Mid-Summer News '99: Part2
The Summer just keeps getting hotter and hotter in the world of Home Electronics. Several announcements this past week are sure to peak your interest.
In Parallel product announcements, both Canon and JVC have indicated the impending release of new, professional quality, 3-CCD miniDV camcorders for the consumer market.
Canon's entry, dubbed the GL1, uses professional L-series Flourite lenses and well as possessing other features such as, a 20x optical zoom lens (40-806mm), its patented Optical Image Stabilization, an improved directional microphone, IEEE-1394 and Analog in/out connections. Also standard on this unit is a 2.5" color monitor. If the success of Canon's famous XL1 is any indication, the GL1 should prove even more popular, especially since the price is projected to be only $2,800!
What does it look like? From the photos I've seen, it kind of looks like a Sony DCR-VX1000 with an LCD Screen and a larger lens. Watch for this one to hit the streets by late September.
As mentioned above, JVC has also announced a new miniDV professional quality camcorder (the GY-DV500), in direct competition to Canon's current XL-1. Although there is limited info on this unit (nothing on the Web yet), I can tell you that it follows a similar design to JVC's line of SVHS pro cams. The design is similar in appearance to the famed Sony V-5000 HI8 cam of years ago.
From a technical standpoint this camera is a serious threat to the XL1. First of all its 3-CCD's are 1/2" in diameter instead of the more common 1/3" and 1/4" chips used in the Sony and Canon units. The unit is also equipped with XLR microphone connectors and interchangeable lens capability. For more info, check out the August, 1999 issue of Videomaker Magazine (may not be on the WEB edition yet).
No MSRP has been announced by JVC at this time, but it is anticipated to be in the $4,500-5,000 price range, that is, if it hopes to compete with Canon's XL1 and upcoming GL1.
Finally, Blossom Technologies has announced the release of the PVA-2000 (Personal Video Appliance) which takes the TIVO, ReplayTV, and DishPlayer concept even further. Using the same basic Hard Drive recording technology of its competitors, PVA can perform not only the tasks of its competitors, it can also be used a Non-linear Video Editor. With its user-friendly "iEdit" interface (dubbed "Nellie"), anyone in the family can edit video. Just plug in your camcorder or VCR and the PVA logs each clip according to length. Each clip is marked with a picture icon for easy reference. The user can then use a variety of transition and title effects to complete the video, which you can copy back out to VCR.
To top it off Blossom also expects to provide an optional "i-surf" module that will allow the PVA-2000 to function as Web Browser, much like WebTV.
The only question I have is what happens when Mom wants to want the week's recordings of soaps, Jr wants to surf the WEB, and Dad wants to edit his vacation video at the same time?
Is the Home PVA network far behind?
The MSRP for Blossom's PVA-2000 is $2,995.
For more information on Camcorders, be sure to check out my Camcorder Netlinks.
For more info on TIVO, ReplayTV, and similar devices, check out my Interactive TV Netlinks.
Feel free to email me at homeelectronic.guide@about.com
with your questions and/or comments.
