Twenty20 VHoldR Helmet Camera - Press Release
Update: 03/06/2007: We have VholdR’s IN STOCK! available for order at The Shop. Full in-depth review can be read here.
Seattle, WA - Twenty20, the aggressive Seattle-based company known for its innovative POV (point of view) Helmet Cameras, is breaking the mold yet again with its next-generation wearable camcorder called, VholdRTM.
Earlier generation lipstick cameras require cables, which connect them to a separate recording device hidden in a backpack. VholdRTM leaves that setup in the dust with its self-contained, zero-wire, “Shoot and Store†design.
In fact, VholdRTM doesn’t even involve videotape. Its internal components change the rules. Twenty20 opted to run VholdRTM with sophisticated hardware-based video compression, and record to an SD card, delivering instantly playable and sharable MPEG-4 files. Recording time is expected to be around an hour per gigabyte, with cards ranging between 1 and 4 gigs.
Additionally, digitizing content from tape to computers is no longer an issue. Out of the box, VholdRTM is ready to capture and deliver high quality video files with ease to the average computer.
On the outside, VholdRTM is a hair smaller and similar in shape to James Bond’s Walter PPK. VholdR’sTM lens and image sensor are hermetically sealed. And with a protective aluminum and ABS exoskeleton, all components are splash proof, shock resistant, and can withstand wide temperature and humidity ranges, making it the perfect video weapon for sweaty rainy jungles, kiln-hot deserts, snow-covered peaks, and peeling surf spots.
Twenty20’s experience in the field uncovered - if not invented - problems that required focused solutions. From environmental conditions and size constraints, to ease of use and video quality, VholdRTM addresses them all.
Throughout VholdR’s design and development, KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) was a running mantra for Jason Green, one of Twenty20’s two founders. “Our plan is to make action video as easy to record and share as a picture on your digital camera.”
VholdRTM is expected to release this fall in limited numbers, so if you haven’t pre-ordered yours by now, you may be pressed to find one before Christmas. You won’t however, have to call every store in town because Twenty20, in acknowledgement of their own limited supply, will be posting daily stock updates for buyers on www.vholdr.com through the Holiday season.
Customer Contact: support@vholdr.com or 866.397.6920
Website: www.vholdr.com
Expected Retail Price: $349.99 (USD)
September 17th, 2007 at 7:40 am
Has anyone seen any footage from this yet?
I’m considering getting a helmet cam for my snowboarding exploits, but I don’t have a camcorder or DVR, so this all in one looks like it might be worthwhile.
I might consider buying an Archos DVR and a camera if I could get the setup for ~$400, but I don’t really want to spend more than that as I doubt I’ll use it except when I’m snowboarding.
Any suggestions, should I wait for the Vholdr or get myself a two piece kit?
September 18th, 2007 at 11:02 am
I do not know of anyone that has seen footage as of yet. It’s a wait and see at this point. If the quality is good, it will be a real bargain for helmet cams.
-chadical
October 19th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
check out vholdr.com, I found a bunch more info on the camera there.
November 23rd, 2007 at 8:53 am
Video is now up on the vholdr site, I don’t know whether to take the plunge and order one in time for my snowboarding holiday
November 25th, 2007 at 6:37 am
http://www.vholdr.com/media has a new video & reivew
I ordered two of these, they seem very promising, review & sneak peaks show exactly what most extreme sports individuals need, easy of use, no wires. Simple & quick.
Cant wait to have this on my handlebars & forks to show multiple angles
November 27th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Vholdr.com Just released another preview of the Cam on Days of Dirt Motorcycle MX.
http://www.vholdr.com/news/?cat=6
Keep in mind that this is lower quality as it is FLV file & compressed! Still looking kickass.
That clip is 11.24MB @ 1:27Min
which equals 7.75MB/MIN
The VHOLDR specs state approximatley 1GB=60MIN.
so that means - 1MIN= 17.06 MB. So that clip is about 45% of actual quality! All from a hand held device with no wires/batteries moving parts! Truly an engineering & design breakthough!
Also the VHOLDR is Captures via CMOS, not CCD. Which equates to higher quality picture/color/sharpness & adapting to light.
November 28th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Checked out the blog with the dirt bike footage and it looks impressive so I’ve taken the plunge and ordered one…The big question is will I get it before my snowboarding trip in the new year!!
November 28th, 2007 at 11:59 am
Fyi - I just checked the http:/vholdr.com/media link and pretty much all of the video footage I saw in there was NOT from a vholdr. I’ve seen almost all of that footage from their prior cam videos.
I’m still waiting to see some RAW footage! We hope to see that this week!
-chad
November 28th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
The 2nd Video is onboard MX footage is ALL VholdR
I hope to get mine mid january so i can test it out ice racing! Cant wait to have two of those badboys with multiple angles!!
November 29th, 2007 at 10:29 am
Here’s the video they are referencing. Looks good!
http://www.vholdr.com/news/?cat=5
November 29th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Nov.29.2007
http://www.vholdr.com/news/?p=66#more-66
“From SNOWBOARDER Magazine, to POWDER, to BIKE, editors and associate editors like Pat Bridges and Chris Lesser and Derek Taylor and Johnny Stifter wanted information, to see if this camera is all that.
Now comes the hard part – the serious testing. Enough with the technical questions and the video show of force. Let’s put this thing in harm’s way. So this week BIKE will take a first stab at VholdR and throw it into the semi wild terrain in the hills around Ortega Highway in Orange County.
Stay tuned for that. And thanks to everyone for diggin’ our camera. “
December 5th, 2007 at 10:31 am
Loads more stuff up on the site and the snowboarding vid…wow how did they do that I’d love to see their heath robinson mount
December 5th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
INSANE! - http://www.vholdr.com/news/?cat=6
Im guessing they just screwed a pivioting PVC pipe that rotated around. Almost looked surreal like you were playing a Video game!
You could simply add a motor on there to control were it swung or put some bushings so it could stay in one place.
Hands down you will NOT see that sort of thing from any other recorder!!
December 6th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Another Kickass video put up, Showcases their setup they rigged up.
December 7th, 2007 at 8:27 am
Wow what an excellent mount. can’t wait to try that one out
December 11th, 2007 at 12:05 am
BikeMag.com did a review on it.
http://bikemag.com/news/freshproduce/preview_VholdR-20twenty/index1.html
December 13th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Well - they are finally here!
1. We should have a unit for review around Dec 16th. This could be another huge step forward for the wearable video world.
2. The VholdR is available for pre-order at The Shop for those that want to get one before the limited quantities are sold out! They should start shipping around Dec 19th!
3. Pretty excited about the Vholdr - very happy to see it coming to fruition.
-chadical
December 17th, 2007 at 12:00 am
The footage posted by Bikemag on their site is very disappointing. Muddy compressed video. Yuck.
December 19th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
VHoldr.com has been transformed with their new share system
January 30th, 2008 at 2:31 am
A good review on WebBikeWOrld
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/vholdr/
February 12th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
woo i just got my vholdr’s!!! Just in time for national ice racing!!
Vholdr did an excellent job on packaging, with a personalized thankyou letter and also with GiftCertificates for online & an extended warrenty!!
Too bad i have to go back to work!!
February 19th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
VholdR Preview on Cnet Feb.14.2008
http://reviews.cnet.com/VholdR_Camera/4660-6500_7-6826119.html
May 28th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I love HelmetCamCentral, the guys took care of me on my vholdr issues. I had one returned to Twenty20 for warranty exchange and another just refunded by HelmetCamCentral so I could get a different brand unit (POV1) that is worth the extra cost.
The vholdr cam is probably ok for some due to price, however, the marketing is superior to the camera… just look at their own website’s forums (won’t list all the unsolved issues here) and think twice about what you’re expecting.