Disposable Camcorder Hits U.S. Drugstores
June 06, 2005
Sarasota, FL - With the advent of flash memory, it was only a matter of time. Today, the nation’s number 2 drugstore chain began selling the first-ever disposable video camera.
Developed by California-based Pure Digital Technologies, the pocket-sized camcorder, hailed as “the world's first single-use, point-and-shoot digital video camera” went on sale for $29.99 at 1400 CVS drugstores around the country. CVS today said the camcorder will be available in 4500 CVS stores by June 26.
Built on the proprietary Pure Digital Imaging platform, the one-time-use camcorder is “perfect for capturing memories of weddings, vacation getaways, beach trips,” and other family events, says CVS.
Weighing less than five ounces, the camcorder can capture 20 minutes of digital video and audio. The unit has a 1.4 inch color screen, just three buttons, and no zoom control. Playback is limited to the last recorded clip. To view the entire video the images must be transferred by CVS to DVD (the camcorder has no line-out).
The CVS marketing concept mirrors same-day photo finishing. Once shooting is completed, consumers can take the camcorder to a local CVS drugstore for “processing” and get a DVD back the same day that, according to CVS, has “all the benefits of a professional, fully-edited DVD” including a main menu and individually titled scenes for $12.99.
The drugstore chain’s DVD will also incorporate a proprietary e-mail application using Pure Digital's SmartShare(TM) technology that is intended to make sharing videos by email as easy as sharing digital photos. The program runs directly from the DVD eliminating the need to install software.
According to Reuters, the one-time-use camcorder is manufactured in China and incorporates a memory chip supplied by Samsung Electronics.
"Making home videos easy and affordable for our customers is what the CVS One-Time-Use Video Camcorder is all about," said Chris Bodine, Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing at CVS.
“The introduction of the disposable film camera significantly grew the photography industry by making photography accessible and affordable to anyone," said Mike Wolf, Director of Digital Photography Trends at InfoTrends/CAP Ventures.
"The one-time-use camera category has grown to be 218 million units annually and we expect it to account for 38% of total film volume in the U.S. in 2005. A simple and affordable one-time-use digital camcorder could spur growth in the digital video market in a similar way," Wolf said.
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For more information, visit:
CVS/pharmacy
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