Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 107

UGH! Takes two pictures at once.

Hmm, I just found out something rather disappointing about the HandCam (at least for me). It seems that when taking pictures at the 640x480 setting, you REALLY need to keep it steady. Why? Well, apparently the camera takes two images, one at Palm size and one at full size (it does the Palm sized first, it would seem).

The problem with that is the Visor software ONLY displays the Palmsized image, which is NOT an accurate representation of what you're syncing to your PC if you choose to sync the bigger images.

Here's are a couple of examples I took today (I resized the 640x480 down to match the Palm sized images):



This is one of my boss as I'm talking to her. THIS is what showed up on my Prism screen when I took it.



THIS is what synced to my PC. Yes, it's the same image, by name, as the above.

Don't think there's much of a difference (aside from the fact that she's apparently moved to her left a couple of inches)? How about these?



A relatively good pic, or so I thought.



I was horribly, horribly wrong with that.

So you REALLY can't take any actions shots with this camera, only absolutely STILL stills (unless there's some hidden setting to increase the shutter speed that no one knows about). Does anyone know if the Eyemodule2 does this? Or does it simply resize the larger image down to fit the Palm screen, as they SHOULD do?

*sigh* I really WANT to like this camera, but this just limits its usefulness. This, paired up with all the crash troubles I've had (more have cropped up since my last post) just make this thing truly a waste. Anyone think we'll see any real support for it? Any software updates? Driver improvments, etc etc? Are these issues solely in the realm of hardware (shutter speed, processing power), or can some of this be fixed with software (taking ONLY a 640x480 and resizing it down for display)?

__________________
-Richard Powell

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

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Duluth GA
Posts: 26

Similiar results

Okay - I've been getting similiar results. They look fine on the screen, but you transfer them and they are blured or out of focus or both. Word of thumb - takes multiple pictures. Autotime pictures also seem to turn out better.

see my shots at http://photos.yahoo.com/mark_a_brinkman, TARGUS HANDCAM folder

__________________
Mark Brinkman aka OMNITRON
My PDA??? - Visor Prism with Memplug CF and 128MB card

NEW >>> [email protected] <<< NEW
View my Handcam Photo albums at <a class="a" href="http://www.webphotos.iwon.com/list_photos_edit.asp?mi=1&smi=1&a=54400">IWON</a> or <a class="a" href="http://photos.yahoo.com/mark_a_brinkman/">Yahoo</a

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 229

hmmm, all these images come out blurry and out of focus, kinda rethinking the thought of buying a handcam....

__________________
Don't Worry It's Human Nature To Point Out The Obvious

Registered: Dec 2001
Location:
Posts: 11

I'm a long time user of both the Eyemodule 1 and Eyemodule 2 cameras and sad to say was hoping the Targus would be a better alternative.

Picture quality issues aside, the Eye2 also sufferes from the dual picture flaw that the Targus users here have been complaining about. the pic on screen is not the same as the picture on the jpg synced.....there are warp lines also as witht he Targus and its a slow shutter speed

The Eyem1 however doens't seem tos uffer from the same problems of dual image differences, however it has qutie a problem with light issues can can take pics oni in brite lite and quality oni at 320x480

for now it seesm the eye2 wins out, cos it looks smaller and no software crashes with it so far, esp with the v2 updates.

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Lake City, PA
Posts: 19

Hi All,
I am new to the list but having the same conduit problems with my new handcam as some on the list. I was hoping someone might help. First, I am running Win98SE, Palm 4.0.1, and using a Neo with OS 3.5. Is anyone running the same configuration and does your conduit work? My Targus Handcam folder is in my c:\programfiles directory. Does that sound right. And lastly, when you right click on hotsync and choose custom, is there some conduit listed for the handcam (what is it called). I have tried lots of things including checking the dll file which is present on my system now. Thanks in advance for any help!
Gene

Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

I GOT IT!

YEAH! I recived my review unit via Fedex Ground today! I have it for the next 90 days...

While I don't want to ruin the surprise of a review.. here's my problems...

Luckily the conduit has worked PERFECTLY for me, and has not gotten in the way of any other conduits so far. I'm running HS Palm Desktop 4.01 on Win98SE... (Cradle plugged into USB hub)

Unluckily the webcamera software for me is crawling with bugs. It will crash anytime the main window loses focus - even if it itself pops up a little dialog box.. .It's horrible, in 5 mintues I had rebooted 3 times.. I've given up for now untill I hear more about the problems...

I've not experience the double image yet - and have been pleased withteh results. This camera seems to fari better in low lighting - though it is a bit full or Red. Luckily some QUICK photoshopping can fix that..

Both cameras have the horixontal lines problem

I LOVE the rotation
I'm sayign too much! nooo! sorry yall, I'll leave everyone with 2 things

one, a quick (read poorly done) domparison of the 2 cameras plus an optimized handcam image. All on my site at http://www.miradu.com/handcam/ . Please note that my hair is ugly cause I was rushed from swimming, and I never had time to properly comb it.. so it's ugly and it needs to be cut..

Last of all - evne thoguh the handcam doesn'twork for me in USB mode, I jsut want to note that I indpendantly wpent 3 hours devloeping the exact same thing (3 horus on some product lit sheets) that woudl work with all springbaord modules that have drivers.. I told one party abotu it who ignored it Is this though a sign of thigns to come? It would be cool to have GPS enabled through that for your laptop, or the memplug soyou dont' have to buy ANOTHER reader...

__________________
-miradu

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Rio Rancho, NM, USA
Posts: 129

Truthfully, I'm using the Handcam more as a webcam then as a palmcam.

Under W2000, it's worked great for me!! I use it at least 10 hours a day without the need of reboots or crashes. I'm a road consultant, so my better half likes to keep tabs on me with it and Yahoo Messenger!

I'm running directly off of my USB port on a Tecra 8000, so I'm not sure if the issue mentioned earlier is coming from the hub or 98.

The best endorsement of the product? I have folks who don't have Visors buying it! They like the clip and size of the camera and are impressed by the picture quality.

Now, if I could get the DAMNED conduit to work with W2000, I'd be a happy camper.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: washington, dc
Posts: 82

buy.com out of stock. where else?

we got an email notification from buy.com that the Handcam is out of stock there, and we should expect shipment in two weeks.

Any other sources (for like $80, not $100)?

thanks

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: washington, dc
Posts: 82

It arrived, and works fine

The 'HandCam from buy.com arrived, and works fine (btw, CDW had it for about $85).

No problem with installation, either on the Visor or the desktop. We only did the standard installation, (no hacks on the Visor, no special locations on the desktop).

My 14-yr old son (8th grader) says it is "way cool" or "awesome". He likes the video especially.

Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Tokyo, JAPAN
Posts: 5

Handcam and Mac

Does anyone use Handcam with mac? Is it impossible to transfer images into Mac? I guess it'd be possible to hotsync images with SyncBuddy..
No way to transfer??? There is no information on Handcam in Japanese, I'm at a loss....

Thank you for your help!

Last edited by smine on 01-22-2002 at 09:11 AM

Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 3

Conduit working on Win 2K?

I just installed the Handcam SW on my Win 2K, with Handspring HotSync Mgr 3.1.2H, but no conduit is installed!!!

If you have Win 2K and the Handcam conduit, can you post the version of your HotSync Mgr and the conduit name?

Also, if you're an experienced Win2K user, could you post the values under the registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\U.S. Robotics\ApplicationX, where ApplicationX contains values related to the Handcam conduit

How can a Springboard developer release a module that's NOT sync'ing???

Thanks,

Toto AB

Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 3

Conduit working!!!

I added a few values to my Registry and Magic! Pictures were transfered to my hard drive.

Feel free to contact me if you'd like to try the "manual" way, and if you have Win 2K.

Cheers,

Toto AB

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Wadsworth, OH
Posts: 9

HandCam

I am using the HandCam with Win2000 also and the Conduit is not working for me. The WebCam part works perfectly just no sync. I also had a crash around the third insertion of the Handcam which required a Hard Reset and restore from backup to fix. If this is not an isolated incident, I will probably try to get my money back. Has anyone heard back from Targus on these two issues?

Eyemodule owners, have you ever had the device crash your Palm?

-joe-

__________________
-Joe Baughman-

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Lake City, PA
Posts: 19

I spoke to Targus Tech Support about a week and a half ago about these problems. He told me that he had a number of problem reports and was trying to find some common "thing" which was causing this, ie some thing else installed, etc. I tried lots of things myself but could not get the conduit working on Win98se. Targus promised to call back when the fix was found but no response so far. I got cold feet when Staples return period was almost exhausted and returned mine. Figured I could always buy it again if problems were resolved. Never caused a hard reset though. The guy was Dan at Targus (877-482-7487, ex 220).
HTH
Gene

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Worcester
Posts: 34

No conduit? No sync?

I just got the Targus handcam. I installed the software, and took a couple of pictures, but there was no snc of the pitcures to the computer. I checked the hot sync icon, and there was no conduit listed. Anyone else have this problem, and how did you solve it? I am using Windows XP, as the only user, set up as the administrator.

Chris

Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 3

Try it at your own risk!!!

For the Power Users around, here is what I did on WINDOWS 2000 PROFESSIONAL. It made the conduit appear in the HotSync Mgr, and made it work as well.


USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK, THIS SOLUTION WORKED FOR ME, NO GUARANTEE IT WILL WORK FOR YOU.

- Start RegEdt32
- Go in HKEY_CURRENT_USER:
- Add Key:
Key Name: Software\U.S. Robotics\Pilot Desktop\ApplicationHandCam
Class Name: <NO CLASS>

- Add Values:
Value 0
Name: Conduit
Type: REG_SZ
Data: C:\WINNT\system32\HandCamCond.dll

Value 1
Name: Creator
Type: REG_DWORD
Data: 0x5869726b

Value 2
Name: Directory
Type: REG_SZ
Data: handcam

Value 3
Name: File0
Type: REG_SZ
Data: handcam.db

Value 4
Name: Information
Type: REG_SZ
Data: HandCam conduit

Value 5
Name: Module
Type: REG_SZ
Data: Placeholder

Value 6
Name: Name
Type: REG_SZ
Data: HandCam

- exit HotSyncMgr and re-start it manually.

This made the conduit work, but the "change" button in the HotSync Mgr
showed a "Generic conduit" dialog.


Good luck,

Toto AB

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Wadsworth, OH
Posts: 9

Registrry Settings

After contacting Tech Support at Targus, I was emailed two Registry files, one for Win2k one for Win98. After using the right one and restarting the HotSync Manager, everything works the way it is supposed to. The HandCam conduit shows up.

Overall impression:

The webcam abilities work well. I have had no problems using Netmeeting with the camera.
I had one crash when I first tried the unit but none since then. Only time will tell. If it crashes again that will severely limit the usefullness of the camera. I can't afford to worry about backing up before I use the camera everytime :-)
It won't replace a digital camera but it does work ok for quick web quality pictures.

Two things that would increase the usability of the unit:
1) Option to take only ONE picture, right when you press the button, not take a full size and a palm size at the same time.
2) Option to turn off the "Do you wish to save this picture?" I find this annoying.

-joe-

__________________
-Joe Baughman-

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Illinois - not Chicago
Posts: 45

Swap??

Hey guys, I am thinking of buying the ol' Handcam.....but I have a question. I have a Prism and I sync on my computer at work(W98) - My wife has a VDX which she syncs at home(W95). Would there be any problem to share the module and sync on 2 different computers? Have any of you tried using your camera in another Visor in addition to your own?

Don

__________________
- Don -
"Are you suggesting that coconuts migrate?"

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Rio Rancho, NM, USA
Posts: 129

Is it possible to post the Reg files? I tried the fix listed above, but I still don't see the conduit.

Thanks!

Registered: Feb 2002
Location: Ohio
Posts: 3

Received my Handcam last week. Crushed to find out it did not work with Macs. Did not expect the webcam feature to work, but I expected to be able to transfer images from my Prism to my Powerbook. Very disappointed. Targus would not answer Mac support question over phone - ended up emailing response. Asked if future support - Not planned.

There is a function to beam images from one Handheld to another - have been trying to see if I can do this to my Powerbook IR port - but unsuccessful. Targus manual says driver software must be installed on other handheld or computer. Seems like it should work - since just jpegs, but cant get to work. Help! If can figure out, I have a slightly used Handcam available