External Camera

[notten]

I'll cut to the chase and save the boring details for the next paragraph: I want an external SDIO camera connected to my Tilt so I can record videos on bike rides. I've searched high and low, and I have a few products in mind. Can anyone tell me if they know of better products?

What I need:

- An SDIO camera which will work on the Kaiser
- An SDIO (standard SD size) to MicroSD cable/adapter (if microSD SDIO cameras do not exist)
- A way to hook up both a microSD card and the camera (if possible)
- A good shell to keep my Kaiser injury free when (and if) I take a spill
- Any other suggestions are welcome.

What I've found:

On Bluetooth Cameras:
So far I've found absolutely nothing in the way of Bluetooth Camera modules (except the following college research paper and patent application by Kodak) so I might be jumping the gun with Bluetooth, but here they are:
http://www.itn.liu.se/~shago/Exjobb/BT_Webcam.pdf [college research pap]
http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/02/kodaks-bluetooth-camera-module/ [engadget on kodak patent]

On MicroSD SDIO Camearas:
I have found nothing on this subject. If there are any microSDIO cameras that you are aware of or are around PLEASE PM, e-mail, reply, call or IM me!

On SDIO camera modules I've found the following:

- HP Photosmart Mobile Camera
This is for an iPaq with Windows PocketPC 2002 or Windows Mobile 2003. It takes video, but will it work on a Kaiser, considering it's a WinMo6 device? It looks like a good option.
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/pscmisc/vac/us/en/sm/pocketpc/FA185A_specifications.html
http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=534595&SiteID=1 [this link suggests that it works fine under winmo5 and is even usable via camera APIs using some discontinued Veo camera APIs]

- eNnovation (LifeView?) FlyCam SD
For this one I have similar fears that some of the prerequisites are not satisfied by the Kaiser. Specifically they list the following:
CPU : Intel Xscale
OS : Microsoft Pocket PC 2000, Pocket PC 2002 and Pocket PC 2003.
The age of the OSes listed and the CPU requirement make me shy away from this one, although the HP seems just as bad when it come to support for WinMo.
http://www.ennovationtech.com/html/flycamsd.htm#F
http://www.msdner.com/dev-archive/144/11-35-1446805.shtm [this link suggests lifeview makes it and there's winmo5 support and an sdk, but the lifeview site is down.]

- Pretec SDIO 1.3MegaPixel Camera
This little card is just another one of the ones I've found. This one says Win PPC 2002 and higher, so I'm guessing it implies WinMo5&6 support, but that's a crap shoot. This camera also features 20fps max depending on resolution while the above two sport 30fps. Not my top choice.
http://www.pretec.com/epages/Store.storefront/?ObjectPath=/Shops/Store.Pretec/Products/OS-CAS#Specifications
http://www.jactron.co.uk/pretec/io/sdio/sd-smartcam.htm

- Veo SDIO Camera
A lot is mentioned about these cams, but they seem to be discontinued and I am unable to find a place to purchase any of these. Would these be better suited? Anyone own one?

- Spectec SDIO Camera
This camera seems to be a 640x480 only discontinued model also. There is a chance that these do not work well with WinMo5/6 at all.
http://www.mobileplanet.com/p.aspx?i=121109 DISCONTINUED


On SD to MicroSD adapters/converters/cables:
I couldn't find any. The closest thing I found was a post on MoDaCo linking to an SD to MiniSD solution. I also found a camerahacker.com post on detailed images which show the pins are pretty much 1-1. I would also like to thank Chainfire who told me this fact ahead of time on IRC in #xda-devs. Additionally, there seems to have been an April Fool's joke about SanDisk making an SD to MicroSD adapter on another PPC device forum. Thanks to them I nearly soiled myself. I am highly inclined to create my own adapter, but feel free to save my time if one exists or is in development.
http://www.camerahacker.com/Digital/Inside_miniSD_Adapter.shtml [CameraHacker post describing pinouts with pics]
http://www.modaco.com/content/Windows-Mobile-Accessories/250297/I-want-to-purchase-or-make-an-sd-to-microsd-adapter-/ [MoDaCo post related to this same endeavor]
http://www.diatec.co.jp/shop/det.php?prod_c=460 [Japanese site with an SD to MiniSD solution]

On Connecting Both SDIO Device and MicroSD/SD Memory Card
I have not found any information on any device capable of allowing this sort of chaining an SDIO card with an SD card. I did find a WiFi card and a GPS card which allow a pass-through to a microSD card. None of the cameras listed above had this capability listed, and I did not see it in any of the pictures (although I could have missed it?).

On Protective Cases
I found two suitable solutions for this, and I'm leaning toward BoxWave's Armor Case as it has a screen cover as well. They're both around $30.
http://www.boxwave.com/products/armorcase/armor-case-at_t-tilt_2906.htm [BoxWave's Armor Case]
http://www.tiltdepot.com/a/att-tilt-metal-cases/monaco-aluminum-case-_4-23--3294.htm [Monaco Aluminum Case]

So far this is what I've got, and the idea is that I would mount the camera in my helmet, connect the SDIO connector to a cable that runs to my pocket where it converts to MicroSD and plugs into my Kaiser. I would like to get this project together so I can record some videos of upcoming rides. If you know of any better suited products or shortcuts that I can take please reply!

[Vungtau]

notten:

Here is something I've been looking at to record videos on bike rides.

http://www2.oregonscientific.com/shop/product.asp?cid=0&pid=709&scid=86

The big drawback is all the reviews say the video quality is not very good..

[Farsquidge]

Using your 'Kaiser' as the recorder for video I would have thought is a little impractical.

Firstly the mini-SD card is not SDIO compatible even if you could get an adapter. Secondly, you have to find some way of protecting both camera and phone. Thirdly, any wireless connected camera (BT or WiFi) will be of low quality due to transmission rates/resolution restrictions (Check out my thread on connecting a Linksys network camera with peer to peer).

I advise you to Google 'Sports video camera' as there are some good packs out there. Then you can convert the video at a later date for viewing on any device.

Not really the answer you wanted but someone else may come up with something. :o

[notten]

The microSD slot not being SDIO is slightly disappointing. Are you sure about this? I wanted to have the phone record GPS along with video, so standalone devices wouldn't really do the trick. Thank you both for your replies. So far it's not what I wanted to hear.

Additionally I cannot find any of the cameras I listed except the HP on sale anywhere. The HP Photosmart camera can only take pictures through an SDK which makes the whole project even less viable.

Are you certain the Kaisers don't support SDIO over the microSD slot?

[Steve-C]

My bet, and this is a gut instinct, is that none of those camera's will work under WM6. Wasn't the processor and achitecture different on the PPC systems to the newer WM6 hardware? I seem to remember programs came in XScale, ARM and other versions depending on the processor your device carried so it would stand to reason that something designed for a XScale processor wouldn't be to happy with an ARM processor. Course I could be way off base here!
The fact that so many phones, PDA's etc these days come with built in WiFi, Camera's, Bluetooth etc would make the market for add-on devices such as this rather small and its unlikely people would waste their R&D time building something for a rather small market place.

How about something like these?
www.helmetcamera.com (https://www.rflimited.com/ShowProduct.asp?productID=31&NodeID=c2"www.rflimited.com[/URL]
[URL="http://www.helmetcamera.com/acart/agora.cgi?product=HelmetCamera_Kits)
www.helmet-cameras.com (http://www.helmet-cameras.com/)

[Farsquidge]

OK, now I know I am pushing the envelope here but Coreplayer have said that they have solved the Qualcomm driver issue for streamed video and that the upcoming version (1.2) of Coreplayer works perfect with the 'Kaiser'.

I would bet that if you can find a 'Rugged' housing for any Linksys camera with reasonable resolution, you can have a good peer-to-peer link in your pocket!!!

Hey! wishful thinking for the New Year??? :) :) :)

OH, one thing you have to remember on ANY camera setup! How do you record.....:rolleyes:

[notten]

Honestly, I hope you are correct. I will definitely try the Linksys camera if Coreplayer delivers the updated punch to the video streaming. When it does I will come bug you to test the Linksys camera. With good video it's likely to be my solution. Also, I have a very good buddy who might help me fab an aluminum enclosure for the camera.

[Farsquidge]

Honestly, I hope you are correct. I will definitely try the Linksys camera if Coreplayer delivers the updated punch to the video streaming. When it does I will come bug you to test the Linksys camera. With good video it's likely to be my solution. Also, I have a very good buddy who might help me fab an aluminum enclosure for the camera.

Well the Linksys WVC54G I have is only a poxy 320x240 cam but as I said in the thread, if you can find a Linksys cam with good resolution it should have the same stream available.

OK, I know Crimble is coming up but I will try to set up a 5V portable supply and test this out for you.....(only cause it looks like I'm doin summat good but you have me REALLY interested now for myself, SMILES). ;)

EDIT; How often do we need GPS waypoint ties to vid recording do you think?? (Soz, brain running on...)

[notten]

A qvga camera will do for me, but the VWC is just way too large. I don't think I can get those to comfortably stay on a helmet without looking outrageously falmboyant.

If there's anything in 640x480 that will stream to TCPMP and fit on a helmet I'm buying it. What exactly is this Crimble? I couldn't find anything on it, but I'll try to build a portable power supply myself if necessary.

As to the GPS waypoints on video: I'm looking to record cool rides and have the playback showing my location. I think I might've unknowningly stolen the concept from Indy 500, which sends some sort of local positioning system for the camera overlays they do with the races. I wonder what else could benefit from this.

[Farsquidge]

A qvga camera will do for me, but the VWC is just way too large. I don't think I can get those to comfortably stay on a helmet without looking outrageously falmboyant.

If there's anything in 640x480 that will stream to TCPMP and fit on a helmet I'm buying it. What exactly is this Crimble? I couldn't find anything on it, but I'll try to build a portable power supply myself if necessary.

As to the GPS waypoints on video: I'm looking to record cool rides and have the playback showing my location. I think I might've unknowningly stolen the concept from Indy 500, which sends some sort of local positioning system for the camera overlays they do with the races. I wonder what else could benefit from this.

Ahh... Crimble is my home location's (Yorkshire, England) acronim (you know, you use those in the US) for Christmas!....

Just buying a camera and using it is not in the 'METHOD' of XDA, if we can get it to work, WELL, then we take the guts and suit it to our purpose. If I can't do the hardware, I am sure somone else will look into that. One task at a time...Lets get a good image with GPS tags...:)