VisorCentral.com - HandCam software problems

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VisorCentral.com (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/index.php)
- Springboard Modules (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=10)
-- HandCam software problems (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=20465)

Posted by dennisl on 12-28-2001 03:36 PM:

HandCam software problems

I received my HandCam last night. The unit is certainly packaged nicely. It comes with a USB docking station and some sort of notebook clip. And a pretty, if basic, manual.

I took a few pictures and even a movie. The swivel lens and focus ring are nice touches after using the EyeModule2. The Visor software is intuitive.

But then comes the problems.

The desktop software seems comprehensive, but completely uncofigurable. First, it doesn't let you change the install directory, and there is no option to install just the conduit.

I don't have my Palm software in the default location, so I am assuming that's why the desktop conduit was not installed. And I had no intention of using this as a desktop webcam, but I could not deselect this in the install options, and the funtionality of my existing webcam was disabled.

So, it seems like a nice product, but I'm waiting for version 2.0 of the software.

Posted by Fagan on 12-28-2001 04:27 PM:

How are the pictures?

I was wondering how well the Targus pictures come out? Do they look nice? Does the Handcam share the same problems that the EM2 has such as a sloooooooooooooooow "shutter speed" requiring you to have extremely steady hands to take clear pictures? Can someone post some unedited full 640x480 targus pics online? I want to buy one but would like to see how it performs. Thanks!
-Fagan

Posted by dennisl on 12-28-2001 04:59 PM:

As soon as I figure out how to install the hotsync conduit, or fugre out how else to get the pictures off the device, I'll let you know. I have sent an email to Targus tech support -- we'll see.

Posted by LouisW on 12-28-2001 05:30 PM:

link to buy it

i am having trouble finding a link to buy this module..

any help

Posted by Anomaly on 12-28-2001 05:42 PM:

go to buy.com, it's only $79.99. it does seem ridiculous that targus doesn't have anything about it on its own website.

Posted by dampeoples on 01-01-2002 01:05 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by dennisl
As soon as I figure out how to install the hotsync conduit, or fugre out how else to get the pictures off the device, I'll let you know. I have sent an email to Targus tech support -- we'll see.

I noticed in another thread you mentioned you got the conduit to work, how'd you do it? I've had mine for 10 minutes and I'm ready to send the POS back. Thanks for the help.

Posted by dennisl on 01-01-2002 03:22 PM:

Sorry, about that. I didn't follow up on my own thread!

I got a nice quick response form Targus suggesting I try copying HandCamCond.dll from the cd directly into my Windows/System directory to get just the conduit to install. That didn't work, but I did appreciate a direct reply.

I went ahead and installed the s/w as provided. The conduit installed correctly. The problem I had was that I am running XP Pro and the Administrator account with installation privileges was not the account with the PalmDesktop installation. Once I installed from _that_ account, it was okay.

But the lack of options in installing it is a big minus. Especially as it disabled my exisiting WebCam s/w. (Granted, this is a better webcam, but still ...)

But the remaining problem is that I still can hardly take a decent picture with it. It's probably that I'm not steady enough, but as I said elsewhere, I got far more reliable results from the EyeModule2.

Posted by dampeoples on 01-01-2002 03:44 PM:

I tried installing just the .dll, but that doesn't work either. I'm running 98, and I can get everything to work but the conduit. I may try a tech support email to them, but I may return it in lieu of the Eyemodule if pic stability is going to be a problem, the webcam is nice, but I don't really need it.

Posted by j762538 on 01-05-2002 06:08 PM:

OK, I got the camera, plugged it in the Visor and tried to take a full size photo. It said more memory was needed although I had more than 300k. Palm size were OK. Did a soft reset and it worked OK then. Just installed on my Win 98 PC and conduit is there (havent checked) but when I start Handcam it says Digital Video PC camera is not connected to this computer. No info on their web site. Any ideas?
Also I would be interested in upgrading to a 4Meg chip.

__________________
My Treo has more memory than I do.

Posted by dennisl on 01-05-2002 07:48 PM:

j762538,

To look at the pictures, navigate to the Handcam folder on your C:\ drive. (I wish this was configurable!) The HandCam software is for operating it as a webcam, and for adjusting the camera settings. (I still want to test and see if these are retained when operating as a module. -- But will backup first before subjecting myself to another looping reset. -- Your mileage may vary.)

Posted by dsilver on 01-06-2002 05:06 AM:

Howdy j7+,

quote:
Originally posted by j762538
OK, I got the camera, plugged it in the Visor and tried to take a full size photo. It said more memory was needed although I had more than 300k. Palm size were OK. Did a soft reset and it worked OK then. Just installed on my Win 98 PC and conduit is there (havent checked) but when I start Handcam it says Digital Video PC camera is not connected to this computer. No info on their web site. Any ideas?

Just received and installed my HandCam tonight. To say that the install disk and "manual" were not ready for primetime would be quite an understatement. However, after about 40mins or so, I had everything installed - including the conduit and camera control stuff. Haven't really taken the time to mess around with it, but the first couple of shots were okay. There are some configurable options (like the fluorescent/incandescent listed above) that look quite helpful. I installed under win2k and had to do most everything manually. It needs files that aren't installed by default by whatever Windows system you are running. If you (or others) are running win2k, I'd be happy to .zip up the files I needed and make them available via WinMx. File names are the same no matter what the system. The install program will ask for:

ccdecode.sys
dshowext.ax
kstvtune.ax
kswdmcap.ax
ksxbar.ax
mstee.sys

All are located in one of the .CABs located on your windows install disk. The only reason it took me so long to complete my install was finding where the above files were hidden. So far (without much testing), I'm pretty satisfied with my $80 purchase. Will post more as I mess around with it...

David

Posted by miradu on 01-06-2002 05:25 AM:

quote:
Originally posted by j762538
Also I would be interested in upgrading to a 4Meg chip.

to clear things up - the Handcam is NOT upgradeable - as the OEM purchaser (targus, not the consumer) they have the choice to have 2 MB or 4 MB of memory. (meaning that targus COULD offer a 4 mb version suppsedly if they wanted). The memory chip is either integrated into the CCD chip and is an all in one IC, or is a surface soldered flash chip - not the easiet thing to change..

__________________
-miradu

Posted by gadgetguru on 01-06-2002 05:37 AM:

SO HOW DO THE PICTURES LOOK?

__________________
Rick

www.visorsolutions.com

Posted by raptor on 01-06-2002 05:47 AM:

If you pop on over to the "HandCam in Stock" thread, you'll find more discussion about this thing's, er, 'issues'.

Also, I posted some pics earlier in the week to compare. They can be found here:

http://www.raptorgames.com/HandCamPics/index.html

When I first got it, I was pretty satisfied as well. However, this thing's slowly starting to eat away at my tolerance (see my most recent post in the aforementioned thread). I'm HOPING that some of the issues here can be resolved through software/driver updates, but I'm not exactly holding my breath . . .

__________________
-Richard Powell

"Nice guys may finish last, but you know, the company's much better back here."

Posted by gadgetguru on 01-06-2002 07:57 AM:

I'll stick with my eyemodule2. You know you can correct most of
those problems with Paint Shop Pro or PhotoShop? Except for the
blurred ones.

__________________
Rick

www.visorsolutions.com

Posted by dampeoples on 01-06-2002 01:30 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by dsilver
Howdy j7+,

I installed under win2k and had to do most everything manually. It needs files that aren't installed by default by whatever Windows system you are running. If you (or others) are running win2k, I'd be happy to .zip up the files I needed and make them available via WinMx. File names are the same no matter what the system. The install program will ask for:

ccdecode.sys
dshowext.ax
kstvtune.ax
kswdmcap.ax
ksxbar.ax
mstee.sys

All are located in one of the .CABs located on your windows install disk. The only reason it took me so long to complete my install was finding where the above files were hidden. So far (without much testing), I'm pretty satisfied with my $80 purchase. Will post more as I mess around with it...

David

Can't seem to find these files anywhere. If I just place them on my hard drive - will the conduit start working, or is there something else that needs to be done? Thanks,

Posted by dsilver on 01-06-2002 03:00 PM:

quote:
Originally posted by dampeoples

Can't seem to find these files anywhere. If I just place them on my hard drive - will the conduit start working, or is there something else that needs to be done? Thanks,

What needs to be done is a manual install. Go into the CD dir WIN98ME2000 and run the setup file. Some of the files it will prompt you for are on the HandCam CD itself in another directory. The rest are on your original Windows install CD for whatever version of Windows you're running. They are still compressed in one of the .CAB files found on that CD. I manually found and expanded them and pointed the install to the directory I had extracted them in to. After that, Windows told me that there wasn't enough power avaiable to the USB camera device through the add-on hub I was running it through (I do have 3 other USB devices plugged into that hub as well). After I switched directly into my PC's USB socket, all ran well. I can access and change all camera settings and, after several pictures, am still satisfied for with the quality of the pictures as measured against what I paid for a down and dirty camera. The editing software that comes with it is also functional and easy to use and full-featured enough for the quality of pictures you're able to take. Is it a replacement for the family portrait camera? Nope. Is it quick, fun, and worth the money and 40 minute hassle I went through to set it up? Yup. But, as with everything in life, all is subjective.

David

Posted by dampeoples on 01-06-2002 04:42 PM:

I tried that, it just brought up the repair/modify install screen with no option to install individual files like you were speaking of. Oh well, looks like I got a webcam and a Prism with a bunch of pics on it I'll end up deleting. Back to my REAL digital camera I guess. Thanks,

Posted by Anomaly on 01-07-2002 01:44 AM:

Well, luckily, I haven't had any install problems with WinME. And I haven't had the double-pic problem either. I took two test shots at Palmsize and two at full size and they came out fine. I think it's interesting that the full-size retain their color when synced to my PC, even though I'm using a Platinum, but the palm-size are not.

My question is, though, what the hell is the 2 meg for on the cam? With the handcam out, my images are still viewable with the app on my VPL.

Posted by dampeoples on 01-07-2002 01:52 AM:

You have to transfer them to the module by checking on it in the list mode, they stay on the Visor too, so you have to manually delete them there after you move them over, kinda a pain, but it works

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