Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/04/15/creative_vado_to_follow_cisco_flip/
Creative set to follow Cisco out of camcorders
No more Vado launches in the pipeline
Posted in Hardware, 15th April 2011 11:55 GMT
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Creative may be about to follow Cisco's lead and withdraw from the pocket camcorder biz.
Cisco announced this week that it is killing off its Flip Video camera line [1], which it acquired when it bought Flip creator Pure Digital in 2009. Creative has been offering its Vado family of YouTube-centric camcorders for almost as long as Pure and Cisco have.
But maybe not for much longer.
While you can still buy a couple of second- and third-generation Vado HD models, Phil O'Shaughnessy, head of the company's corporate communications, told Reg Hardware: "Creative is currently not planning to introduce any new products in the pocket video camera category."
Of course, that's not an unequivocal cancellation along the lines of Cisco's announcement - Creative may change its mind - but it's certainly not a ringing endorsement of the product category either.
With tablets all getting video-capable cameras, many of them HD, and likewise gadgets such as media players - Apple's iPod Touch already has a video camera, and the next iPod Nano is expected to get one too - let alone all the smartphones with 720p HD video capture, there's less and less need for a separate quick'n'dirty camcorder.
That persuaded Cisco to shut down Flip, and it seems likely Creative has tacitly called time on its Vado range too. ®