Name: Hanwha Japan DVR-SP camcorder
Category: digital video camera
Price: JPY17800
Release date in Japan: June 23, 2008 (new black model)

This gadget's been out there for a couple of months already, but since the maker went through the trouble of telling the press about a new color variation, I'll take that as a chance to check things out.

Tokyo-based Hanwha Japan's earlier mini DVR-SP camcorder, the size of a cheap lighter, apparently wasn't sneaky enough for would-be spies, even when barely peeking over the top of a pocket. So the company has dipped deeper into the spy's bag of tricks with a camcorder that looks like a pen, the DVR-BP. (Wait, it actually is a functional pen, too. Sly!)

The 15cm-long 30g cam, part of Hanwha's "Digital Cowboy" gadget line, incorporates a hard-to-spot 1mm pinhole camera lens and microphone, recording onto 2GB of flash memory. Casually press the top of the "pen" to begin recording. (Try whistling to look more innocent.) Video is 352x288 (4x the DVR-SP's) in H.263 format at 15 fps - decent enough for posting on YouTube. Expect two hours' operation on a charge; download video and recharge the battery via USB (which is the slower 1.1, not 2.0).

The product web site suggests the cam/pen as an "information gathering tool" for businesspersons, bloggers, etc. One suspects there will be buyers with more prurient uses in mind, and I don't mean relaying state secrets to their KGB masters. If nothing else, take this gadget listing as a warning to be wary of chunky silver or black pens poised suspiciously upright in your vicinity.  

More info: http://www.digitalcowboy.jp/products/dvr-bp/index.html (Japanese)

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