Hands-On With Swivl, The Automated Cameraman For Your iPhone [CES 2012]

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LAS VEGAS, CES 2012 — The Swivl ($159) is like a mini non-union cameraman who just wants to record you all day long — no lunch or bathroom breaks needed.

Here’s how it works: drop your iPhone into its grips, grab the remote, and now the Swivl will follow your every move while you record videos or FaceTime. A neat trick, the Swivl is able to do this by tracking the car-alarm-sized remote you’re holding. The remote also includes panning controls so you can point your iPhone up and down, and a mic so you don’t have to worry about distance-related audio issues. You can also start and stop video recordings on with the Swivl remote.

Sure, at $130, this device isn’t going to appeal to everyone, but if you like to make Youtube videos or FaceTime calls a lot, it might be worth the cash. If you want one, Swivls are available for preorder right now and are expected to start shipping in February.

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