Obsolete Technology 2012

The handheld portable video camera doesn't get much play these days, since most digital cameras and smartphones are equipped with super-HD video and high frame rates. FlipHD camcorders had a good showing, until Cisco shut down the production of Flip devices in 2011.

Successor: High-Def POV Camcorders — mountable, point-of-view cameras like GoPro and Contour have dominated the market, especially within the extreme sports community. Hands-free recording has seeped into indie filmmaking as well. Foxconn recently purchased nine percent of GoPro's stock, putting the wearable camera company in good shape for 2013.