Bad news again, as if we can take any more. The awesome looking and I expect sounding Blue Mikey for Flip has been well and truly buried.

Hillary Money at Blue Microphones just sent me this:

“In great anticipation of the accessory program announced by Flip Video last September, Blue Microphones announced Mikey for Flip, a professional-quality external microphone for Flip cameras. Due to the announcement from Cisco regarding the abrupt discontinuation of Flip cameras, we sadly announce the death of Mikey for Flip.

As one product life ends, we look forward to taking all that we learned with Mikey for Flip and continuing to build upon our Mikey line of microphones for iPods, iPhones and an upcoming digital version for the latest Apple devices.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Society for Preservation of Totally Awesome Handheld Recording Devices are encouraged.”

So when I received the news I had to probe a bit and ask if the Blue Mikey for Flip actually existed, were they stored in a warehouse somewhere waiting for cremation and could we still persuade them to release it? A lot of Flip users are in despair does Blue Mikey realise that the Obituary newspaper clipping might not go down well? I received this:

“We also share in the surprise and disappointment of Flip users. We dedicate hundreds of hours of energy, creativity and heart into the development of our products and not being able to see Mikey for Flip through to fruition is disappointing to us as well. But we are saying goodbye to Mikey for Flip in true Blue-style, with the same creativity as was put into its creation. There are no user-friendly prototypes available and no inventory to sell.”

For me as a Flip blogger the Blue Mikey would have made the Flip unquestionably the number 1 Pocket Camera, but now we’ll never be able to say that and be taken seriously as most of the Pocket Camera Universe didn’t even know the latest Flip had a Mic port!

I’d say hats off to Blue Mikey for actually bothering to let us know their views even though I’m not too keen on the Obituary idea.

Can this saga get any worse?

PS. I’m going to carry on shooting and make my Flip last, if you need any Flip tips and don’t have it already please grab my free ebook (top right column) before that dies too!

I can’t confirm this but I read this comment from an unhappy Flip Owner on Facebook. It’s in connection the Blue Mikey plug-in mic for the Flip Ultra HD 3g that is overdue for release.

“I just got off the phone with their sales department [Blue Microphones]. Sadly…the mikey for flip is dead. She said that they did indeed halt production. When I tried to find out if consumers would be able to buy any of the ones that WERE produced…she would just say that the product was never released. So I don’t know if there are any floating around out there. SUCH CRAP! Thanks a lot CISCO!!!”

Cisco have just made an announcement:

Confirmed they are exiting the Flip business.

1. Tech Support for Flip Video cameras continues until 31/12/2013
2. New Flips you may buy will still carry a 1 year warranty.
3. Flip cameras still available to buy while stocks last.
4. FlipShare supported until 31/12/2013.
5. Video sharing discontinued after 31/12/2013.

There is no news about 3rd party Mic accessories.

Cisco Systems also write:

“The teams have been reading your comments from emails and our social media community pages and are touched by the overwhelming number of thoughts and messages. We hope you will continue to have fun with your Flip video camera, and we appreciate your loyalty and business.”

You might want to read more and express your oppinion here, it seems like they are no longer deleting or holding back comments.

Cartoon Via Slashgear

The Wi-fi might have been nice but we didn’t need the other stuff. The existing FlipPort and a probably never to be released Mic would have made the Flip Video Camera top of the Pocket Cam game and that would have been enough for now.

ps. Did you know according to David Pogue of the NYT a new ‘Flip live’ model was due out the day they killed the Flip with the ability to stream live to the world via Wi-Fi? I’m wondering where are those units now and will they be trashed? If so what a waste of resources!

Save The Flip! Join the campaign!

“The Brand lives on” says Jonathan Kaplan, founder of the start-up which created Flip. He was speaking to All Things Digital. What do you think this means? In our hearts? Or will the old team reconvene and make a new camera?

Someone just unsubscribed from my amazing Flip tips email list! Very short explanation was given. Bye. (Hint: you can sign up top right column)

Don’t let the Flip go the way of the Dodo! Save the Flip. Sign Up to the campaign now.

So the day after Flip announced it was burying the Flip Video camera here are my thoughts. I’ve done them as bullet points because I can’t put full sentences together .

• This is a battle between minimalism (the Flip, the fans, the small people) v the Big Corp.
• Flip was more than a camera it was a lifestyle! You can’t trash that!
• It’s about a device that does one thing well v smartphones which try to do everything. No contest.
• I like the Iphone but I won’t let my kid use it down on the beach (unlike the Flip)
• I won’t attach my Iphone to the side of a car to get some cool shots – replacing it is £400
• I do shoot video on an Iphone but it’s fiddly as hell and doesn’t fit in the hand so well!
• Yes the Kodak Zi8 has some cool features but it looks like a dogs dinner!
• Flips are used extensively in education and by charities who give them to people in developing nations to record their issues. Will they hand out smartphones, and what type of contract would that be!
• Some people bought the Ultra HD 3g because of the promise of 3rd party flip port accessories, what will happen to those accessories now?
• What happens to flipshare and future upgrades during the lifetimes of our flips?
• UPDATE – The LA Times writes: “Though Cisco will stop producing the Flip camera, it will still support its FlipShare video-sharing services “with a transition plan,” Cisco said, not offering further details.” Nice one!
• What about the flip cams that were being sold to give funds for the Japan relief effort. Nice timing!
• How can we make our flips last a lifetime?
• Will someone step in and buy the flip ? (please)

So if anyone from Cisco is reading this, could you give us a heads up?

Seems like these folks agree with me!

Bad news for Flip fans, Cisco today announced it’s shutting down the production of Flip Videos. Yes Flip is over. It’s fallen as Cisco streamlines its’ business.

The question is would you still buy a Flip right now?

Personally I would grab one while they are still available, once they are sold out then that will be that. Treat them well and it can last you 2 or 3 years, but I am not sure if they’ll be any support for flipshare. Also forget about the warranty!

As a camera I still think Flip rocks and honestly I hope someone will buy the Flip part of the business and keep it going. Anyone here want to chip in?

UPDATE: The campaign to stop the Flip from extinction starts here > SAVE THE FLIP!