The weeSteady is a polished stainless steel grip that attaches to a standard sized tripod socket providing extra stabilization while recording video with small point and shoot cameras, iPhones and other smart phones. Gripping the weeSteady as shown in that first picture provides for a more natural shooting posture, which translates to less shake. To use it with your small point and shoot camera, you just screw it into the tripod mount. Smart phone and iPhone users will need a tripod adapter for their device that is not included with the weeSteady. This is a crowd funded project on indigogo. They are seeking $9000 to bring the product to market. I think it looks really slick, but I’m not sure I’d want to carry it around with me. What do you guys think?

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Video

weeSteady – Tool for Jiggle-free Video Capture originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 25, 2012 at 10:00 am.

Avid Studio for iPad
Version: 1.0.1
Size: 30.5 MB

I enjoy using iMovie on my iMac and Macbook Air to make short video clips for my reviews or just for the heck of it. I’ve tried the mobile version of iMovie on my iPad and iPhone but didn’t find it to be anywhere close to the desktop version as far as functionality and ease of use. I’ll probably always be faster using the desktop version, but sometimes it’s nice to have the option be able to create videos on a portable device. I recently took a look at Avid Studio for iPad, which is an alternative to iMovie…

Note: Images can be clicked to view a larger size.

The opening screen for Avid Studio offers a thumbnail vew of your existing projects. From this screen, you can open an existing project, start a new project, rename a project, export an existing project to a video file, email, Facebook, YouTube or Avid Studio for the PC, delete a project, read help files and change settings.

The settings dialog allows you to change the duration for photos in slide slows, title durations and transition durations.

Video editing is done in one screen. On the Left side you’ll find all the media sources that you can use for your movie – Video clips, Still images, Music, Transitions, Photo montage styles and Titles.

When you click on each type, you’ll be shown all the available choices for that type. For example, in the image above, clicking on the Video picker will show all the clips stored on my iPad. From there you can tap one of the thumbnails to play it or you can drag the thumbnail into the storyboard area to start creating your movie.

For each clip, you can adjust the video fit in the frame, audio volume levels and fade in / fade out duration.

You can also adjust the start and editing positions of each clip by dragging the orange timeline arrows left or right after you’ve placed it into your storyboard.

Or you can set the start and end points but dragging the orange pointers in the thumbnail player and then drag the shorter clip into your storyboard.

Transitions are added between clips and show up as smaller purple blocks. There are just two types of transitions available, fade to black and cross dissolve. I hope more transitions will be added in future updates.

You can import background music from your iTunes library into your movie and Avid Studio also offers some built in sound effects. Like video clips, you can adjust the start and end positions of the audio by dragging the arrows. You can also adjust the volume and fade in/out durations.

Up to 3 audio tracks in addition to the audio in the actual video clip can be layered on top of each other, allowing you to create some pretty nice effects.

Avid Studio has a nice selection of Title styles, from ones that flash or move, to ones that are just static on the screen. You can adjust the color, font and angle of the text by rotating it with your fingers. Titles can be placed on a black background, or you can overlay them directly over your video. It’s up to you.

In addition to creating movies, Avid Studio offers several photo montage templates that allow you to create some interesting slide shows and add pizzaz to static images in your videos. While video editing was easy for me to figure out, I had a hard time figuring out how to work with the photo montages. I finally did a search on Avid Studio iPad in YouTube to watch a few tutorials so I could learn the basics.  After that they were much easier to use.

The only real complaint that I have about this software is that it asks you to render the video quite often and doing that can sometimes take a minute or two. I’ve also had the app crash back to the home screen a few times while I was in the middle of doing some edits.

After you’ve created your masterpiece, you can export to YouTube, Email, Facebook, Avid Studio for PC or to a video file in your Photo gallery.

Here’s a quick test video that I created and uploaded to YouTube.

Exporting to YouTube offers a max resolution of 720P. Hopefully an update to this app will offer 1080P to take advantage of the new iPad’s higher resolution.

Avid Studio for iPad costs the same as Apple’s iMovie ($4.99), but gives you much more bang for your buck. It beats iMovie on features and ease of use (once you figure out some of the features like photo montages). If you enjoy creating movies on your iPad, you will definitely want to buy Avid Studio.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: iOS, iPad, Video

Avid Studio for iPad App Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 27, 2012 at 4:57 pm.

The Replay XD1080 is a video camera designed for extreme action. It features a water-resistant, hard anodized, rugged aluminum housing and a super easy 2 button control. One button toggles power and the other button toggles video recording. You can’t get much easier than that. Video is stored on the included 4GB micro SDHC card. It also features a built-in full sized HDMI out connector, making it very easy to connect to your TV for instant playback of your extreme adventures. The Replay XD1080 is priced at $299.99.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Video

Replay XD1080 – Video Camera Shaped Like a Flashlight originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 26, 2012 at 2:00 pm.

Dropcam announced this morning that they will no longer be using a third party camera vendor. Their new WiFi camera is completely redesigned to include HD quality 720p video, night vision, 2-way audio and digital PTZ. The online viewer has also been enhanced to increase user experience. They are claiming that the Dropcam HD will be the most full featured, lowest priced point camera on the market and the easiest to set up, guaranteed. I know that their previous version (see my review listed below in the related posts lists) was very easy to setup and I continue to use it on a regular basis to keep an eye on things at home while I’m not there. I can’t wait to try this new camera which will be available later this month for $149. Read the full press release after the jump.

Dropcam Shows CES Attendees How to Keep an Eye on Their Homes While They’re Away

World’s smallest Wi-Fi video monitoring camera with night vision, video streaming, mobile viewing and recording capabilities provides peace of mind when on the go

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (Consumer Electronics Show 2012), Jan. 9, 2012 –Dropcam today unveils the Dropcam HD Wi-Fi Video Monitoring Camera – its newest camera for the connected home. From initial setup to daily dependable service, the small, stylish award-winning Dropcam HD camera makes it effortless to use live and recorded video to check in on the kids, share moments of a new baby, keep an eye on a pet, or make sure your home is safe when you are away.The easy-to-set-up video camera integrates seamlessly with Dropcam’s enhanced online video streaming and cloud-based DVR services, which also go live today.

With access from any computer, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet, the live and recorded video from your Dropcam HD camera is available to you anytime, anywhere. When you’re not actively checking in on your home, you’ll still stay up to date with email and push alerts when motion or audio is detected. You can also take a look back through events with Dropcam’s DVR service, which can record up to 30 days of video. All video is encrypted using bank-level security standards to ensure user privacy.

Dropcam HD ($149) is now available for preorder on www.dropcam.com and will begin shipping later this month.

Dropcam HD enters the scene as the most full-featured Wi-Fi video monitoring camera in its category. Features include:

·        60-second setup – Plug it in. Select your Wi-Fi network. Personalize it. Your Dropcam HD is online in three intuitive, simple steps.

·        Watch and check in 24/7 – AC-powered Dropcam HD gives you reliable, quality video at all times. It’s plugged in, so you don’t have to worry about missing video due to drained batteries.

·        Night vision – Reasons to keep an eye on what you care about don’t stop when the sun goes down. The night vision mode turns on automatically when a room darkens to make sure you don’t miss a moment.

·        Talk back with two-way audio – Respond to what you’re watching as it happens with two-way audio. Ask who is at the front door, check in on the kids while chores get done, tell the dog (or husband) to get off the couch.

·        Digital zoom – Pick which part of the room to focus on. Zoom in on the baby’s crib, the front door, or one of the cars in the driveway.

·        Versatile placement – Dropcam HD is adjustable to quickly mount on a wall, stand on a table, or you can pop out the lens to create a smaller, more discreet profile that can be placed anywhere.

Breaking the Mold

To date, Wi-Fi video monitoring cameras have been designed as utilitarian and unattractive, and they were coupled with outdated video viewing software that was difficult to set up and understand. Thoughtful design with a focus on simplicity and usefulness was paramount in creating the new Dropcam HD camera and the accompanying online services. The camera’s monochromatic colors and unique shape blend naturally into a living room or office.

“Our users are our first priority – from the design of the camera through the easy product setup to the simple daily use of our video services. User experience is at the forefront of all that we create at Dropcam,” said Greg Duffy, CEO and Co-Founder of Dropcam.  “It’s an exciting time to launch Dropcam HD, a product that introduces quality hardware and intuitive user experience to a space that has missed it completely.”

Cloud-based DVR Services and CES Demo

Along with Dropcam’s new camera come best-in-class video streaming and DVR services. Video from your Dropcam HD camera is stored in the cloud, so it doesn’t slow your computer and you never have to worry about running out of memory on your PC. Unlimited real-time viewing from any device as well as email and push motion/sound alerts are always free for users.Recording plans to capture moment-by-moment HD video start at $9.95 per month. Your video stream can also be safely shared with friends and family for free by inviting them through a secure link, so they can share in the things you care about most.

Dropcam’s cloud-based viewing and recording service is all you need to access your Dropcam HD camera 24/7. There’s no need to keep a computer running – just connect to your Wi-Fi network. Dropcam DVR can record up to 30 days of continuous video from each camera.

See a demo of the Dropcam HD camera and online services during CES Jan. 10 – 12 at booth #3421 – LVCC, North Hall, and at the Pepcom Digital Experience media event Jan. 9 in the MGM Grand.

Also, join Dropcam CEO Greg Duffy on Jan. 12, 4:20p in the Mommy Tech area – LVCC, North Hall N256, when he speaks about “Moms as CEO of the Household.”

About Dropcam Dropcam, Inc. is an agent of change at the intersection of video, data, and the cloud. Its award-winningWi-Fi video monitoring camera and intelligent software services capture life’s moments, making it easy for users to check in on the things they care about from anywhere, anytime, on any device. Founded in 2009, San Francisco-based Dropcam is funded by Accel Partners and top angel investors. To learn more, please visitwww.dropcam.com, watch our demo videos on YouTube, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @dropcam. Dropcam, Inc. is located at 160 Spear Street, Suite 1700, San Francisco, CA 94105.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Home Tech, News

Tagged: Surveillance, Video

Dropcam will be launching a new camera at CES originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 9, 2012 at 9:00 am.

AirBeam is an app that will turn iOS devices (iPhone, iPod touch or iPad) into a real-time video surveillance system with motion and sound detection. This system is quick and easy to use, but there are a couple caveats to setting things up, so let’s take a closer look.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

The biggest issue with AirBeam other than the fact that it’s priced at $3.99, is that you’ll need two iOS devices (one with a camera), if you want to set up a camera to view remotely. You’ll only need to pay the $3.99 once though. After that purchase, you can load it on all your other devices for free. The app is universal, so it looks good on the iPad too.

As far as configuring the application goes, it’s about as easy as it gets. Install AirBeam on two devices, tap the camera button on one device and the monitor button on the other. Done. As long as you’re on the same WiFi network, you’ll see a thumbnail of the remote camera on the monitoring device.

Tapping that thumbnail image, pops it up into a full screen viewer. In viewing mode you have several buttons at the top of the screen that will allow you do things like record live video, toggle motion sensing, toggle the camera on / off and activate the remote LED flash.

Video quality is pretty good at 640×480 resolution and up to 30 frames per second. Audio streaming is 16bit 44kHz CD quality. There is some latency, but it’s not bad at all. I would say that the video quality is nicer than some of the dedicated systems I’ve reviewed.

AirBeam is an easy way to setup a baby monitor or a camera watching out the front window for a delivery person. But the biggest problem with this app is that it’s designed to be used on your local WiFi network. If you leave an iOS device in camera mode and then drive down the road with your iPhone, you won’t be able to view the video using your phone’s 3G… Ok, you might be able to… IF you want to goof around with your WiFi router’s settings and forward a specific port to another port. AirBeam’s site alludes to this fact, but doesn’t offer any instructions on how to do it. I have never forwarded a port on my Linksys WRT54G router, so I had to google for the instructions, which seemed simple enough. I did so, but afterwards was not able to view the video from my iPhone through a 3G data connection…  It’s possible that I did something wrong, but I don’t think so. When I load the forwarded port address in a web browser on my iMac, I can see a bunch of garbage loading on the screen. But when I’d try that same port on my iPhone inside the AirBeam app, it will say it is trying to connect but after a few seconds it will give up.

AirBeam is fun to play with, but until I can easily monitor the video remotely with my Phone both at home and on the road, I’ll just stick to my DropCam system which I can access from any browser, iPhone or Android phone.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: iOS, Security, Video

AirBeam Video Monitoring iOS App Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 6, 2011 at 10:00 am.

Native Union hopes so with their latest product, the Play. The Play is a small voice bubble shaped video memo recording device that attaches to your fridge with a magnet. It features a 2.4-inch color LCD screen, camera, microphone and an easy to use 3 button interface. It has 256mb memory that allows up to a 3 minute video memo. It’s powered by 3 AAA batteries that have a 40 day standby time and 3 hours play/record time. The Play will retail for $59.99 and will be available at the end of the month. It’s kind of neat, but I know what would happen to it if it were on my fridge… Once the batteries died, it would just sit there unused because I’d be too lazy to install new batteries. Hmmm, who will invent a refrigerator with an inductive charging exterior?

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Video

Will Video Memo Devices Replace Good Old Pen and Paper? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 14, 2011 at 2:20 pm.

It seems that small point and shoot video cameras like the Flip are going the way of the Dinosaur, as they are being replaced by smartphones like the iPhone 4. But have you ever considered using your iPad 2 as a video camera? Makayama gives you the ability to attach various accessories such as lenses, microphones, lights, tripods and even an optical viewfinder to your iPad 2 with their new Movie Mount case. This Smartcover compatible case offers some cool features such as the ability to attach 37 mm conversion lenses, like wide angle and zoom. It even allows you to easily slide the lens out of the way for on the fly changes. You can pre-order the Movie Mount for $69.95, with availability in October. Check out the demonstration video after the jump.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPad 2, Video

Makayama Movie Mount turns your iPad 2 into a video recording studio originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 1, 2011 at 3:04 pm.

A couple years ago I had the opportunity to review the VueZone Personal Video Network System. I liked it for its ease of setup, but wished it could do a few things that it couldn’t at the time. Fast forward almost 2yrs later and VueZone is now offering their 2nd generation motion detecting cameras and the features I asked for. Let’s see if this updated system is a good solution for keeping an eye on your property when you can’t be there.  Note: The images in this review can be clicked to see a larger view.

Package Contents

2 Motion Detection cameras
VueZone Gateway
4 Batteries (CR123 Lithium photo battery)
Ethernet cable
4 Magnetic bases with mounting hardware
Quick Install Guide
AC Adapter

The VueZone system requires you to connect the gateway to your Ethernet router. You don’t need a computer to actually run the VueZone system, but you will need one to set it up the first time. Setup is easy. The first step is to plug in the gateway to power and then connect an Ethernet cable from your router to the back of the gateway.

The new generation cameras are a bit wider than the first gen and have a motion detecting eye on the front.

There’s a power switch and battery latch on the bottom of each camera.

The cameras are powered by 2 CR123 cells. Luckily, 4 batteries are included in the package.

You can easily place your cameras on any flat surface as they have a nice wide base. Or you can use the magnetic dome mounts.

Four domes are included with the system. These domes have a nail slot and an adhesive sticker on the bottom so that you have different options for affixing them to a wall or other flat surface.

Once you have connected the gateway to your router, installed the batteries in the camera and turned them on, you just press the sync button on the top of the gateway so that it can recognize each nearby camera. The last step in setup is to register your system via VueZone’s website. This just requires you to type in a special number that is associated with your system. Within a few minutes, you’ll be able to remotely view video from the cameras.

The online interface is pretty basic as you can see above. You’re presented with small thumbnail images of each of your connected cameras. You can then click them to see a live view. Unfortunately, you can’t view both camera feeds at the same time via the web interface.

A larger (640 pixel) live view is also an option. Here’s a view of my kitchen. The video / picture quality is pretty good when viewing indoors in normal light.

But viewing outdoors like we see here isn’t too good at all. As you can see, the bright sunlight really washes out the picture. There are a couple lighting settings you can tweak to try to help the image quality, but I didn’t find them to be very helpful in my situation. It’s disappointing since my main use of these types of cameras is to monitor who is driving past or up to my house. The video quality looks much better on an overcast day or when the sun isn’t glaring like it was when I was doing my tests. That said, I’ve reviewed another system (DropCam) that doesn’t have this issue when used in the same location / time of day.

It’s also very important to note that the VueZone cameras are not intended for continuous monitoring. Mainly because they run on batteries. I was hoping this 2nd generation would allow for an AC power option… New batteries should last 6 months with normal usage which is defined as 5 minutes of viewing or recording a day.

One the features that I am happy that has been added is a recording scheduler.

There are options for a one time recording, same time each day or same time Wednesday, etc.

And of course there’s the new motion detection feature too. You can use this feature to automatically capture video when motion is sensed, or grab a snapshot. Either option can be set to you via an email. The free basic service plan will allow for snap shot emails, while the advanced (paid) plan gives you either snap shot or video – your choice.

You can also view, share and download all the motion captured images and videos which are automatically stored in your VueZone library online. The images are stored as JPGs and the videos are stored as MPEG-1 files.

There are also free apps for your iPhone (no fullscreen iPad version yet), Android and Blackberry that you can use to remotely view your cameras from wherever you happen to be. These apps (at least the iPhone and Android) give you the ability to view both cameras at the same time – sorta… It actually updates each camera view every couple of seconds so it appears you’re viewing them both live at the same time.

All VueZone systems include the features I’ve just described. For some extra features you have to pony up for a monthly service plan. If you’re willing to pay $4.95/mo
(or $49.95/yr) you’ll also get more storage online for your captured images / videos (2GB) and the ability to receive emailed videos when motion is detected, advanced smartphone alerts. You’ll also get a pan / zoom feature which will allow you to zoom in on an area in the video with your mouse.

I like that the VueZone system is so easy to setup and requires no wires for the cameras. But just like in my original review, I still wish the VueZone had a way to power the cameras via AC so that you wouldn’t need to worry about battery life. Better light balance for viewing out a window into a bright day really needs to be addressed and heck, let’s wish for an audio feature too. All that said, the price of this system isn’t bad considering the things you can do without having to pay a monthly fee. I will recommend the VueZone Motion Detection Personal Video Network for people that want an easy way to remotely monitor the interior of their home via the web or their smartphone. If you’re looking for a system to monitor exterior of your home, you need to look elsewhere. Although there’s nothing stopping you from setting one of the little cameras outdoors temporarily to try to catch some specific action. Just make sure it’s in the shade so that you’ll be able to see that action.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Home Tech, Reviews

Tagged: Security, Video

VueZone Motion Detection Personal Video Network Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 10, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

I used to think my cable box offered all the programming I needed.  As cable prices keep rising, I’ve come to the conclusion that those multi-media boxes and an $8/month subscription to Netflix are a better deal.  While I haven’t gotten rid of cable yet, I have pared down some of the programming from Time Warner.  I’m using the Logitech Revue with Google TV in my living room for watching Netflix, but I wanted a smaller box to put with my second TV.  I decided the second generation Apple TV had the features I wanted, so I bought one from my local Apple store.

In the Box

• Apple TV
• Apple Remote
• Power cable
• Documentation

Specifications

• Dimensions:  3.9” wide X 3.9” deep X 0.9” tall; 0.6 pounds
• Processor:  Apple A4 chip
• Video formats:  H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats. MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats.  Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format
• Audio formats: HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound pass-through
• Photo formats: JPEG, GIF, TIFF
• Compatibility: Compatible with high-definition TVs with HDMI and capable of 720p 60/50Hz
• Ports and interfaces: HDMI, Optical audio, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, Built-in IR receiver, Micro-USB for service and support
• Wireless:  802.11a/b/g/n
• See the Apple website for more details

When I opened the box, I was disappointed to see that there was no HDMI cable.  This device requires an HDMI cable, so I think Apple should have included one.  I used the one from my cable box to hook up the Apple TV while I waited for a $10 cable from Amazon.  I don’t have any external speakers or a home theater system with the second TV (Vizio 32” Razor 720p, 60Hz LED, model E320VP), so I didn’t need an optical cable to hook up a sound source.  You should know that you’ll have to supply your own optical cable, too.

Front with power light on

Top

Bottom

Back

As you can tell from the dimensions shown above, the 2^nd generation Apple TV is tiny.  It’s a very plain black box with shiny sides and absolutely no buttons.  Hidden on the front is an IR receiver for the remote and a white LED that only lights up when you are using the box.  The back has all the connections.  The top is matte with a shiny Apple logo and the letters “tv”.  The bottom has a rubbery base.

The included remote is the standard tiny aluminum, 3-button remote you can buy separately from Apple to control multimedia functions on Apple computers, iPods, iPads, and iPhones.  The remote came with a coin-style battery already installed.  Be aware that surfing on a MacBook and using the Apple TV in the same room can be a pain.  My computer received and responded to all the commands I sent to the Apple TV box.

Hooking up the Apple TV was a snap.  I plugged in the HDMI cable to the back of the Apple TV; it was already attached to my TV since I had been using it for the cable box.  I already mentioned that I don’t have any speakers to connect.  I have a good, strong WiFi signal in my house, so I decided to use the device’s built-in wireless connectivity instead of an Ethernet cable.  The only other thing left was to connect the power cable and plug it in.

A note about using wireless:  Apple recommends a sustained 2.5Mbit/s or faster Internet connection for standard-definition programming and 6Mbit/s or faster connection for high-def programming.

I powered on the Apple TV and my television and began the process of connecting to my network.  Entering the password was a pain because I had to scroll around a matrix of alphanumeric characters with the navigation buttons on the remote.  I tried connecting an Apple Bluetooth keyboard, but it didn’t work.  Luckily, it only took two tries to enter my long password correctly.

Almost immediately after the network connection was established, I was notified an update was available.  I installed the update before continuing.

Here’s a photo of the menu on my television screen.  The first two options, “Movies” and “TV Shows”, are for watching video content from iTunes.  You can search easily through movies and TV shows available to buy or rent.  Of course, you’ll need an iTunes account for these functions.  I’ve watched a couple of movies and a few episodes from the sixth season of the Bones television show from iTunes now.  Even though we have an Internet connection that’s at least double the recommendation for high-def, we’ve always had a delay while the program caches.  Once I saw that it would take 2 hours for my program to be ready to watch, but it never actually takes that long – 5-10 minutes at most.  I just need to remember to rent my movie then go take a bathroom break and get a soda before I settle in to watch my program in the future.  Once the program was buffered and ready to begin, playback was smooth and uninterrupted.  The remote works well to control playback; you can pause/resume, fast-forward, and reverse.

The menu button on the remote has one function – to return you to the previous menu.  You have to back your way out through a tier of submenus to get to the home menu.  It would be nice to have one button that takes you all the way out.  There’s no power button on the remote, and the Apple TV doesn’t need one because you can’t turn it off.  I did find a “Sleep Now” option in the settings.  I suppose it is always powered on to preserve the Internet connection to shorten the time required to start watching programming.

My Flickr pictures

YouTube menu

Internet Radio menu

NBA menu

The third option on the home menu is “Internet.”  Here you can connect to Netflix, MLB.TV, NBA, YouTube, Podcasts, MobileMe, Flickr, and Radio.  You’ll need a paid subscription to watch programming on Netflix, MLB.TV, and NBA.  With YouTube, you can search for and watch videos; you can sign in to your account if you have one.  Podcasts and Radio give you access to programming available from the Internet.  Flickr lets you view pictures; you can log in to your account if you have one.  I don’t have a MobileMe account, so I couldn’t try this feature at all.  I’m sure it will be disappearing from the menu in the near future anyway.

Entering account information for Netflix setup

Netflix home menu

I do have a Netflix account.  I could connect to their programming by either registering the device with my account or by logging in to my account through Apple TV.  I decided to log in, so I had to use that matrix to enter my account information.  Luckily I only had to sign in once; the device remembered my login information.

Netflix Instant Queue

Netflix is where I have really put Apple TV to the test.  I probably have watched some other shows, too, but I watched the first five seasons of Bones in less than a month.  All those episodes of Bones were in HD.  There is only a few seconds delay before Netflix programming begins playing.  I had one episode freeze for a second or two, but everything else from Netflix played smoothly and with no glitches.

Menu for a Home Sharing computer

Music playback screen for a Home Sharing computer

The fourth option, “Computers”, shows a list of all the computers on your network that have shared their iTunes content through Home Sharing.  They all have to use the same iTunes accounts, too.  I only have one computer with iTunes on it, but I can connect to it through the Apple TV and access anything in my iTunes library.  I can play any home video files or those I bought from iTunes (and have stored on my computer) on my TV.  Buffering takes only a second or two and playback is smooth with the videos I’ve tried.  When I play back music, a progress bar and the album cover displays on my TV screen.  I can listen to audio books and podcasts or watch iTunes U programming stored on my computer.  I can also look at pictures that I have made available through iTunes.

Apple TV Settings options

Screen Saver setup

The fifth and final option, “Settings”, lets you set up functions of Apple TV – how it displays information on the screen, menu language, turn on subtitles, and select an output type for HDMI, etc.  You can make changes to your network settings, check for software updates, and pair up a new remote.  Here you can turn on Airplay and Home Sharing.  You can also set up a screen saver.  Finally, this is where you can put the Apple TV into sleep mode.  (Note:  the white LED on the front of Apple TV is off when the device is in sleep mode.)

Choosing Apple TV for Airplay on an iPad 2

We’ve discussed a lot of ways that you can get content on your TV using Apple TV, but we have one more to discuss.  With the Airplay function, you can play content from your iPod, iPhone, or iPad on your TV.  Turn on Airplay in setup to make the Apple TV available.  When you start playing content on your mobile device, you’ll see something that looks like a pyramid in front of a box.  Tap that and select that you want the content played through the Apple TV instead of the mobile device.  I was able to play music and videos from my iPad 2 on my television.  My photo app was able to display a slideshow on the television.  Airplay is not the same thing as mirroring.  Mirroring requires a special connector, and it displays everything from the iPad 2’s screen on the television.  Airplay turns off the playback on your mobile device and streams it wirelessly to the television through Apple TV.  You can multitask on your mobile device while you stream audio or video content to your television.

I couldn’t find anything in the documentation that said how much internal storage the Apple TV has.  There is no way to copy over content, so you can’t use the device for mass storage of your files.  There are no USB ports to connect an external drive for media storage, either.  Everything is either streamed from iTunes on your computer using Home Sharing, from your mobile devices using Airplay, or from the Internet.  There does seem to be some internal storage that’s used as a cache for streaming files.

All in all, I really enjoy the Apple TV.  I’ve had to restart it a couple of times in the past month, but it reboots very quickly and it remembers all my passwords when it reconnects.  It offers programming from iTunes, and no other multimedia box I know offers that.  I wish that it also offered Hulu+; maybe that will come with a future upgrade.  I guess it’s not that important because I’ve only had to enter data during setup, but it would have been nice to have a keyboard to enter account names and passwords.  I like that it’s a tiny box that fits easily on my cramped TV stand.  I think the Apple TV was $99 well spent.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Streaming, TV, Video

Apple TV (2nd Generation) Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 3, 2011 at 7:00 am.

Several years ago Avid Technology bought Pinnacle Systems, in their attempt to grab some of the consumer level video market.  Avid is known the world over for their professional level products for video editing, so I was excited at the chance to review their latest product, Avid Studio.  Almost a year ago on this website, I reviewed Pinnacle Studio 14 MovieBox Ultimate, and it was generally a good review.  Pinnacle has always had solid performance at a good price for consumer level editors.  But for a little bit more cash, would I be willing to jump up to Avid Studio?  Let’s find out!

Having been a long-time Pinnacle user, it didn’t take me long to get used to the Avid Studio interface.  While not exactly the same, there are some similarities in the location of buttons and general layout of the screen.  My reaction when I opened the program for the first time was ‘wow, there is a lot going on here.’  But compared to Adobe Premier Pro, this program is way easier to get up and running.  But maybe that isn’t a fair comparison to make because it seems to me that Avid Studio sits between the likes of Pinnacle Studio and Adobe Premier Pro.  In pricing that is certainly true, and I think in terms of features and power that is also true. Because of that, I believe I am safe to say that Avid Studio is a prosumer package.

There are tabs across the top that allow you to quickly flip back and forth between importing, the library, editing your movie, editing your DVD menus, and exporting.  The layout of the program (seen in the first screenshot above) while you are editing your movie is similar to other programs.  The video preview area is in the upper right, your collection of media for your project is in the upper left (which is a mini-view of your library), and the timeline is across the bottom.

The import tab is easy to understand and use. You can scan your computer to automatically grab media from all over your harddrive, you can import from your DVD/Blueray drive in your pc, you can capture video and stills from your webcam, connect a digital camera or import converter box, and of course you can individually grab files from the harddrive, although you can do that in the library so I don’t really see the point of having that option in the import screen.  Something neat is that you can capture a stop-frame animation using your webcam, at either 8 or 12 fps. This was pretty cool because it leaves a halo-effect on the screen to help you line up your still frames. Here is a screenshot:

I will go on the record to say that the Library tab (screenshot below)  is awesome! I am a very organized person in just about every aspect of my life, and the Library tab is a dream come true for me. Just about every video editor has a small area/panel on the screen to organize your photos, videos, music, etc, and Avid Studio has that as I mentioned (the mini-library).  But the Library tab is a full screen way to view all your media in your project.  It’s just fantastic.  You can even set ‘watch’ folders for the library and any new content that is added to the ‘watch’ folder on your harddrive will automatically be added to your library.

You can preview media in the library by clicking the triangle play button at the bottom of the media item.  Very nice touch!  One of the things I do on a daily basis is graphics editing, so I have been a Photoshop user for over a decade.  But I must admit that providing you a way to quickly edit any media in your Library is pretty darn neat.  For example, if you want to adjust the brightness of a picture, change the contrast, remove the yellow hue, fix the red eye, etc, you can do that right there in the Library without having to hop over to Photoshop to do it. Very nice.  I will be honest and say that occasionally I experienced some lag in editing the photos.  A time or two I had to wonder if the program had locked up, but after 5 seconds or so everything was fine.  I am willing to overlook that for the benefit of having the tool there, but it did annoy me just a little.

The timeline has unlimited tracks available to you, and you can place any type of media on any of the tracks.  So you can have titles, audio clips, video clips, and images all on the same track if you want.  You simply layer your timeline tracks based on the type of effect you want.  As expected, you can lock the tracks to prevent any changes happening to them, and adding a new track is as simple as right-clicking.  Audio editing tools are available for each track by clicking the audio mixer button above the timeline which slides out an audio panel beside each track.

If you don’t want to spend hours of your time editing a movie, then you can let the program do it for you by using the SmartSlide and SmartMovie features in the Library.  Just tell it which pictures, video and music you want to use, and it creates the whole project for you.  You can also edit the movie afterwards if you don’t like what Avid created for you.  For example, I used SmartSlide and it told me the optimum number of pictures that I needed to use based on the music that I chose.  My pride tells me that I could have done a better job at it, but the end result wasn’t bad. To access either of these, go to your library and the buttons are in the middle at the bottom.

The start-up speed of the program was not bad compared to Adobe Premier Elements and Pinnacle Studio, which I have used for years.  Also, the help files and video tutorials on Avid’s website are also superior to what is available for Pinnacle and Premier Elements.  I must also mention a feature that I have not seen in any other video editor that I can recall.  I was looking at the bottom of the timeline for a scroll-bar to scroll my timeline.  It wasn’t there.  At the very bottom of the program window is what I am going to call the Zoom Slider/Timeline Navigator.  Here is a screenshot:

It allows you to zoom in and out of the timeline by dragging the ends of that orange box, as well as navigate along the timeline by dragging it left and right, instead of having a scroll-bar to deal with.  I guess you have to just use it to understand, but all I can say is that I like it, alot. And it is especially useful when working with a large project that is quite long.  Double-click it and it zooms your timeline to fit the window.  If you are a Pinnacle user then you will find that you can still zoom the timeline like you have always done… use your mouse to grab the ruler above the timeline and drag it left and right.

When I first starting using Avid Studio, I wasn’t too keen on the way that transitions are implemented.  In most other video programs when you drop a transition between clips, it puts highlights on portions of each clip to visually show you that a transition is in place.  The screenshot below is from Pinnacle to show you what I mean.

In Avid Studio you basically grab the top corner of a clip and pull it down, sort of like grabbing the page of a book and folding down the corner to ‘dog ear’ it, so to speak.  This drove me crazy because I simply wasn’t used to it.  But after using it for awhile now, I can say that it makes alot of sense.  Visually, it makes it much easier looking at the timeline and seeing all your transitions.  Well done Avid.  I haven’t seen this implemented like this before.  Here is a screenshot of the transitions in Avid Studio:

I was successful exporting in various formats.  You can see from the screenshot below that there are a large number of choices for output formats, as you would expect in a product of this level.  I was also able to successfully burn a DVD and use some of the built-in menus and montage themes.  I will say that the time it took to burn the DVD seemed a little slow to me, and I would even go so far as to say that it might have even been slower than Adobe Premier Elements, which to me is slow.  I was also able to upload directly to Youtube without any hiccups.  I don’t own a Blueray player or drive, so I couldn’t test that.

Lest I be accused of drinking the Avid Koolaid, let me say it wasn’t all a bowl of cherries.  It’s great that there is a Youtube upload in the Export tab, but why is there no Facebook upload?  Even Pinnacle Studio has Youtube and Yahoo Video upload.  Avid Studio only has Youtube upload.  Very disappointing.  Not even a Vimeo upload.  This must be fixed.  Also, I found that this program could be a bit overwhelming for a novice video creator.  It isn’t nearly as simple to use as iMovie, and it is even a bit more complicated than Pinnacle.

For example, adjusting the audio properties of clips can be confusing at first.  The ‘rubber band’ audio line on each clip is similar to Pinnacle and Premier Elements, so if you have seen that then you know how to use it.  But using the pop-out audio mixer tool on the timeline wasn’t intuitive to me.  It is just more complicated than editing audio in other programs I have used.  You could argue that with a more complex program comes more complexity, and you would be right.  And creating a title threw me for a loop at first. I think it is a little too complex for a novice to figure it out.  Opening up the title editing panel exposes you to a unbelievably powerful title editor, complete with its own timeline, layers, motion effects, and more. Just trying to figure out how to change features of the text in your title is too complicated in my view. Everything seems to be hidden under drop-downs and plus symbols. Again, too complicated I think for the novice. Now that I have figured it out, I can see the power you have at your fingertips, but the novice is gonna freak out just trying to add a simple title.

To wrap-up, let me mention in a bulleted fashion some of the little pleasant surprises that I discovered while using this program:

• In the mini view of the library while editing your movie you can use a zoom slider to change the size of the thumbnails to see smaller or larger thumbnails.
• You can customize the mini library with tabs for whatever items you want to see… newly imported media, sound effects, transitions, custom collections, etc. I like customization.
• In the capture window you can set a specified time that you want to capture and then walk away. It will stop capturing when it has captured the specified amount of time.
• When you delete a piece of media from the library you can decide to just delete it from the library or actually from the harddrive.
• If you start a project in 4:3 aspect ratio and then realize at some point that your footage is actually in widescreen format, you better hope you aren’t using Adobe Premier Elements because you’ll have to create your project from scrach and start over.  However, with Avid there is a button above the timeline that allows you to change those settings with a few clicks. Very nice!

So did Avid win me over despite the higher price?  Yep, it did.

To me, the icing on the cake boils down to 2 things.  First, the sound & video effects and transitions (Hollywood FX, Creative Pack, Red Giant Plugins, etc) that come with Avid Studio are great.  And those things can turn a so-so video into a great video and make the author look good with little effort.  When I first started looking through all the effects, transitions, sound effects, etc, that came with the program it took me forever because there were so many.  I wasn’t expecting that, so it truly was a nice surprise. Having options like this is great because you don’t want to get in the rut of using the same transitions/effects over and over.

Secondly, the Library with its organization and editing features is the best I’ve seen.  I can’t emphasize that enough.  If you love to be organized, you are gonna love this. You can tag your media items to make them easy to find and then use the Library search feature so you can search your pictures, videos, transitions, effects, etc.

Right now, even at the premium price and despite some of the complaints I had, I like Avid Studio better than Pinnacle Studio or Adobe Premier Elements and highly recommend it.  If you are a novice video editor would Avid Studio be the best program for you?  I tend to think the answer to that is no.  I have used video programs for years and I think this program would be great for those of you who want to graduate from the entry-level consumer video editor but you don’t want to make the jump to something like Adobe Premier Pro or Sony Vegas Pro. If you can’t afford it, then Pinnacle Studio will do just fine, but you won’t be disappointed with Avid Studio. I have always believed in paying for quality, and Avid fits that bill.

UPDATE (6/24/11):  A patch has been released for this product.  Grab it here:  http://bit.ly/jemGvM

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews

Tagged: A/V, Software, Video

Avid Studio Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 11, 2011 at 11:30 am.

The Xtreamer Prodigy is a next generation Realtek based media streamer with USB 3.0, Card Reader, 256Mb RAM and  512 Mb NAND flash memory, HDMI, an integral IR remote control and room for internal 3.5″ HDD (up to 3TB support). Just like previous Xtreamer models it will provide vivid and crisp playback of FULL HD multimedia files (including MKV, MP4 and other common used formats). The Xtreamer prodigy provides access to services like Apple AirPlay, Mediafly, Google Talk, Last FM, Pandora, Facebook, and more. You can search the media library and backup of DVDs and audio CDs using the system. Pricing and availability are not yet known.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Video

Xtreamer announces their next generation media player: Xtreamer Prodigy originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 3, 2011 at 5:15 pm.

In my never ending quest to divorce myself from Comcast and their overpriced cable service, I have been searching for alternate methods for the family to watch our shows. The Mvix Ultio media device was an effort in frustration, that fell well short of my needs and expectations. Fortunately, there are many other options in the media streaming world these days. The Roku XD|S is one of the most popular media streaming device around the Net. The XD|S is Roku’s latest, flagship device. It has been receiving rave commentary across the Net as a cost-effective, well done, easy to use streaming media device/player. The Roku XD|S is very capable; can stream up to full 1080p, built-in ethernet and wireless N dual-band connectivity, plays content from Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Video On Demand (VOD), Pandora, and a multitude of other services that only continues to grow.

Package Contents:

• Roku XD|S streaming media player
• Remote control
• Two AAA batteries
• Composite (red/white/yellow) A/V cable
• Power adapter
• Getting Started guide
• One year warranty

My only negative with the package contents is that Roku did not include a HDMI cable with their flagship player. Anymore, you can find decent HDMI cables for well under $10 (much less, if bought in bulk). A minor detail.

The Roku XD|S is a small, light and very simple to use (everything the Mvix Ultio was not) streaming media player. Basically, its a tiny black plastic box with many output connections/ports/pathways that brings you content from a large multitude of internet sources.

The purple Roku tab on the left hand side is very similar to a tag you would find on a garment, bag, etc. There is a matching purple tab on the remote as well.

One of the features the XD|S has the Roku HD and XD players do not is the USB 2.0 port that, as of the writing of this review (early Jan 2011), was not yet enabled. On the Roku website, they promise that it will be ‘enabled via free software upgrade expected Dec 2010′….for what that is worth. From the little bit of research I have done, there are free hacks out there to enable this function now. When enabled, it should support the following file formats: Video support: MP4, M4V (H.264), audio support: MP3, AAC, M4A, image support: JPG, PNG.

The Roku XD|S has nearly every video output option possible; enabling you to connect the device to any TV or media receiver. Video outputs include: composite video (480i), component video (720p/480p), requires Roku XDS component cable (sold separately), and HDMI (1080p/720p/480p). Digital 5.1 surround sound pass-through is available via HDMI and optical cables. Analog stereo is available via left/right RCA.

Technical Specifications:

Networking

• 802.11n Wi-Fi (b/g/n compatible) with WEP, WPA and WPA2 support
• Dual-band 802.11n (2.4Ghz and 5Ghz)
• 10/100 Base-T Ethernet

Video Outputs

• Composite video (480i)
• Component video (720p/480p). Requires Roku XDS component cable (sold separately)
• HDMI (1080p/720p/480p)

Video Modes

• 1080p High Definition (HD)
• 720p High Definition (HD)
• 16:9 anamorphic / 4:3 standard

Audio Output

• Analog stereo (left/right RCA)
• Optical digital audio (5.1 surround sound pass-through and stereo)
• Digital over HDMI (5.1 surround sound pass-through)

Remote Control

• Roku enhanced remote (with Instant Replay, Back and Options buttons)
• Compatible with various universal remotes

Power Input

• External AC adapter (5V, 2.5A)

Other Ports

• USB 2.0 port (enabled via free software upgrade expected Dec 2010).
• Video support: MP4, M4V (H.264).
• Audio support: MP3, AAC, M4A.
• Image support: JPG, PNG

Power Consumption

• 6 watts peak, 4 watts in standby

Size

• 4.9 x 4.9 x 1.2 inches (125 x 125 x 30 mm)

Weight

• 7.2 oz (203 grams)

Plugging in the power, Ethernet, and HDMI cables was quick and easy….mere seconds.

After start up, the device welcomes you and lets you know that connecting should take just a few minutes.

Since I have our media room wired with Ethernet and a cable laying right there to plug into the back, I chose the wired option. For those of you who do not have this option, the XD|S has built-in wireless N dual-band connection for zippy wireless connectivity. The less expensive HD and XD players have G and N wireless connection protocols, respectively.

Connecting to the internet was painless….quick and easy.

First thing the Roku does is update its software and then resets itself.

Next it asks you to set the time and time zone.

The XD|S’ screen resolution initially comes set at 4:3 standard definition. Once I set it’s output to HDTV (1080p), the video went from fair to stellar, as you would expect.

The Roku interface is simple and easy to use. It comes preloaded with their ‘Channel Store’, NetFlix, Amazon VOD, and Hulu Plus.

The Channel Store enables you to install other video and music channels to your main Roku interface.

Setting up NetFlix, HuluPlus, and Amazon VOD was quick and easy as well…..literally minutes.

Viewing Experience:

Even though the Roku devices can play 1080p videos, most content providers only stream @ 720p. That may change as throughput and technologies improve. Either way, the video playback is excellent. All three of the major content providers, NetFlix, Amazon, and Hulu+, look great and provide a very pleasant viewing experience. There were little to no bumps or hiccups in the playback.

Wanted Features:

• USB and codec support (hopefully very soon )
• Home network streaming from NAS or other computers
• Additional network channels (abc/nbc/cbs/bbc)

Without a doubt, I like the Roku XD|S. I find the Roku a pleasure to use and with just a few improvements it could be THE streaming media device to beat. The device excels at pushing Web-based content to your TV without hassle or issues. Its codec support for local media is a bit limited, but since most of my video is h.264 it does not bother me at all. The Roku XD|S retails for $99 but was (occasionally) on sale, here and there on the Net, this holiday season for $80. Considering the competition, the XD|S is a great bang for the buck. When you consider the relatively small capital investment and $16/month for NetFlix and Hulu Plus, the Roku XD|S is a strong contender in my vigilant quest in eliminating cable TV from our monthly Comcast bill.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Home Tech, Reviews, Wireless

Tagged: Streaming, Video

Roku XD|S Media Player Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 24, 2011 at 11:09 am.

Last November I reviewed the Dropcam Echo Wi-Fi Security Camera and have been using it ever since. It’s a very easy to setup camera that can send email alerts when it detects motion or audio. You can also login to the camera through any web browser to see and listen what is going on live. It’s great for keeping an eye on your pets or home when you’re not there. When I originally reviewed the camera they just had a mobile app for the iPhone, but now I’m very happy to say that they just released one for Android devices. This free app looks and works just like the iOS app. You can see prior events that were triggered from motion or sound, and you can watch a live view of your camera(s). I just love it! The Dropcam Android App is available on the Google Nexus One, Samsung Vibrant (Galaxy S), Motorola Droid, Motorola Droid X, HTC Droid Incredible, HTC EVO 4G, and other Android 2.2 (Froyo) devices. Download Dropcam from the Android Marketplace at http://market.android.com/details?id=air.dropcam.

Filed in categories: Android related, Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Security, Video

Dropcam video surveillance now available for Android originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 5, 2011 at 11:00 am.

Who needs traditional video cameras these days when you can create a whole movie or music video with your smartphone? We’ve seen movies shot with iPhones and now here’s what claims to be the first video shot entirely with Nokia’s new N8 smartphone. Filmed by Kyle Roberts, this is a fun little song from independent singer-songwriter Denver Duncan called Stalker. A behind the scenes look at how the video was shot after the jump.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Nokia, Symbian OS Related, Video

Music video shot entirely with a Nokia N8 originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 5, 2011 at 9:56 am.

For quite some time now I have been a “Canon Guy”.  I think many serious amateur photographers fall into one of two camps, “Canon folks” or” Nikon folks”.  Cameras are one thing I’m afraid to venture away from my comfort zone. If I got anything but a Canon and didn’t like it as much, I’d be kicking myself.

Truthfully I find it more rewarding to get a good photo than a good video.  Video just isn’t my thing, but, with the ease with which the new cameras can shoot video, I think many in the “Gadget crowd” are taking more videos now than ever before.  Might as well make them as good as possible, right.  While the ‘cameras’ do an amazing  job already, there are some things that can be done to spruce up the quality of the video shot with a “camera”.  An open-source free firmware add on called Magic Lantern is available.

What is Magic Lantern?  Basically it is an enhancement that works on top of Canon’s firmware to provide great new features to your video-capable  DSLR that you’d expect to see on a more advanced video camera.

Rather than blab on and on about the product, check out this video the developers made describing Magic Lantern.  See you at the Oscars filmmakers!

Filed in categories: Digital Cameras and Gear, News

Tagged: Canon, Video

Super Video on Canon DSLRs With Magic Lantern originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 3, 2011 at 8:30 am.

For over 5 months last year, I used my iMac as my TV while my basement was being remodeled. During that time, I was able to keep up on all my favorite shows using Hulu and ‘other methods’. Although I did miss not having live TV, it wasn’t that bad and I really didn’t miss having to pay $90 to DirecTV for each of those 5 months. Once the remodel was completed, I turned DirecTV back on,  but have continued to keep an eye out for an easy to use, low cost alternative that will allow me to watch my favorite content on my big screen TV. The latest solution that I’m trying out is the Boxee Box from D-Link. Boxee software has been around for PCs, Macs and Linux machines for quite awhile, but the Boxee Box is the first all-in-one hardware / software solution that connects to your TV. Let’s check it out.

Hardware Specifications

Dimensions (LxWxH): 4.5″ x 4.5″ x 4.6″
Language Support: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Network Protocol Support: IPV4, ARP, TCP, UDP, ICMP, DHCP Client, DNS Client, DDNS Client, HTTP Server, Samba Client, RTP/RTMP, VPN: PPTP, DLNA 1.5 (DMP)
Wireless: 802.11n/g/b
Ports: HDMI 1.3, 10/100 Fast Ethernet, 2x USB 2.0, Optical Audio (S/PDIF), Analog Audio (RCA L/R)
Memory Card Support: SD, SDHC up to 32GB, MMC
Audio Formats: MP3, WAV/PCM/LPCM, WMA, AIF/AIFF, AC3/AAC, OGG, FLAC, Dolby Digital/Dolby True HD
Video Formats: Adobe Flash 10.1, FLV/On2 VP6 (FLV/FV4/M4V), H.264 AVC (TS/AVI/MKV/MOV/M2TS/MP4), VC-1 (TS/AVI/MKV/WMV), MPEG-1 (DAT/MPG/MPEG), MPEG-2 (MPG/MPEG/VOB/TS/TP/ISO/IFO), MPEG-4 (MP4/AVI/MOV), DivX 3/4/5/6 (AVI/MKV), Xvid (AVI/MKV), WMV9 (WMV/ASF/DVR-MS)
Image Formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF
Playlist Formats: M3U, PLS, WPL
Subtitle Formats: SRT, SUB, SSA, SMI, ASS
Supported Resolutions: H.264: 1080p at 30 fps, 1080i at 60 fps; WMV9/VC-1: 1080p at 30 fps, 1080i at 60 fps; MPEG4: 1080p at 30 fps, 1080i at 60 fps; MPEG2: 1080p at 30 fps, 1080i at 60 fps

Package Contents

Boxee Box
HDMI Cable
AC Power Adapter
Remote Control with Full QWERTY keypad
Install Guide

The physical design of the Boxee is unique. It looks like a cube that is sinking into the surface below it. The box is made of Black plastic, with one shiny side and the rest matte. The shiny side has the Boxee logo, which glows a Greenish Yellow when powered on and Red when in sleep mode. The bottom of the Boxee has a neon Green rubber non-slip surface.

The Boxee has excellent expansion options, including an SD card slot on the Right side.

The power button is located on top.

All the connections are located on the back. There are 2 USB ports, that you can use to connect USB hard drives and/or flash drives to play your existing content. You can also connect to your network via Ethernet or WiFi. To connect to your TV, you will need to use the included HDMI cable and if needed, the optical or RCA audio jacks. Most video streaming devices include component or composite video connections, I think the Boxee is the first one I’ve seen that only offers HDMI. I’m perfectly ok with that as I like just using one cable to connect to my AV receiver for both video and audio.

You also get a small RF remote control. The top surface of the control has a 4-way directional pad with an enter button in the center. There are two other buttons for play/pause and menu.

But flip the remote over and you will find a full QWERTY keyboard. Instead of using an onscreen cursor to type in search critera, you get a regular keyboard. The rubber keys are small, but they have good tactile feedback and get the job done. My only wish is that the remote was lighted. In a dim room, it’s hard to see the letters on the keys.

Connecting the Boxee to my home theater setup took me a total of 10 minutes, with the majority of that time being devoted to fishing the AC adapter and HDMI wires around and through various openings in my custom enclosure. I only connected two wires – the included HDMI cable from the Boxee to my Onkyo AV receiver and the AC adapter to a power outlet. I’m not sure you can get any simpler than that.

Once connected, I pressed the power button on the Boxee and switched to that input on my receiver. When the Boxee finished booting, it immediately found my WiFi network and asked if I wanted to connect. A simple button press for Yes, and it then let me optimize my screen size. The last step asked me to either setup a Boxee account or login with an existing account. That’s all there is to the setup. It’s fast, it’s easy and painless.

The Home screen is an uncluttered view of the 6 main ways to watch content and a scrolling thumbnail view of featured videos.

Friends is the social part of Boxee. It allows you to watch stuff that your Facebook and Twitter friends are sharing.
Watch Later is exactly what it sounds like.  You can install a bookmarklet in the web browser of your desktop or laptop and mark videos to watch at a later time on your TV.
Shows and Movies should be easy enough to figure out… They are local and internet TV shows and Movie content.
Apps are special interfaces to popular content like Pandora, YouTube, TED, etc.
Files is a file browser for attached (USB, SD) or networked content.

There’s no shortage of things to watch on Boxee, but of course, the question is, is that content ‘good’ content? One of my criteria is the ability to find the latest episodes of my favorite shows, like I can with Hulu. Choosing the Shows option, you’re greeted with a scrollable thumbnail view of the latest TV shows. You can sort this list alphabetically if you like. You can also flip your remote over and start typing the name of a show to search for that show.

Clicking on a show’s thumbnail will then display the available episodes for that show. As you scroll the list, you will see the title, description and run time for the show. If you want to watch it, you just click Play on the remote.

Depending on where the show is coming from, the resulting video might start playing in a web browser interface like you see here. When this happens, you have two options. Sometimes you can press the menu button on the remote and then press the enter button to go to full screen mode. When that doesn’t work, you’ll have to move the onscreen cursor (see the arrow on Mayhem’s left arm in the image above?).

You’ll need to use the arrow keys on the remote to move the cursor to the appropriate onscreen button to change the video to full screen mode. This can be an annoyingly slow operation.

Once in full screen mode, the video (depending on the source) looks pretty darn good on my 55 inch TV.

But again, depending on the source and if you’re connected via hardwire Ethernet or wifi, you may encounter problems with buffering. That’s where the video will play for a few minutes and then pause as it loads more of the currently playing video.

But like I mentioned above, the whole thing is finding the stuff you want to watch. For me that’s current and semi current TV shows. I had problems finding full episodes of most of my favorite shows. For example, searching American Idol only showed snippets and clips of old stuff. Same for Grey’s Anatomy, Biggest Loser, Worst Cooks in America, and more. Yes, there are lots of shows that are available, but don’t think you’re going to be able to watch every show on TV for free on your Boxee. It’s not going to happen. Sometimes you’ll see a list of episodes on Boxee and when you choose one, you’ll be prompted to buy/rent it. I’ve seen this with Vudu.

It’s really a shame that Hulu isn’t available for Boxee…

Watching and finding movies is comparable to watching and finding TV shows. There are a lot of free movies, but you get what you pay for.

At this time Netflix is not available for Boxee. But Vudu is available for Boxee and it might be even better than Netflix because there’s no monthly subscription fee and they get movies the day the DVD is released. The video and audio quality is fantastic.

Vudu is one of the many free apps that you can install. There are apps for all sorts of content that you would typically visit a website to view. There are apps for Flickr, YouTube, DiggNation, and many more.

One of my favorite features of the Boxee Box is the ability to mark videos on my desktop and laptop for viewing later through the Boxee on my big screen TV. All you have to do is install the Watch Later bookmarklet in your web browser. Then as you surf and find a video that you want to watch later, just click the bookmarklet button.

Then when you check your Watch Later list on the Boxee, the marked videos will appear there.

Just click and watch. The only thing I wish it would do would be to automatically remove the videos once you’ve watched them. Instead, you have to manually remove them.

It’s important to note that you won’t be able to resume playback of online video if you stop playing and exit out of the video. If you come back to the video, it will restart it from the beginning. This isn’t a problem with local (USB, SD, networked file shares) content though. Those files can be resumed.

The Boxee Box is all about watching video content from the Internet, but don’t forget that it’s also a very capable viewer of your local content too. You can attach a USB hard drive, USB thumb drives or SD cards with video, music and pictures and the Boxee will show the media on your big screen TV.

I tested streaming video from another computer in my house via WiFi and had no problems with pausing or buffering even when I streamed a 4GB 720p movie. I had the same experience playing video on attached USB hard drives and SD cards. The best part is that you tell Boxee to keep an eye on certain networked folders or attached storage and it will automatically scan those places for new content and will present the found video and music files with the same type of thumbnail images and descriptions that it does the online TV shows and movies.

I’ve been using the Boxee Box for a few weeks now and have enjoyed testing it. The ability to explore lots of online content is both a good thing and a bad thing. It’s easy to get distracted by all the content just like we do when we’re surfing web pages. I’ve found the Boxee lacking when it comes to having the ability to find and play the full episodes of all my favorite shows. When Hulu becomes available, that should be less of an issue. For movies, Boxee really shines when used with the Vulu application. Netflix fans are upset that the Netflix app hasn’t been launched yet, but for me, Vudu is a better choice. Boxee also shines for playing your local video files. It had no problems playing all the video formats I could through at it.

All in all, I like the Boxee quite a bit, but I think it still needs some work as far as providing the apps that a lot of people really want (Hulu and Netflix) so that they can dump their cable or satellite box. For me, it is a very nice alternative to the Popcorn Hour C-200, which takes a up a lot more space. For playing movies and local content, it’s my new best friend. But for playing TV shows, it doesn’t quite cut it and I won’t be cutting the cord to my DirecTV. At least anytime soon.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Streaming, TV, Video

D-Link Boxee Box Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 24, 2011 at 3:00 pm.

When I was offered the opportunity to review the Cirago TV Platinum Network HD Multimedia Center my first thought was ” good grief, not another media center”.  I had previously reviewed the Cirago CMC2000 and was duly impressed, so how could this be an improvement.  Then I read the specs and saw that the CMC3000 supports the PLAYON server and I was hooked.

The CMC3000 is an upgrade of the Cirago CMC2000, so I’ll focus my review on the new features with the device.

Features:

Specifications:

• Interface  2x USB 2.0 (host), USB 2.0 (device)
• Ethernet 10/100Mbps, wired and wireless (via optional USB 802.11b/g 54Mbps adapter)
• Card Reader formats MemoryStick/MemoryStick Pro, SD/SDHC/MMC
• Power 12V, AC/DC 110/240V adapter included
• Video output HDMI up to 1080i, AV
• Audio output SPDIF (optical), Stereo
• Video input AV Input
• Recording format MPEG2, up to 720 x 480
• Supported video formats MPEG1 (dat, mpg), MPEG2 (vob, mpg, ts), MPEG4 (avi, divx, xvid, wmv, mov, mkv), RM/RMVB, VC-1, H.264
• Supported audio formats MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, WAV, AAC, AC3, ADPCM
• Supported image formats JPEG, JPG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PNG

The package contains the device, power supply, remote and batteries, installation manual and 3 cables;  AV composite video, an HDMI cable and a device USB cable.  I did have to supply my own Ethernet cable to hook into my LAN.

The front panel has the on/off switch and a power indicator.  It has a clean look.

On the back, from left to right you have power, AV in and out, HDMI, optical and LAN connections.

On the right side are the USB device port, 2 x USB host ports and the card reader.  If you’re wondering what is meant by the USB device port, it allows the CMC3000 to be plugged into a PC USB port and then acts like a regular USB drive to the PC.  It’s an easy and fast way to transfer files between the CMC3000 and a computer.

I put the CMC3000 in the video cabinet under my LCD TV and plugged the HDMI cable between them.  I connected a cable between the Ethernet port and my powerline home network.  I also plugged in a portable USB drive to the Cirago and then the power cable and was set to go.

In a short period I was presented with the home screen.  My first impression was that the Cirago people really need to get some user interface designers.  This screen and the subsequent ones are the least pleasant and informative of any media player I’ve seen.  All selections are made using the supplied remote.  The remote also acts like a DVD remote having functions for play/pause, stop, FF, etc.

The first icon on the bottom of the screen is for the video in.  The CMC3000 can record to its hard drive, video from the composite input.  I want to be perfectly clear:  this is NOT a DVR in the conventional sense.  You will need a tuner (I use an old VCR) for input.  They suggest taking the output of a cable box.  In conjunction with the input, the sixth icon on the bottom of the screen lets one set up record times.  I rarely use the video in feature except to copy some old VHS tapes to the hard drive.

Here’s where it gets interesting.  The browser function is what makes this device useful and flexible.

After selecting the browser function, you are presented with several options.  You can now explore any drives plugged into the 2 USB slots and play the media stored on them.  The same goes for any memory cards attached.  Selecting HDD explores the internal hard drive from which you can play media.  The network tab makes it possible to play media from all networked PCs and devices.  For example, I connected to the CMC2000 in my bedroom and played a movie stored there on the CMC3000 in my living room.  Then there is the UPnP selection.

When in UPnP mode, the CMC3000 will find all devices on the network that have UPnP enabled.  In my case it saw the 2 PCs running Windows Media Player 11, a digital picture frame and the Playon server running on my desktop.  I downloaded a 14 days free trial of the Playon software for this test.

Now I was able to view Hulu content on my TV, which finally gets me away from the computer.  The quality is a function of the resolution streamed and is not HD, but it is watchable.  It’s also a lot cheaper than paying the cable company.

In addition, the CMC3000 with Playon provides access to your Netflix account, displaying your selections on the TV.  The above screen shot shows the preview screen.  In addtion there is access to YouTube, several TV network IP feeds and assorted video content.  Unfortunately, moving between selections was very slow, apparently because each preview had to be transcoded by Playon on my PC before being displayed.  My dual core cpu usage was pegged at 100% each time the Playon server was running.  I guess it’s time to upgrade

Besides the functions already mentioned, the CMC3000 has a P2P function allowing you to check the status of torrent files that are being downloaded.  I didn’t test this feature.

The CMC3000 also has an Internet radio function.  This is very basic and searching for stations can become tedious because the display only provides cryptic information.  I don’t consider this a show stopper.

The NAS function of the device is a plus.  I use the internal 1TB drive to store some of my media files and backups of application data from the PCs on the LAN.

The CMC3000 is truly a Multimedia Center.  It makes it fairly easy to play and store personal content as well as allowing access to the vast amount of media available on the Internet.  All of this can be played on an existing TV up 1080i for video and 5.1 audio.  Considering its capability and the included storage, it is an exceptional price performance purchase.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews

Tagged: A/V, Video

Cirago Network HD Multimedia Center CMC3000 Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 6, 2011 at 5:09 pm.

Intel is planning to present its new chip “Sandy Bridge” at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. One of the features they are planning to present is “visibly smart”. This feature will enable handling the entire encoding process of a movie in the CPU (including the DRM authentication). The enhanced security should help to persuade Hollywood studios to offer their content in a top-quality format (1080p) for the first time to PC users. On the other hand, it will be harder to convert these movies to a different format, unless the content provider will allow it. More details will be available at Intel booth at CES (picture above).

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Video

Intel Presents New Sandy Bridge Chip at CES in Las Vegas originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 5, 2011 at 5:30 pm.

ION Audio’s TWIN VIDEO is the first handheld video recorder that I’ve seen with both front and back lenses. It’s great for bloggers because you can record yourself at the same time that you are recording something else. It would be perfect for interviews. It’s not HD, but it does record 640 x 480, 30 fps video onto a standard SD card. It has a tripod mount and a rechargeable lithium ion battery. It’s priced at $119.99 and is shipping now. Full press release after the jump.

ION SHIPS TWIN VIDEO CAMERA WITH SWITCHABLE LENSES

Twin Video is Perfect For Interviews, Video with Commentary and Vlogging

Cumberland, R.I. (Nov. 30, 2010) – ION (www.ionaudio.com), a leader in consumer audio and entertainment technology, is now shipping TWIN VIDEO, a pocket-sized video recorder allowing real-time toggling between front and back lenses.

Featuring both front and rear-facing lenses, TWIN VIDEO is an innovative new take on the handheld video camera allowing anyone to capture themselves and what they are seeing with a single device. This easy-to-use camera makes vlogging (video blogging) easy thanks to a few live editing features. While recording, TWIN VIDEO enables users to swap which picture is being recorded with the touch of a button.

While TWIN VIDEO has powerful, advanced features and capabilities, users will find that it fits easily into their everyday lives thanks to its compact, handheld size. This web-friendly video device is designed to meet the needs of today’s highly social web. TWIN VIDEO creates videos that are perfect for sharing on social media websites and YouTube.

TWIN VIDEO records onto a standard SD or SDHC card so users will find it to be compatible with a wide range of cards and readers including those built into many of the latest Mac and PC computers.

An included handle makes holding TWIN VIDEO more comfortable, while also providing a more stable video recording. Users can operate the TWIN VIDEO up to four hours on a single charge of its internal, removable and rechargeable battery. It connects via USB to virtually any Mac or PC for easy video transfer and charging.

“It’s one thing to capture the family gathering, but it is an entirely different experience when you find yourself in the video too.  Whether you want to share your experience riding a roller coaster, interviewing a subject or producing scripted videos, TWIN VIDEO changes the video-capture game,” said Gregg Stein, Managing Director, ION. “Until now, you needed two cameras and expensive editing software to create a video from multiple angles. Now a first-time TWIN VIDEO user can capture the subject in front of them, then switch to their viewpoint, live on-the-fly.”

TWIN VIDEO is available now from ionaudio.com/twinvideo for $119.99 US.

YouTube™ is a trademark of YouTube, LLC.

#  #  #

About ION

ION manufactures a full line of consumer electronics, personal technology, musical instruments and gaming products. ION delivers all-in-one, plug-and-play, easy-to-understand solutions to difficult, confusing technology problems. For more information, visit www.ionaudio.com; images are available at www.ionaudio.com/media.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Spotlight Gadgets, Video

ION Audio’s TWIN VIDEO Camera Records Me Recording You originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 30, 2010 at 4:33 pm.

The difference between a computer monitor and a TV screen seems to be becoming more irrelevant every day. Whether because we dropped cable or want a second computer display, more and more of us are connecting our computers to TVs. Devices like Warpia’s SWP100A Wireless USB PC to TV Audio/Video Display Adapter claim to let you do anything you would normally do on your computer on your TV.

The SWP100A comes with the USB PC transmitting dongle, a receiving dongle and a ‘dock’ that can be mounted horizontally or vertically, a power cord, a CD-ROM for Windows XP or newer, and instructions. You need to provide a VGA or HDMI cable.

Installing the software was easy, although it is one of those where you need to follow the directions correctly as far as what you plug in when. When installed, two new icons show in your System Tray- a connection indicator and the Display icon.

The transmitter half just plugs into a USB port on your computer, and the receiver dongle plugs into the dock, either pointing up, as shown, or straight out the back if you mount the dock on a vertical surface. One oddity is that both the dongles have indicator lights on them (the ‘swoop’ shape in the photos). If you look at the photo, you see that the indicator points out the same direction as the cable jacks and ports- which in actual use, is the back of the dock. Therefore you cannot see the receiver dongle lights to confirm operation when you use the horizontal configuration.

You can do either HDMI or VGA and a separate audio cable. Connecting the base unit is as easy as plugging in the power brick, hooking up your cables, then positioning it where it can ‘see’ the laptop.

The range is given as 30′ within the same room, but as usual with wireless devices this is an ‘ideal situations’ figure and your own results will vary. (The actual specs of the antenna, etc. can be found here.) The manufacturer has done testing to ensure that if the signal is quickly regained if interrupted. This is fortunate since it seems easy to disrupt- even when only about 12′ away.

So what is it like in actual use?

I need to share my rather embarrassing set-up to answer that fairly. We are experimenting with giving up cable, etc. and trying to find a way to use an older Fujitsu Lifebook T4030 with 810.11g wi-fi and an older video card, an older wireless 810.11g wireless router, and a cable connection of 15Mbps. I was connecting this to a flatscreen HD TV with VGA and HDMI inputs using a VGA and an audio cable. We use this for watching YouTube, episodes on Hulu, etc.

The existing set-up is admittedly sub-par. The images rasterize, freeze, break-up, and more. For the most part, we just put up with it but are planning to upgrade the router and laptop over the next few months, and maybe bumping up to a faster internet connection as well. I just point this out to show that I know the set-up is not perfect.

Using the SWP100A in this set-up was… not optimal. It adds another wireless step, and wireless is always slower than wired. The images that used to rasterize now froze, what stuttered before ground to a halt now. I had to set my video settings to the lowest they could go to even get that much.

Having said that, it was also obvious that for someone with a faster overall system, the SWP100A would bring you a simple wireless option that would take any image, movie, game, presentation, text, or sound you could bring up on your computer and send it to your TV. I think the company might want to consider making this clearer to help avoid frustration from other potential buyers.

UPDATE:

I was unexpectedly able to upgrade both my router and laptop, and am pleased to report that the SWP100A works much better with this new set-up. When I use a cable from the laptop to the TV, I no longer have many image quality issues, and what I do have is probably due to the lower-level cable package I subscribe to.

With the new set-up, the Warpia SWP100A works much better- better than my old system performed when hard-wired.  It is definitely not as good as direct-wired still, but not so much that it disrupts the viewing experience.

In an attempt to quantify this, I would suggest that watching cable TV is a 10, to establish a baseline. My old system, hard-wired, was about a 4. Old system using the Warpia was a 3 with occasional dips to a 2.

My new system, hard-wired, is a solid 8 and would probably be a 10 with a faster cable connection. New system with the Warpia is a high 7 with dips to a 6 depending largely on what else I am asking the computer to do.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews, Wireless

Tagged: USB, Video, Wireless

Warpia SWP100A Wireless TV Display Adapter Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 30, 2010 at 10:45 am.

Joby’s Gorillapod Video has been designed specifically for mini-camcorders, so you can seamlessly capture video wherever you go. The omni-directional positioning video head allows for easy orientation at any angle, with seamless 360 degree pan and 135 degree tilt. Constructed of anodized aluminum, the lightweight design is engineered for durability and capture on-the-go. The Gorillapod Video’s flexible, bendable ball-and-socket legs provide stability anywhere, and the super strong magnetic feet allow you to achieve vantage points that were previously impossible. Plus, the quick-release plate makes it easy to go from hands-free to handheld in seconds. It has an MSRP of $29.95 and is available now from US retailers including: amazon.com, B&H Photo and Joby.com.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Spotlight Gadgets, Tripod, Video

Joby Gorillapod Video gets all bendy for mini camcorders originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 22, 2010 at 4:51 pm.

I have used video cameras for as long as I can remember.  My first video camera was one of those really hefty kind that you sat on your shoulder and it used regular VCR tapes.  Yeah, and I admitted it.  Since then I have used every imaginable type of video camera, from ultra expensive to cheap, small to large, and everything in between including the Flip cameras.  I have loved the form factor and ease of use of the Flips, but not enough to make me fall in love with them.  But I think I finally found something that I can give my heart to… the Kodak Playsport!

The Kodak Playsport is about the same size as an iPod classic and just a little bit thicker.  It feels solid in your hand and it weighs just slightly less than said iPod Classic.  It has a standard threaded hole on the bottom that can be used to attach the camera to a tripod mount.  And it has a hole next to that for attaching a lanyard, which is included in the box.  The speaker is on the bottom as well, next to the tripod hole.  The colored back and about half of the edges are covered in the soft-touch rubber that you see on alot of cellphones today, which I happen to like.   That helps in holding it when it is wet, like when you take it around water.  The other surfaces are shiny plastic.  The LCD screen is 2 inches in size which is not too bad for previewing the videos you make.  They even included an HDMI cable in the box… who does that anymore??  Kudos to Kodak!  To round out the box contents we have a quick start guide, and USB charger cable, and an audio cable.

The doors that open on the sides to get access to the battery, ports, etc, are very tight to open, but that is a good thing because they need to be tight to keep water out of them.  The door on the left side give you access to the Li-Ion rechargeable battery and the storage card, which can handle up to a 32 GB card.  The camera comes with 128 MB internal storage which would be fine for a few pictures, but for taking video that internal storage is pretty much useless so you’ll need to purchase a storage card.  The door on the right side gives you access to mini USB 2.0 connection (which is also used to charge it), the HDMI port, and an A/V out port.  The power button is right above the door on the right side.  On the back is the 5 MP camera lens and the led indicator which blinks red when you are recording.  The 4 buttons on the front are (from top to bottom) for recording mode, viewing mode, the delete button, and settings.  The round directional pad is explained in more detail below, and the white button in the middle of the d-pad is for pressing enter, like to start and stop video, confirm deletes, etc.  By the way, this camera is very speedy between starts and stops when you press that white button!

As you can see from the picture below, when you are in video-taking mode you can press left or right on the round black directional pad in the middle, which will bring up the choices you have for video quality and still pictures.  Video can be WVGA (640×480 – 30fps), 720p (30 fps), 720p 60fps, and 1080p (30 fps).  There is an LCD Glare shield option that reduces sun glare on the screen when outdoors, and it does provide a little bit of help in that regard.  It also has an Electronic Image Stabilization feature that helps reduce the ‘shaky-ness’ that I think plagues cameras of this type, such as the Flip cameras.  I was more pleased with the video I got with this camera than when I played with a Flip HD camera last year… much less shaky video. The video format is H.264 MOV format.  When recording video, if you press up and down on the d-pad you can zoom in and out slightly (4X digital zoom), but I found this useless.  You won’t be zooming with this camera.

There is also a feature called ‘smart face tracking technology’ that is supposed to focus on faces in the frame.  I know alot of cameras these days have something like this, but I honestly couldn’t tell a difference between the videos I did with this feature turned on and off.  I took videos using all the settings listed above and I found myself going back to the 720p 60fps option.  This option was designed to capture video of things that are moving fast on the screen, like your kid’s soccer game or something.  The video using all the other settings were good of course, but with 60 fps video versus 30 fps, I really could see a difference.  And since almost all my videos are uploaded to Youtube or on my website, I end up sizing down the videos anyway so I don’t really need 1080p quality.  Which is funny because the 1080p ability was the deciding factor for me getting this camera in the first place!  If you have a 32 GB card in the camera, you’ll get about 10 hours of 720p (30fps) video.  Less if you use the 720p 60 fps option.

Still pictures with this camera are what you would expect with a quality of 5 MB.  You won’t be taking anybody’s official wedding photos with this thing, but for a weekend jaunt or a party at the house, it works great.  It is also important to note that this camera’s main purpose isn’t still pictures, so you don’t have very many picture settings at all compared to the multitude of consumer cameras out there today.  You don’t have ISO settings, or the ability to change from Aperture Priority to Shutter priority, and so forth.  So photo enthusiasts won’t be impressed with this still camera.  Where this camera shines however is in taking video.

With the included HDMI cable I was able to connect the camera directly to my HD tv and we watched the videos on the big screen.  Very, very nice!  I didn’t have to spend time using my pc to convert the videos over to a DVD to watch them in the living room… plug it up and away we go!  I was also pleasantly surprised with the sound quality with the monaural (not stereo) microphone.  It picked up sound extremely well especially in outdoor situations, even under the water.  Under the water you say??  Oh yes!  (As long as it isn’t deeper than 10 ft, of course.)

This camera is promoted as a rugged, outdoor, on-the-go, can-handle-anything, type of camera.  And I have say I agree with them.  With the soft-touch rubber shell and water-tight seals on the doors, I wasn’t afraid to do anything with this camera.  We had a blast in the pool with this thing and as you can see from the video above, the video under the water is remarkable.  I won’t be leaving my 9MB still camera at home for the next vacation, but all the video will be shot with this camera for sure.  Can you say white water rafting?

The camera comes with built-in software (pc only) to allow you to edit your videos, and when you plug it up to your computer with the included USB cable, it prompts you to install the Acrsoft software.   From that point forward, once you connect the camera it will open up the software to allow you to see all the videos on the camera and import the ones you want to whatever destination on the harddrive you want.   I have done lots of video editing over the years with a multitude of video editing software.  So the software they provide isn’t very impressive to me and doesn’t give me the editing capabilities that I would expect in a consumer-level video editor… for example, you only have 6 transitions to choose from, and the video timeline isn’t that intuitive.   But for people who don’t want to purchase something else to edit videos, it is a fairly easy-to-use package that does allow you to upload directly to Youtube, Facebook, Vimeo, and Twitter, which is where most of the videos will probably end up anyway.  That’s a nice touch to include Vimeo… not many video programs are doing that yet, so again, kudos to Kodak!  I uploaded a video to Youtube and Facebook and it worked fine.  But let’s be honest… it didn’t cost me extra, so who am I to complain??

The bottom line is that this camera is my new favorite gadget.  I am walking around looking for things to video, and my family keeps rolling their eyes when they see me coming!  The zoom is useless though, and the still camera is not the best you’ll see.  But the ruggedness and ease-of use is wonderful, and the video is takes is fantastic.  I highly recommend this camera, and for the price you pay… well, that’s just icing on the cake.  Anybody wanna go swimming?

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Digital Cameras and Gear, Outdoor Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Digital Camera, Outdoor Gear, Video

Kodak Playsport Video Camera Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 29, 2010 at 8:26 pm.

Today Sony announced the new Walkman E-Series video MP3 player, which features up to 50 hours of audio playback (mp3 files at 128 kbps) and 10 hours of video playback (WMV at 384 kbps). This new player also features 2 of Sony’s own technologies: Clear Audio and SenseMe. Clear Audio is an audio technology that offers clear, deep sound without distortion, while SenseMe automatically categorizes your music tracks in your library into a variety of music channels and playlists. There’s also a Bookmark Function that allows listeners to create on-the-fly playlists. The Sony E Series Walkman will be available next month for about $70 for a 4GB memory version and $80 for an 8 GB version at Sony Style.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: MP3, Spotlight Gadgets, Video

Sony Introduces New Walkman NWZ-E350 Series Video MP3 Player originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 11, 2010 at 8:23 am.

Logitech has a made a pledge to bring HD video to anyone, anywhere, and has taken another step toward that goal by unveiling a full lineup of HD webcams and the recently announced Logitech Vid HD, the free and easy way to make an HD video call.  A few of the new features include HD 720p video calling, full HD 1080p video recording and Logitech Fluid Crystal technology, one-click Facebook and YouTube uploading.  Available now in the following pricing: HD Pro Webcam C910 $99.99, HD Webcam C510 $59.99, HD Webcam C310 $49.99, HD Webcam C270 $39.99.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Video, Webcam

Logitech unveils new HD webcam and vid HD family originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 9, 2010 at 9:17 pm.

The elgato EyeTV Hybrid is a beautiful little USB 2.0 TV Tuner for Mac or Windows computers. It’s “hybrid” in that it will tune just about anything you’ve got: analog cable/tv, Digital/HDTV, and Clear QAM digital cable. It even has adapters so you can hook up a Composite or S-Video source (such as an analog camcorder) to capture standard definition video. The EyeTV is fully supported without additional drivers under Windows 7, via Windows Media Center. If you’re a Mac, the included EyeTV 3 software enables viewing and recording for you.

The photo above shows you everything in the box: the EyeTV receiver, a USB extension cable, the breakout cable for connecting analog sources, Mac software, and the IR Remote. For the review I set the EyeTV up on a couple Windows Laptops (an HP “entertainment” class laptop with Core 2 Duo CPU and Windows 7 Home Premium, and an Acer Aspire One netbook with 2GB ram, running Windows 7 ultimate) and one MacBook.

A Closer Look

Before we get to the nuts and bolts, let me show you the reviver and remote up close.

The device itself is roughly the size of your average USB memory stick. The large antenna/coax adapter on the right is often not shown in promotional/web shots on the elgato web site, but the review unit arrived with it attached and I wasn’t able to remove it with gentle tugging. Not that you can use it with it removed, anyway – but we’ll get back to that later.

On the right edge is the dongle port. The left edge has the IR receiver for the remote.

The remote is one of those standard gray slabs we all know and love. I did not verify this, but I expect the IR codes used are compatible with/the same as Hauppauge-based tuners/remotes, so it may be fairly simple to use a universal remote.

Setup/Install (Windows 7 Media Center)

This isn’t a review of Windows 7 or the Windows Media Center, so I’m going to breeze through this pretty quickly. If you have any version of Windows 7, you should have (or can install) Windows Media Center. Getting the EyeTV to work with WMC is a two step process. First, insert the USB receiver. Wait for Windows to install the drivers, which it should do automagically:

After a while, Windows will tell you it’s ready to use. Fire up WMC and it will walk you through the configuration for your TV source. One of the many many windows you will see is:

This is showing that, when plugged into my very large HDTV antenna coax cable (we’ll get back to that at the end, I promise!) WMC and the EyeTV agree that they can see lots of HDTV over the air channels. Very promising! Continuing on for another few setup screens finally leads to victory:

The EyeTV remote is fully supported under WMC and, assuming you can see the dongle itself with the remote, works fine from normal “couch” distance of 6-10 feet.

I tuned to a couple of HD channels and verified that both 720p and 1080i HDTV works fine. Windows 7 can’t take a screen shot of a full-screen video overlay, so first here is a shot of PBS in a window.

I captured a few seconds of our local NBC and ABC stations to get 1080i and 720p video. A small clip of the ABC nightly news (720p) is available here. Below are two frames from recordings made in WMC with the EyeTV of 1080i and 720p programs:

As expected, digital TV captures (and live viewing) work beautifully.

Setup/Install (Mac – EyeTV 3)

Phyiscal installation on the Mac is identical. Plug in the USB tuner. On the Mac you’ll need to install the EyeTV 3 software to get to the point of viewing/recording video. Installation went without a hitch:

As in the case with Windows, the setup detects the device and walks you though setting up/detecting channels, and determining what guide you should be using based on your service. I used the same Digital over the air antenna, and (not surprisingly!) found the same channels. After a few setup screens, success again:

As with Windows, the EyeTV remote fully controls the software. You can also use your Mac remote, if your Macintosh has one.

EyeTV 3 DVR

The EyeTV 3 software is a full featured DVR, with built in program guide, scheduler, series recorder, and timeshifting/pausing live TV. It performed as expected during the review. Navigation via the keyboard, on screen remote, or physical remote was straightforward, and the software worked equally well in windowed mode (in case you wanted to work with the TV on in the background) or in full screen mode.

In full screen mode, the on-screen remote disappears after a few seconds. It pops back up if you move the mouse (that’s why its in all my screen shots!) but it does go away if you’re using the IR remote.

You can change settings in full screen mode as expected. For example, let’s get subtitles going.

Subtitles are Muy Bueno:

I was able to record digital sources even on a very underpowered Macbook without difficulty. A small clip from the opening of a world cup game, recorded via EyeTV 3, is available here. I actually don’t have any analog sources left in the house to test the analog recording, but it clearly states on the elgato site that analog recording is encoded as mpg2 via software, and not on the EyeTV hardware itself. This shouldn’t be a problem for any Mac with a Core 2 or better CPU.

Tuning, Antennas and Other Small Details

As promised, this is my big problem with this nifty little adapter. Without a fairly decent sized antenna, or a Cable TV source, you’re not going to be seeing anything with it. It seems silly to have to point that out, but you could get the impression that an antenna isn’t needed. What you have here is a really small TV tuner. Depending on where you live (or where you want to watch TV) you’ll need anything from a small set-top antenna to a large rooftop one. I went through this dance in the early 2000s when I got my first HDTV – before the digital transition, and before Comcast even offered HD. From my home to the big HDTV broadcast tower in San Fransisco, I needed not only a full-sized rooftop antenna, but also a 10 foot poll to mount onto the chimney, to put it up high enough. From there, I got a great signal. Fast forward to 2010, and Comcast gives me all the HD I want. The antenna still sits, neglected, on the roof.

When the EyeTV arrived for review I tried it naked, with no antenna, and as I expected got no channels at all. Plugging into that monster on the roof got me upwards of 40 digital channels. I also had a Winegard SS-3000 indoor amplified antenna handy (I seem to collect antennas) and sure enough, it only pulled in the closest couple of stations from inside my house – and it’s nearly three feet across.

So, what’s this mean to you? If you’re expecting this EyeTV to get a picture over the air with no antenna, forget it. Unless you are sitting under the broadcast tower, you are going to need some kind of HDTV/Digital antenna. If you need a big antenna, then that’s going to limit your portability much more than the EyeTV tuner itself.

So, what do you gain from the portability of the EyeTV? Well, if we lived in an analog world, being able to take a small analog capture device with you might be quite handy. I’m not sure that the need to capture analog video comes up much these days, but if you have that need this is a great device for that. Also, it’s possible you’d like to add digital recording to a device that doesn’t support internal expansion. Certainly this is true for many Macs, and for any Laptop device. Being able to set up a system for casual recording, or for regular recording/viewing via the EyeTV is fast, simple, and once completed doesn’t require much more than plugging in (or pulling out) a USB cord.

Conclusion

The EyeTV Hybrid is a good, small TV Tuner/Video capture device. It’s ability to tune and hold a channel lock is comparable to that of “full sized” external or expansion card-based tuners, and it works equally well for Mac and PC based machines. The USB-based device is ideal for all-in-one machines, Laptops, and even Netbooks. If you’re buying the EyeTV for a Windows machine, you’ll pay a premium over Windows-only USB tuners since you’re also paying for the Mac EyeTV 3 software.

Out of the box you’re not given everything you need to watch over-the-air TV, and from personal experience getting an internal antenna to work even from the near-in suburbs can be tricky, so be sure you understand the requirements for an antenna, or a cable box, before you decide the EyeTV is for you.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Laptops and Gear, Reviews, Travel Gear

Tagged: A/V, DVR, Laptop, Mac OS X, USB devices, Video, Windows 7

elgato EyeTV Hybrid Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 2, 2010 at 11:57 am.