotely, the absence of simple things like a “new video waiting” indicator are disappointing; Flip say they’ll be adding that to an updated model next year.

At $149.99 it undercuts the SlingCatcher by fifty bucks, and of course the Sling device lacks onboard wireless.  We’re not entirely convinced, but if you’re addicted to your Flip camcorder and you want to keep things in the family when it comes to streaming, the FlipShare TV might scratch an itch.

Press Release:

FLIPSHARE TV NOW PLAYING IN A FAMILY ROOM OR ON A BIG SCREEN TV NEAR YOU

Latest Innovation from Flip Video Creates an Easy Way to Watch and Share Flip Videos on TVs Everywhere

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., December 2, 2009 – The makers of the acclaimed Flip Video™ family of camcorders, recently acquired by Cisco®, today announced a brand new innovation in home video sharing called FlipShare™ TV. An industry first, FlipShare TV brings the user’s entire Flip Video library of photos and videos into the family room and onto the TV screen without wires, and lets them share video instantly with other FlipShare TV owners. FlipShare TV extends the Flip Video product family by making it even easier for Flip users to enjoy and share video with friends and family anywhere.

“We’re bringing back the home movie night,” said Jonathan Kaplan, senior vice president and general manager, Cisco consumer products group. “There’s now a simple and affordable solution to view and share photos and videos on any TV.”

Like all Flip Video products, setting up and using FlipShare TV is simple. The small FlipShare TV base connects to the TV via the included composite cables or an HDMI cable, and the FlipShare TV USB key plugs into a USB port on a PC or Mac. The USB key and console are preconfigured to function wirelessly* so the Flip videos stored on the computer can be instantly viewed on the TV with no need for a wireless home network. Using the included wireless remote, the user can easily click through the intuitive TV interface to watch their favorite videos, custom movies, or photos and watch them in full HD.

FlipShare TV is designed to work with FlipShare 5.0, the new software from Flip Video that provides an easy way to organize, edit, and share favorite video moments online and through mobile phones. The new FlipShare TV takes sharing one step further by providing a simple way for users to display videos in full glory on their television, or share them with others on their TVs. With FlipShare TV, a user can also watch video shared by other Flip Video users on their own TV. FlipShare TV automatically accesses video shared through Flip Channels™, presenting them for users to watch directly through the simple FlipShare TV interface.

The Perfect Gift for Far-Away Family and Friends
FlipShare TV is a great new way to share videos with loved ones anywhere. A Flip user can simply set up Flip Channels within FlipShare and choose the friends and family they want to be able to watch. Whenever they add new content to a Flip Channel, everyone included in that channel can view it instantly. So now, grandparents can simply turn on the TV and watch the latest Flip video of their grandchildren, or siblings living far away can share video to each other’s TVs with ease.

FlipShare TV Features:
Watch FlipShare video and photo library instantly on the TV
View any shared Flip Channel videos on the TV
Share Video with anyone else who has a FlipShare TV
FlipShare TV Includes: TV Base, USB Key, and Remote
TV Base Console: 4.6 x 4.6 x 1.3 inches / 4.6 oz
Remote Control: 3.9 x 1.6 x .04 inches/ 1.3 oz
USB Key: 3.5 x 1.0 x 0.5 inches / 0.6 oz
Wireless: 802.11n point-to-point proprietary interface (does not require a home wireless network)
Batteries: 2 x AAA for remote (included)
Composite cable included

Pricing and Availability
MSRP: $149.99
Availability: Amazon, BestBuy.com, Target.com, Wal-Mart.com, and the official Flip Store at theflip.com

That large screen won’t be touch-enabled, however, likely a cost saving decision, and the WiFi will apparently be able to access not only private but public wireless networks.  It’s unclear whether that includes paid WiFi hotspots, which often require some sort of browser-based login system.  The as-yet unnamed Flip WiFi camcorder will go on sale in the first half of 2010, price as yet unknown.

Most of us are familiar with the low-cost line of Flip camcorders, which are traditionally some of the most popular camcorders on the market. The reason the Flip line is so popular is in part due to the low cost of the recorders. The downside of low cost is that you don’t get the sort of accessories that you do with more expensive gear.

In the case of the Flip line, that means no remote for controlling video from across the room. Apparently, Flip is set to offer a RF remote to allow fans of their camcorders to sit back and control video from across the room. Details are scant on the device, but we know it is made by Foxconn. Engadget reckons that the thing may well be a remote for an unannounced media box for the living room. It does look a bit more complex than what would be needed for simply controlling a video camera, so who knows.

Cisco has announced that it will be rolling the Flip Video line out to German consumers in November. The company will offer its Ultra and Ultra HD camcorders as well as the Mini HD and the Mino HD Chrome. The FlipShare software will also be offered to German consumers.

The software works with Mac and PCs and allows the video recorded on the cameras to be easily edited and uploaded to video sharing sites like YouTube or MySpace. Pricing for the cameras in Germany is unannounced at this time.