WAIT! THE VIDEO from your kid's seventh birthday party doesn't have a slow-mo aerial shot of the moment when she finally splits that giant piñata into pieces? Really? Man, that's just plain sad. You're missing out on cinematic gold right there. No more. Enter the Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 quadricopter-a remote-controlled chopper with a built-in HQ video camera that you live stream to your smartphone or tablet in real time. You use the accompanying app to pilot the A.RDrone and to switch from frontal camera- for shots out across the horizon-to the vertical camera for a bird's-eye view of the action below. As you fly, HD video is recorded and sent directly to your device. You can also use the onboard Director mode program automatic movements such as pan and crane shots for smooth, pro-looking footage. Or you can buy a helicopter, hire a pilot, contract a Hollywood film crew and call city government for the appropraite permitting to get the shot that way. Your call.
www.ardrone2.parrot.com $299