Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. unveiled a powerful compact digital camcorder, the MX20, with its newly developed platform that enables higher video quality and longer recording times. The new MX20 also allows users to upload their files to iPod and YouTube without transcoding the files.

“The MX20 is the next-generation camcorder engineered for people who want to capture more vivid memories and easily share them on multimedia devices and the internet,” said Sang Ryong Kim, Senior Vice President of the Camcorder Business Team at Samsung Electronics. “Leveraging Samsung’s unique features with iPod and YouTube, consumers can keep more of their memories with ease.”

With its best-in-class semi-conductor chips and image processing technology, Samsung has developed a new platform offering high video quality, longer recording times and low power consumption for SD camcorders to meet customer’s demands. With the high performance of the new platform, Samsung’s MX20 features the longest battery life in its class – up to three hours.

The new MX20 is the first to apply H.264 CODEC to SD camcorders. Compared to SD camcorders using MPEG-2, the MX20’s H.264 enhances video quality and recording times significantly. In the “fine” mode, Samsung’s MX-20 camcorder can record up to 4 hours of footage using an 8GB memory card, 8 hours using a 16GB memory card, and up to 16 hours using a 32GB card. Samsung’s MX20 with H.264 more than doubles the compression ratio so that it takes less time to send video files via email or upload them onto the internet.

Focusing on high video quality, Samsung’s MX20 with its new platform is packed with powerful technologies such as 3-D noise reduction technology for smooth video, Samsung’s own edge filter technology for stunning video details and clarity, and color control technology for original and natural colors.

The MX20 features a powerful, world-renowned Schneider lens with 34x optical zoom and Samsung’s improved Hyper Digital Image Stabilization, which compensates for the images caused by hand-shaking for sharper footage. The MX20 also includes advanced face detection technology which can automatically detect up to five faces and adjust the focus and diaphragm to ensure better composition. The new model optimizes the video quality with a high-performance 680K-pixel CCD sensor.

The MX20 features a unique shooting mode that allows users to select a resolution and format that’s ideal for uploading videos to an iPod or YouTube. Unlike other camcorders, users can easily import the video to iTunes and play it on iPod or other personal media players supporting H.264 without having to transcode the files. By selecting the Web and Mobile mode, the camcorder’s resolution is automatically adjusted to 640×480 (H.264 / AAC / MP4) and optimized for use on iPod or YouTube.

For active users, the MX20 is fully equipped with powerful functionalities in a stylish compact design. The camcorder offers Samsung’s exclusive swivel hand-grip which effortlessly adjusts for regular and those hard-to-reach low angle shots. It also has an advanced 2.7 inch screen LCD which helps users frame their subjects and review footage even under strong sunlight.

The MX20 offers useful iCheck and iScene modes. iCheck allows the user to quickly check remaining battery life and memory capacity without wasting time and energy by powering on; iScene allows the user to select up to 10 automatic scene modes for capturing the best footage no matter what environment they may be in. Samsung’s MX-20 camcorder also features a memory card slot for SD/SDHC and MMC+ (up to 32GB).

The Samsung MX20, offered in black, white, red and blue will be available in September.

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2007 consolidated sales of US$103.4 billion. Employing approximately 150,000 people in 134 offices in 62 countries, the company consists of four main business units: Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business and Telecommunication. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

(Samsung press release)