VholdR launches wearable HD camcorders for your head

Just in case you need it while you’re rockclimbing, VholdR has a new high-definition camcorder that you can attach to your head.
Really. The Vholdr ContourHD1080p is the world’s first wearable camcorder that you can use to shoot and share 1080p video, meaning it looks gorgeous on a big flat-panel TV. The camcorder is aimed at outdoor enthusiasts, particularly those who might be too busy with their hands — like holding onto rocks for dear life — to hold onto a camera. This could be really cool for folks like race drivers, mountain climbers, skiers — but not swimmers.
The camera shoots in four HD settings: 1080p, 960p, and two at 720p. It can shoot at 30 frames per second or 60. And you can adjust metering, contrast, exposure, and microphone sensitivity. The camera can share your video to VholdR.com. It costs $329.99 for the HD 1080p version and $279 for the HD version. They ship in mid-October.
Marc Barros, chief executive for VholdR, said the camcorder was inspired by professional users who want to capture world-class video wherever they go. VholdR has a line of other camcorders and roughly 70 percent of the users share their videos on its web site.
The software includes Easy Edit, which lets you clip out the best parts of a video and then share them on the site. The camera can record 3.5 hours of 1080p video internally. You can record up to eight hours on a removeable 16GB MicroSD memory card (not included). You can mount the camcorder on your goggles, helmet, handlebars, vehicle or pretty much anywhere else. The camera weighs just 4.3 ounces and its rugged anodized aluminum body is built to withstand the elements.
Vholdr was founded in 2003 and it has 15 employees. It has raised angel investment to date. Competitors include GoPro Camera, VIO, and Oregon Scientific. Marc Barros and Jason Green founded it after they created a simple helmet camera. They found regular camcorders didn’t hold up while skiing. They entered a business plan competition while undergraduates at the University of Washington and won third place. So they set out to create the venture.
To date, VholdR has sold several thousand cameras in more than 45 countries. The company is profitable.[EMBED1]