Pivothead HD recording sunglasses

As video recording devices get smaller, we’re getting to the point where we can easily record countless aspects of our lives. Think about skiing down a black diamond run and recording everything you experience from your point of view. Or maybe zip-lining through the jungles of Costa Rica or hiking through the Grand Canyon.

With the Pivothead HD recording sunglasses, capturing all of these experiences on video is not only possible but very easy. Just wear these stylish sunglasses or one of their other models and you’re on your way with effortless, hands-free video and audio recordings.

We tried out the Durango model pictured about and the videos turned out great. All of the controls are on the left side and are very easy to use, and as you can see the sunglasses look great so you’ll fit right in and look great as well.

The Pivothead unit we tested captures 1080p HD video @ 30 fps, along with 720p @ 60fps and 720p @ 30fps, and uses a 8MP Sony CMOS Image Sensor. You can use all sorts of settings to customize the type of videos or photos you’ll capture, including Auto, Continuous, Fixed, and Macro Focus Settings, and you can also get up to 16-shot rapid burst still photos and time lapse burst still shots at various intervals. Just experiment with the various settings and you’ll find what works best for different situations.

The sunglasses come with a handy protective carry case along with a USB 2.0 cable for easy transfer of your videos and photos. You’ll be packing it for all your vacations and we’re sure you’ll come up with all sorts of interesting ways to use these things.

Pivothead has recently reduced the price to $299 just in time for the holidays, and they are also running a Cyber Monday promotion for an additional $50 off + free shipping in the US. (promo code: CyberMondayOnly) Check them out for a great gift idea for the gadget lover on your list.

  

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Netflix backs down and keeps DVD service

Netflix responded quickly to the backlash surrounding their recent announcement to split their traditional DVD subscription business from their streaming business by reversing their previous decision. The announcement to create “Quickster” as a new service that would handle DVD subscriptions going forward was a PR disaster for Netflix, partly because it was handled poorly and seemed to come out of nowhere. Customers were blindsided, and this followed very unpopular price increases.

Here’s the email that Netflix sent out to subscribers:

Dear ____________,

It is clear that for many of our members two websites would make things more difficult, so we are going to keep Netflix as one place to go for streaming and DVDs.

This means no change: one website, one account, one password…in other words, no Qwikster.

While the July price change was necessary, we are now done with price changes.

We’re constantly improving our streaming selection. We’ve recently added hundreds of movies from Paramount, Sony, Universal, Fox, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, MGM and Miramax. Plus, in the last couple of weeks alone, we’ve added over 3,500 TV episodes from ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, USA, E!, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, ABC Family, Discovery Channel, TLC, SyFy, A&E, History, and PBS.

We value you as a member, and we are committed to making Netflix the best place to get your movies & TV shows.

Respectfully,

The Netflix Team

Many analysts and tech experts actually liked the move, since the streaming and DVD businesses are so different. Yet the stock has lost more than half of its value since July of this year.

While the whole episode, including today’s reversal, seems like a case of bad management decisions, it also highlights the difficulty companies are facing with the constantly changing landscape surrounding content delivery. With new tablets, smart phones and consoles, consumer behavior evolves rapidly, and business models can see significant success followed by the threat of obsolescence. Netflix helped put the final nail in the video store business, and now streaming is shaking up the DVD by mail model. The brain trust at Netflix can’t seem to stick with a strategy, but it’s hardly surprising given the uncertainty out there.

Meanwhile consumers have tons of options, and the next few years should offer a dizzying number of new options. For many of us, that’s part of the fun.