iPhone 4 and HD Video

[Nick Nolte]

Well they showed of the "magical" device today at WWDC. I have a 3G and am eligible to upgrade for the discounted rate. Right now I just have a Logitech Quickcam Pro for Notebooks which is velcroed (yes, velcroed) to the back of my rear-view mirror. I use it to film time lapse when I'm chasing.

For real-time video I use a Canon Powershot A570 in video mode, lol. A few days ago I had been looking into getting a FlipHD or something similar. I don't think I want to jump in with $500+ for an actual camcorder just yet, then I remembered the iPhone announcement was coming and it might have HD Vid.

Is anyone else considering, or have thoughts on, using the iPhone 4 for HD video if/when they get it? I'm thinking it might be a decent solution for those who don't want to spend 500 C-Notes.

I do know one thing, I will not be buying the iPhone 4 until after it has been jailbroken

 

[Scott Hammel]

This was the first thing I thought of when I saw the HD video capture capability and iMovie now available on the phone. I use iMovie on my Macbook at home to quickly chop clips up and push to Youtube because of it's simplicity. Now that ability is right on the phone which would be an awesome way to send a quick video to Youtube or my website while out on the chase. Unfortunately it again comes down to AT&T. Not only with their subpar coverage on most of the plains but but also because pushing video, especially in HD, takes up some serious data. The same type of data which they've capped down to 2 gigs. These 'big announcements' from Apple always make me get my hopes up that this is 'the one' where they announce other carriers getting the phone and every time I end up disappointed. So as far as the iPhone coming to Verizon, well, I've officially given up hope. So sad because this new version appears to be pretty impressive.

 

[Nick Nolte]

I have a feeling the iPhone will be coming to Verizon in 2011. I think that is the motivation behind AT&T bumping up discounted upgrades and then raising the Early Termination Fee to $375. They want people locked in for two years for when their exclusivity ends next year. This is just my feeling, though, not a guarantee. It is also possible Apple will wait til everyone is on LTE/4G.

Also, if you have an existing "unlimited" (5GB Soft Cap) plan you can stay on that even when switching to iPhone 4. But, yes, AT&T coverage is lacking in the plains.

My only real interest is in the HD Recording. iMovie for iPhone is nice, but I don't think I'd push to Youtube while I'm out chasing, and I don't think I'll ever do the streaming thing.

 

[Brandon Goforth]

AT&T's network problems are because of the IPhone and IPad. That's why they're doing away with unlimited data packages. Verizon would be the same way if the IPhone were used on their network, if not worse. If/When the IPhone goes to Verizon, you won't see unlimited data packages from them either. No carrier can currently keep up with the rapid increase in data transfer offered by the newer phones.

And no, I wouldn't ever use an IPhone to record storm video to post online, lol!

 

[Nick Nolte]

And no, I wouldn't ever use an IPhone to record storm video to post online, lol!

I can't see why not, unless you already have an HD camcorder in your chase gear. My situation is I don't. It records 720p at 30fps, the only draw back I can see is no optical zoom, but then again right now I'm using a webcam!

 

[Brandon Goforth]

I can't see why not, unless you already have an HD camcorder in your chase gear. My situation is I don't. It records 720p at 30fps, the only draw back I can see is no optical zoom, but then again right now I'm using a webcam!

Because the quality you'll get from even a $500-600 camcorder is still going to blow it away.

 

[Nick Nolte]

Because the quality you'll get from even a $500-600 camcorder is still going to blow it away.

Yes, I think that was clear in my OP that I understood it wouldn't match the quality of a $500+ HD Cam, and that I didn't want to buy a $500+ HD Cam at this time. Some people use a FlipHD out there and I figured since I'm on the iPhone upgrade train, it could be a viable alternative. Guess I'll find out.

 

[Steve Miller]

Quality aside, between shooting with my HD cam and my DSLR at the same time, holding my iPhone up to shoot video will probably not be something I have time for.
I love my iPhone and will upgrade to the new one but will probably keep my tornado video on the higher-end equipment simply due to multitasking issues.

Nick, you should invent the iTripod!

 

[Nick Nolte]

Nick, you should invent the iTripod!

lol, that was the other thing I thought about. Someone will surely come out with a case that doubles as a tripod, or some kind of similar iContraption.

If not, I'm sure I can fashion something out of rubber bands and paper clips.

 

[Scott Hammel]

I would never consider this a replacement for my HD camera...I meant it in the sense that if you wanted to pop a quickie 1 or 2 minute video up on the fly, it might be an easy way to do it.

 

[Nick Nolte]

Yeah, if I had a HD Cam I wouldn't use the iPhone either lol.

And if anyone is curious, I guess they already make tripod mounts, just Amazon iPhone Tripod. Actually they should call it a TRiPOD

 

[Brandon Headley]

I will be upgrading from my iPhone 3g to the iPhone 4 because it has been 2 years since I have upgraded. I am looking forward to the video portion, just for quick videos. I will still be carrying my main camera and a dash cam. This will make a good backup and something to upload a quick video to Youtube on the fly.

Yes AT&T network will be the biggest problem, but hopefully the new plans will limit other peoples usage. HA probably not.

 

[J Tyler]

Right now, I'm using a "HD web cam" to stream video to ChaserTV. It is also advertised as 720p, and even at its best quality settings looks like a $80 web cam. My Canon HF100 HD Camcorder blows it away as expected.

My plan is to upgrade to the iPhone4 and mount its in car dock where the rear facing camera gets a view of the road ahead. I can then have yet another source recording what is happening, and this will be on AT&Ts network. That way, I have my laptop on Verizon so I have two ways to get the video out if needed. I also have the Canon HF100 which is HD video to a flash card instead of a tape or hard drive, making it a very fast load into my laptop to edit/send.

I've been researching my brains out, and here is what I've basically found.....Sprint is first to offer 4G, but it is using WiMax which is not supposed to be as good as the different version of 4G that both AT&T and Verizon are going to use. Now, when the analog TV spectrum was auctioned off back in 2008, Verizon came in on top in the bidding, so they got a big, single chunk of the 850mhz spectrum (?). AT&T was left with a bunch of little blocks of frequencies spread all over the spectrum. Because of this Verizon is able to quickly put their 4G network in place, and is expected to have it rolled out by the end of 2010. AT&T, on the other hand, has to untangle the big mess of frequencies they got. This is causing a delay in BOTH equipment out in the field AND in handsets, so AT&T is one full year BEHIND Verizon in their 4G rollout.

Interestingly, the "dude in charge" at Verizon stated that sending 1gig of data on the 4G network was a "fraction of the cost" of sending 1 gig of data on the 3G network. We can only hope this helps with future customer rates.

I've probably messed up a few details here and there, but I think I've got this mostly right. Feel free to correct where I've gotten details wrong.