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Service Pack 3 Glitch Kills Video Capture

After installing Windows XP SP3 my camcorder was no longer recognized when I plugged in the Firewire cable. No matter what I tried it wouldn’t allow me to capture video.

Turns out there’s a glitch in the IEE1394 driver you get with Microsoft’s service pack that is well documented. However, the fix isn’t that easy to find.

Fortunately it’s quick and simple.

If you roll back the OHCI1394.sys file to the SP2 version you’ll be able to capture video again. And this error isn’t specific to any particular brand of camera or computer- I have a JVC but we tried a Panasonic, a Sony and Canon without any better results. This also applies to other Firewire devices, like hard drives.

I was able to fix the problem by copying the OHCI1394.sys file from my Dell’s system support files (look for a folder called C:\i386). Otherwise dig out your Windows XP disk. Once you find a pre-SP3 version of the file open C:\Windows\System 32\Drivers and make a copy of your current OHCI1394.sys file. You might want to email it back to Bill later. Now copy the older version of the file into the System 32 Drivers folder and you’ll get a warning that you’re copying over a newer file. Just say “Thank you very much” and click OK.

Now restart and you should be good to go.

Abother option is uninstall SP3. That’s a more lengthy process but easily done through the Add/Remove Program section of Control Panel. Hope this helps someone else solve their video capture troubles!

Deep Discounts at the “Open Box” Center at B&H Photo and Electronics

Web Developer- Very Helpful Plugin

Here’s a very handy plug-in for Mozilla Firefox I discovered earlier this week. It’s simply called Web Developer.

Outwardly it’s a pretty basic snippet of software that adds a toolbar and menu to the Firefox web browser (if you’re still using Internet Exploder you’ll need to start here). It provides various tools that any web geek will find invaluable. Installation takes about half a minute and it’s compatible with all versions of Firefox from 1.0 on.

With a couple of clicks you can easily test a page to see what it looks like with no CSS stylesheet. Or to the user with Javascript disabled.

One of the handier items is a view of the rendered HTML that shows you what the browser sees after all the squirrels have gone back to their cages. Or check the Javascript view to see just what all those little code snippets turn in to after the page downloads!

There are tons of great plug-ins available for Firefox (browse). If you deal with any HTML or CSS for web page design this little toolbar will make you wonder how you lived without it.

To learn more or download the Web Developer plug-in go to addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/60

Telephony Nirvana

I stumbled across this wonderful site by total accident (as usual) while researching my Trimline telephone. Frills Free Phones, just as the name implies, sells telephones that are just… well, telephones.

Their specialty is retro and new-old stock phones and supplies. I also found the History section pretty cool. For instance, did you know the Trimline was known in Europe as the “Manhattan”? Me neither.

My only complaint: why they didn’t play the alliteration card and use Fones with an F? Oh well, pretty fun site anyway.

Frill Free Phones

Enjoy.

Hot Camcorders at Cool Prices

B & H Photo is offering some great bargains on top notch camcorders. I picked a few of my favorites from different categories- from lightweight point-and-shoot to fully digital HD.

Pure Digital 30 Minute Point & Shoot Camcorder
The Pure Digital 30 Minute Point & Shoot Camcorder is so easy to use, anyone can record home videos. All you have to do is point the camera at your subject, press record and shoot. That’s it! Capture up to 30 minutes of video to the camera’s internal 512MB flash memory and when you’re ready to share what you’ve recorded upload it to your compatible PC or Mac via the USB arm.

The Point & Shoot also features a 2x digital zoom for getting in closer, a 1.4″ TFT color playback screen, and review and delete options for recorded footage. Built-in software aids in sharing and archiving, and includes free video hosting options. This camera is not only easy to use but also extremely affordable, which makes it perfect for the budget conscious consumer who wants an uncomplicated camcorder experience.

Special Price- $79.95+ Shipping

Samsung SC-D382 Mini DV Camcorder
The Samsung SC-D382 Mini DV Camcorder features a 680k pixel CCD image sensor for recording all your adventures in life. Whether you’re at a child’s sporting event or on a family vacation this camera will capture the moment with ease. The 34x optical zoom and Digital Image Stabilization (DIS) allows you to capture clean, clear video from far off or in crowded situations where you’re likely to experience hand shake. The 2.7″ color TFT LCD display provides a platform for composing your shots and a place to watch video upon playback. When you’re ready to take a little more control of your movie making, just switch over to manual focus, exposure, white balance or shutter speed. And, because of it’s compact size, take the SC-D382 anywhere you go; just drop it in a bag and forget about it until it’s time to record!

Special Price- $ 154.95 + Shipping

Sony HDR-UX5 AVC HD DVD Handycam Camcorder
The Sony HDR-UX5 AVC HD DVD Handycam Camcorder shoots in genuine 1080i resolution, for real unparalleled HDTV clarity. Its professional quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens captures brilliant images with life like color and tones, while the 2.1-megapixel CMOS processes faster than a CCD for richer color and better detail. The Progressive Shutter System supplies digital still images with excellent definition and sharpness.

This camcorder comes with a variety of features, including 80x digital zoom, 16:9 widescreen mode, a hot shoe, a USB 2.0 interface, and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. This camcorder records in DVD format MPEG2 and AVCHD onto DVDs. The DR-UX5 is compatible with DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW and DVD+R Dual Layer disc formats for easy shooting and storing.

Special Price- $ 379.95+ Free Shipping

Canon VIXIA HG10 HD AVCHD HDD Camcorder
The Canon VIXIA HG10 HD AVCHD HDD camcorder combines a 40GB internal memory, 1920 x 1080 Full HD CMOS sensor, and DIGIC DV II technology. The 40GB HDD allows for up to 15 hours of record time in LP mode while the CMOS provides for true-to-life color rendition even in low-light. The DIGIC DV II technology further improves color reproduction, especially in skin tones while at the same time reducing image noise.

The 2.7″ multi-angled vivid widescreen LCD enables you to shoot with the LCD screen at any angle and still be able to see what you’re recording. The SuperRange optical image stabilization offers more image stability than previously available on other camcorders. The 24p provides rich, movie-film quality for your videos.

The HG10 is small enough to fit in your pocket or bag, allowing you to take it anywhere you go. Canon’s compact design also provides for ease of use and ergonomic comfort when recording, giving you a camcorder that looks and feels smart.

Special Price- $ 599.99+ Free Shipping

JVC GZ-HD7 Everio 60GB Hard Disk Drive HD Camcorder
The JVC Everio GZ-HD7 is a hard-drive based high definition camcorder with a variety of unique features destined to wet the palette of professionals and enthusiasts alike. The 60GB internal hard drive is capable of recording up to 420 minutes of standard definition footage, as well as being able to shoot up to 1080i.

Equipped with a plethora of controls, the GZ-HD7 performs much like a compact prosumer camera while still being incredibly affordable. The most notable feature on the camera is its ability to shoot ultra-high bandwidth MPEG-2 video for increased quality over traditional HDV.

Special Price- $ 799.95+ Free Shipping

Panasonic PV-GS90 Mini DV Camcorder
Panasonic designed the PV-GS90 SD MiniDV Camcorder for the die-hard fan of both SD and MiniDV. Not only will this camera fulfill your need for the old school but its compact size makes it perfect for travel; just put it in your bag and go. The 1/6″ CCD image sensor captures video with accuracy and stills in 640 x 480 resolution to SD/SDHC cards (sold separately). Use the widescreen 2.7″ LCD display to compose your shots or to play back footage for friends.

The PV-GS90 also features an LED light, 42x optical zoom, and MEGA Optical Image Stabilization. Panasonic’s MEGA OIS is an upgraded version of standard OIS, which corrects 4000x per second for a steady shot every time. If you’ve been craving MiniDV in standard definition, the PV-GS90 is for you.

Special Price- $ 224.95+ Free Shipping

Groovin’ with the Sansa MP3 Player

I finally broke down and bought a decent MP3 player. After living with it for 3 weeks I’m happy to report my SanDisk Sansa E260 is a winner.

But the best part? It only cost me $40!

So what’s the catch you ask? It’s a factory refurb. Anyone that reads this blog knows I like to shop the reconditioned aisle (see Olympus E-410 Digital SLR). For these lower prices you get a shorter warranty, and usually have to download your own manual (but most electronics no longer come with paper manuals anyway). Typically these units are new returns that befuddled consumers, or gifts people didn’t want. The factory inspects and makes any necessary repairs, then makes them available through certain retailers, such as Buy.com.

The Sansa e260 4GB Digital Multimedia Device is the flagship product of the SanDisk audio line. SanDisk (get it? like without a disk) is one of the pioneers in flash memory- jump drives, SD media, etc. This player is flash-based so there are no moving parts. The design is nice looking, but more importantly, it works. The controls are simple and easy to use, even if you’re not looking at it. The back is metal with a weird heat-treated look and is supposed to resist scratches.

A new Sansa e260 will set you back about $120. Not a bad deal at all considering what you get- 4 gig of storage, a Micro SD slot in case you ever fill up 4 gig, a nice 1.8″ color display, FM tuner, voice recorder, 20 hour battery and a convenient one-plug-does-it-all USB connection. It supports MP3, WMA and Audible formats for music, plus it will store photos and video if you’re so inclined. So far, I am not. Another nifty feature, although I haven’t tried this yet, is recording from the FM radio. It claims to handle it on-the-fly, so preserving those important NPR interviews for future reference is now possible.

The Sansa connects to a USB port on your computer with the supplied cable. After turning it on and plugging it into a USB port, it was literally only one click to transfer all of my music from my PC to the e260. The port on the bottom serves as input/output to synch your music library and is also the charging receptacle. The only other connection is the typical 1/8″ stereo jack on top for connecting to analog inputs. If you need to charge the battery when away from your computer there a variety of inexpensive charging options available. Ala the iPod, there are also a variety of accessories available that connect to the bottom of the Sansa, such as speakers, chargers, clock radios, etc.

Conclusion
The Sansa is a great choice, an affordable alternative to the iPod. If you don’t mind the shorter warranty and downloading your manual the refurb option makes a good deal even better. Offering over 60 hours of MP3 storage (more if you opt for Windows WMA format) the e260 will serve most users well for a very long time.