Creative Video Blaster Go Plus User Manual

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User’s Guide
Creative Video Blaster WebCam Go Plus
Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Creative Technology Ltd. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the written permission of Creative Technology Ltd. The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement and may be used or copied only in acco rdance with the terms of the license agreement. It is again s t th e la w to copy the software on an y other m edium except as specifically allowed in the license agreement. The licensee may make one copy of the software for backup purposes.
Copyright © 2000 by Creative Technology Ltd. All rights reserved. Version 1.5
November 2000 Video Blaster and Sound Blaster are registered trademarks of Creative Technology, Ltd. Blaster and LAVA! are trademarks of Creative Technology Ltd.
MediaRing Talk is a trademark of MediaRing.com Ltd/MediaRing.com, Inc. PixAround, PixMaker and PixScreen are trademarks of PixAround.com. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. Intel and Penti um ar e registered trademar ks of Intel Corporation. Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows, and the Windows Logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
All other products ar e tr ad e m ark s or re g ist er ed trad em a r ks of th ei r resp ec tive owner s.
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Creative End-User Software License Agreement
Version 2.4, June 2000
PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE. BY INSTALLING AND USING THE SOFTWARE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT INST ALL OR USE THE SOFTWARE. PROMPTLY RETURN, WITHIN 15 D A YS, THE SOFTWARE, ALL RELATED DOCUMENT ATION AND ACCOMPANYING ITEMS TO THE PLACE OF ACQUISITION FOR A FULL REFUND.
This is a legal agreement between you and Creative Technology Ltd. and its subsidiaries (“Creative”).
This Agreement states the terms and conditions upon which Creative offers to license the software sealed in the disk pack ag e to gether with all related documentation and accompanying items including, but not limited to, the executable programs, drivers, libraries and data files associated with such programs (collectively, the “Software”).
LICENSE
1.Grant of License
The Software is licensed, not sold, to you for use only under the terms of this Agreement. You own the disk or other medi a on which the Software is originally or subsequently recorded or fixed; but, as between you and Creative (and, to the extent applicable, its licensors), Creative retains all ti tle to and ownership of the Software and reserves all rights not e x p r es s l y gr anted to you.
2.For Use on a Single Computer
The Software may be used only on a sin g le computer by a single us er at any time. You may transfer the machine-readable portion of the Software fr om one comp uter to anot her comput er, provided that (a) the Software (inc luding any portion or copy thereof) is erased from the first computer and (b) the re is no possibility that the Software will be used on more than one computer at a time.
3.Stand-Alone Basis
You may use the Software only on a stand-alone basis, such that the Software and the functions it
provides are acc essi b le o nly to per so n s who ar e physically p rese nt at th e lo cati on o f th e com pute r on which the Software is loaded. You may not allow the Software or its functions to be accessed remotely, or transmit all or any porti on of the Software through any network or communication line.
4.Copyright
The Software is owned by Creative and/or it s licensees and is protected by United States copyright laws and international treaty provisions. You may not remove the copyright notice from any copy of the Software or any copy of the written materials, if any, accompanying the Software.
5.One Archival Copy
You may make one (1) archival copy of the machine-readable portion of the Software for backup purposes only in support of your use of the Software on a single computer, provided that you reproduce on the copy all copyright and other proprietary rights notices included on the originals of the Software.
6.No Merger or Integration
You may not merge any portion of the Software into, or integ rate any portion of th e Software with, any other program, except to the extent expressly permitted by the laws of the jurisdiction where you are located. Any portion of the Software merged into or integrated with another program, if any, will continue to be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and you must
reproduce on the merged or integrated portion all copyright and other prop rietary rights notice s included in the originals of the Software.
7.Network Version
If you have purchased a “network” version of the Software, this Agreement applies to the installat ion of the Software on a single “file server”. It may not be copied onto multiple systems. Each “node” connected to the “file server” must also have its own license of a “node copy” of the Software, which becomes a license only for that specific “node”.
8.Transfer of License
You may transfer your lic ense of the Software, provided that (a) you tran s f er all portions of the Software or co pies thereof, (b) you do no t re ta in any portion of the Software or any copy thereof, and (c) the transferee r eads and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreemen t.
9.Limitations on Using, Copying, and Modifying
the Software
Except to the extent expr essly permitted by this Agreement or by the laws of the jurisdiction where you acquired th e Software, you may not use, copy or modify the Soft ware. Nor may you sub-license any of your rights under this Agreement. You may use the software for your personal use only, and not for public performance or for the creation of publicly displayed videotapes.
10.Decompiling, Disassembling, or Reverse
Engineering
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Y ou acknowledge that the Software contains trade secrets and other proprietary information of Creative and its licensors. Exce pt to th e e x tent expressly permitted by this Agreement or by the laws of the jur isdiction where yo u are located, you may not decompile, disassemble or otherwise reverse engineer the Software, or enga ge in any other activities to obta in underlying information that is not visible to the user in connection with normal use of the Software.
In particular, you agree not for any purpose to transmit the Software or dis play the Software's object code on any computer screen or to make any hardcopy memory dumps of the Software's object code. If you believe you require information related to the interoperability of the Software with other program s, you shall not decompile or disassemble the Software to obta in such information, and you agree to request such information from Creative at the address listed below. Upon receiving such a request, Creative shall determine whether you require such information for a legitimate purpose and, if so, Creative will provide such informa tion to you within a reason able time and on rea sonable conditions. In any event, you will notify Creative of any information derived from reverse engineerin g or such other acti v i ti es, an d the r esu lt s the reo f w il l constitute the confidential information of Creative that may be used only i n connection with the Software.
11.For Software With CDDB Features.
This package includ es applications whic h m ay contain software f r om CDDB, Inc.of Berkeley California (“CDDB”). The software from CDDB (the “CDDB Client”) enables the application to do online disc identification and obtain music-related information, including name, artist, track and title
information (“CDDB Data”) from online servers (“CDDB Servers”) and to perform other functions. You agree that you will use CDDB Data , the CDDB Client and CDDB Servers for your own personal non-commercial use only. Y ou agree not to assign, copy, transfer or transmit the CDDB Client or any CDDB Data to any third party. YOU AGREE NOT TO USE OR EXPLOIT CDDB DATA, THE CDDB CLIENT,OR CDDB SERVERS,EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PERMITTED HEREIN. You agree that your no n -exclusive license to use the CDDB Data, the CDDB Client and CDDB Servers will terminate if you violate these restrictions. If your license terminates, you agree to cease any and all use of the CDDB Data, the CDDB Client and CDDB Servers. CDDB reserves all rights in CDDB Data, the CDDB Client and the CDDB Servers, including all ownership rights. You agree th at CDD B, I nc. may en fo rce its rig hts under this Agreeme nt against you directly in its own name. The CDDB Client and each item of CDDB Data are licensed to you “AS IS.” CDDB makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy of any CDDB Data from in the CDDB Servers. CDDB reserves the right to delete data from the CDDB Servers or to change data categories for any ca use that CDDB deems sufficient. No warranty is made that the CDDB Client or CDDB S er v ers are error-fr ee or that functioning of CDDB Client or CDDB Servers will be uninterrupted. CDDB is not obligated to provide you with any new enhanced or additional data types or categories that CDDB may chose to provide in the future. CDDB DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT
NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARR ANTIES OF MERCHANT ABILITY, FITNESS FOR A P ARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE AND NON­INFRINGEMENT. CDDB does not warrant the results that will be obtained by your use of the CDDB Client or any CDDB Server. IN NO CASE WILL CDDB BE LIABLE FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTIAL DAMAGES OR FOR ANY LOST PROFITS, OR LOST REVENUES.
TERMINATION
The license grante d to you is effective until terminated. You may terminate it at any t ime by returning the Software (including any portions or copies thereof) to Creative. The license will also terminate autom atically without any notice from Creative if you fail to compl y w it h any term or condition of this Ag reement. You agree upon such termination to return the Software (including any portions or copies thereof) to Creative. Upon termination, Cr eative may also enforce any rights provided by law. The provisions of this Agreement that protect the proprietary rights of Creative will continue in force after termination.
LIMITED WARRANTY
Creative warrants, as the so le warranty, that the disks on which the Software is furnished will be free of defects, as set forth in the Warranty Card or printed manual included with the Software. No distributor, dealer or any other entity or person is authorized to expand or alter this warranty or any other provisions of this Agreement. Any representation, other than the warranties set forth in this Agreement, will not bind Crea tive.
Creative does not warrant that the fu nctions contained in the Software will meet your requirement s or that the operation of the Software will be uninterrupted, error-free or free from malicious code. For purposes of this paragraph,
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“malicious code” means any program code designed to contaminate other computer programs or computer data, consume computer resources, modify, destroy, record, or transmit data, or in some other fashion usurp the normal operation of the computer, computer sys tem, or computer networ k, including viruses, Trojan horses, droppers, worms, logic bombs, and the like. EXCEPT AS STATED
ABOVE IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED AS-IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CREATIVE IS NOT OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE ANY UPDATES, UPGRADES OR TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THE SOFTWARE.
Further, Creative shall not be liable for the accuracy of any information provided by Creative or third party technical support personnel, or any damages caused, eith er d irec tl y or i ndi re ctly, b y act s ta ke n or omissions made by you as a result of such technical support.
You assume full responsibility for the selection of the Software to achieve your intended results, and for the installation, use and results obtained from the Software. You also assume the entire risk as it applies to the quality and performance of the Software. Should the Software prove defective, you (and not Creative, or its distributors or dealers) assume the entire cost of all necessary servicing, repair or correction.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from country/state to country/state. Some countries/states do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, so the above exclusion may not apply to you. Creative
disclaims all warranties of any kind if the Software was customized, repackaged or altered in any way by any third party other than Cre ative.
LIMITATION OF REMEDIES AND DAMAGES THE ONLY REMEDY FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY WILL BE THAT SET FORTH IN THE WARRANTY CARD OR PRINTED MANUAL INCLUDED WITH THE SOFTWARE. IN NO EVENT WILL CREATIVE OR ITS LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR FOR ANY LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS, LOST REVENUES OR LOST DATA ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THE SOFTWARE OR THIS AGREEMENT, EVEN IF CREATIVE OR ITS LICENSORS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT WILL CREATIVE’S LIABILITY OR DAMAGES TO YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON EVER EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU TO USE THE SOFTWARE, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF THE CLAIM.
Some countries/states do not allow the limitation or exclusion o f liab ilit y for in cident al or c onseq uenti al damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.
PRODUCT RETURNS
If you must ship the software to Creative or an authorized Creative distributor or dealer, you mus t prepay shipping and either insure the software or assume all risk of loss or damage in transit.
U.S. GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS
All Software and related documentation are provided with restricted rights. Use, duplication or disclosure by the U.S. Government is subject to
restrictions as set forth in subdivision (b)(3)(ii) of the Rights in Technical Data and C o mputer Software Clause at 252.227-7013. If you are sub­licensing or using the Software outside of the United States, you will comply with the applicable local laws of your country, U.S. export control law, and the English version of this Agreement.
CONTRACTOR/MANUFACTURER
The Contractor/Manufacturer for the Software is:
Creativ e Technology Ltd
31, Internationa l Business Park Creative Resource Singapore 609921
GENERAL
This Agreement is binding on you as well as your employees, employers, contractors and agents, and on any successors and ass ignees. Neither the Software nor any information derived therefrom may be exported except in accordance with the laws of the U.S. or other applicable provisions . This Agreement is go verned by the law s of th e St at e of California (except to the extent federal law governs copyrights and federally registered tradem arks). This Agreeme nt is the entire agr eement between us and supersedes any othe r understandings or agreements, including, but not limited to, advertising, with respect to the Software. If any provision of this Agreem ent is deemed invalid or unenforceable by any country or government agency having jurisdiction, that particular provision will be deemed modif ied to the ex tent necessary to make the provision v alid and enforceabl e, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
For questions concerning this Agreement, p lease contact Creative at the address stated above. For questions on product or technical matte r s, contact the Creative technical support center nearest you.
ADDENDUM TO THE MICROSOFT
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SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT (WINDOWS 95)
IMPORTANT: By using the Microsoft software
files (the “Microsoft Software”) provided with this Addendum, you are agreeing to be bound by the following terms. If you do not agree to be bound by these terms, you may not use the Microsoft Software.
The Microsoft Software is provided for the sole purpose of replacing the corresponding files provided with a previously licensed copy of the Microsoft software pr oduct identified above (“ORIGINAL PRODUCT”). Upon installation, the Microsoft Software files become part of the ORIGIN AL PR OD UCT and ar e subject t o the same warranty and license terms and conditions as the ORIGINAL PRODUCT. If you do not have a valid license to use the ORIGINAL PRODUCT , you may not use the Microsoft Software. Any other use of the Microsoft Software is prohibited.
SPECIAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
IF YOU ACQUIRED THE SOFTWARE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU), THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS ALSO APPLY TO YOU. IF THERE IS ANY INCONSISTENCY BETWEEN THE TERMS OF THE SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT SET OUT EARLIER AND IN THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS, THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS SHALL TAKE PRECEDENCE.
DECOMPILATION
You agree not for any purpose to transmit the Software or display the Software’s object code on any computer screen or to make any hard copy memory dumps of the Software’s object code. If you believe you require information related to the interoperability of the Software with other programs, you shall not decompile or disasse m ble
the Software to obtain such information, and you agree to requ est such information from Creative at the address listed earlier. Upon receiving such a request, Creative shall determine whether you require such information for a legitimate purpose and, if so, Creative will provide such information to you within a reas onable time and o n reasonable conditions.
LIMITED WARRANTY EXCEPT AS STATED EARLIER IN THIS AGREEMENT, AND AS PROVIDED UNDER THE HEADING “STATUTORY RIGHTS”, THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED AS-IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, QUALITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
LIMITATION OF REMEDY AND DAMAGES THE LIMITATIONS OF REMEDIES AND DAMAGES IN THE SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT SHALL NOT APPLY TO PERSONAL INJURY (INCLUDING DEA TH) TO ANY PERSON CAUSED BY CREATIVE’S NEGLIGENCE AND ARE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION SET OUT UNDER THE HEADING “STATUTORY RIGHTS”.
STATUTORY RIGHTS
Irish law provides that ce rtain conditions and warranties may be implied in contracts for the sale of goods and in contracts for the supply of services. Such conditions and warranties are hereby excluded, to the extent such exclusion, in the context of this transaction, is lawful under Irish law. Conversely, such conditions and warranties, insofar as they may not be lawfully exclu d ed, shall apply.
Accordingly nothi ng in this Agreement shall
prejudice any rights that you may enjoy by virtue of Sections 12, 13, 14 or 15 of the Irish Sale of Goods Act 1893 (as amended).
GENERAL
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the Republic of Ireland. The local language version of this agreement sh all apply to Software acquired in the EU. This Agreement is the entire agreement between us, and you agree that Creative will not have any liability for any untrue sta tement or representation made by it, its agents or anyone else (whether innocently or negligently) upon which you relied upon enteri ng this Agreement, unle ss such untrue statement or representation was made fraudulently.
Safety Information
The following sections contain notices for
various countries:
CAUTION: This device is intended to be insta lled by the user in a CSA/TUV/UL certified/listed IBM AT or compatible personal computers in the manufacturer’s defined operator access area. Check the equipment operating/installation manual and/or with the equipment manufacturer to verify/confirm if your equipment is s uitable for user-installed applicatio n car d s .
Modifications
Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the grantee of this device could void the user’s authority to oper a te th e device.
Compliance
This product conform s to the following Council Directive:
❑
Directive 89/336/EEC, 92/31/EEC (EMC)
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Contents
Introduction
About the Applications..........................................................................................................xii
Creative WebCam PhotoEditor™............................................................................. xii
Creative WebCam Go Control.................................................................................. xii
Creative WebCam Monitor ....................................................................................... xii
PixAround™ PixMaker™ CE.................................................................................. xii
PixAround PixScreen™ CE...................................................................................... xi i
MediaRing Talk™.................................................................................................... xiii
Microsoft® NetMeeting®........................................................................................ xiii
Microsoft Internet Explorer...................................................................................... xiii
Creative LAVA!™ Player..........................................................................................xiv
Before You Begin....................................................................................................................xv
README File............................................................................................................xv
System Requirements.................................................................................................xv
Document Conventions............................................................................................ xvi
1 Installing WebCam Go Plus
In Your Package.................................................................................................................... 1-1
About W ebCam Go Plus...................................................................................................... 1-2
Inserting or Changing Batteries............................................................................................ 1-4
Installing WebCam Go Plus................................................................................................. 1-5
In Windows 98 and W indo ws Millennium..............................................................1-5
In Windows 2000...................................................................................................... 1-7
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2 Using WebCam Go Plus as a Web Camera
Starting WebCam Go Control...............................................................................................2-2
T aking a picture......................................................................................................................2-3
Recording a video clip...........................................................................................................2-3
Vie wing an image in its actual size.......................................................................................2-3
Selecting the video capture device........................................................................................2-4
Starting WebCam Go Control Help......................................................................................2-4
3 Using WebCam Go Plus as a Digital Camera
T aking pictures.......................................................................................................................3-2
Recording audio.....................................................................................................................3-3
Downloading pictures and audio from the camera..............................................................3-3
Customizing camera settings ................................................................................................3-4
A Technical Specifications B Troubleshooting
Problem Installing Software.................................................................................................B-1
Problems Using WebCam Go Plus......................................................................................B-1
C Note on USB Compatibility D Technical Support
If You Have a Problem.........................................................................................................D-2
Returning a product for repair .................................................................................D-4
Limited Warranty..................................................................................................................D-5
Creative European Help Line
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Introduction
Creative Video Blaster WebCam Go Plus is an Internet video camera that allows you to capture images in both 16-bit and 24-bit (16.7 million) colours. It also records videos in full-co lo ur. The following are just some of the things you can do with your WebCam:
❑ Video-conferencing. Want to chat face-to-face with someone over the Internet? Used
together with Microsoft NetMeeting, your WebCam allows you to have real-time video­conferencing with virtually anybody over the Internet!
❑ Security Camera. W orried that someone will use your computer without your kno wledge?
When used together with WebCam Monitor, WebCam Go Plus can function as a security camera, recording short videos of any movement that is in its field of view. It can also be programmed to take pictures automatically at regular intervals.
❑ Portable Digital Camera. As WebCam Go Plus is detachable, you can disconnect it from
the computer and use it as a digital camera to take pictures anywhere you like! With W ebCam Go Plus’ focu s-free lens, you don’ t need to manually f ocus your camera. Just s nap your pictures and the images will turn out sharp every time! Downloading images from WebCam Go Plus is a breeze with WebCam Go Control.
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About the Applications
Creative WebCam PhotoEditor
™
Creative W eb Cam PhotoEditor is an image editing and enhancing application that complements your WebCam. Its many nifty features include a suite of special effects tools and a set of designer-loo king templates, useful for creating impr essi ve personal greet ings and presentat ions.
Creative WebCam Go Control
This powerful appli cation lets you take pictures or recor d video clips and store t hem in albums . Use this application to download pictures you have taken when the camera was disconnected from the computer. You can also export these pictures or vid eo clips to other programs , or se nd them as attachments to your e-mail message. There are v arious settings for you to adjust so that you can optimize the quality of your pictures and video clips.
Creative WebCam Monitor
If you are thinking of putting a live snapshot of your office, garden, or even your hamster cage on your web page, use WebCam Monitor! Just point your camera at the desired s ubject, speci fy some settings, and WebCam Monitor does the rest, including automatically uploading the snapshots to your website. It can even act as a motion-detecting security system that automatically sends an e-mail message to notify you whenever anybody moves within the camera’s field of view.
PixAround™ PixMaker™ CE
PixMaker CE lets you create your own 360° interactive PixAround scenes, web pages and postcards in 3 easy steps — just snap, stitch and publish! Now, you can create immersive and interactive 360° web pages easily, without the need for expensive professional equipment or additiona l plug-ins.
PixAround PixScreen™ CE
PixScreen lets you view PixAround scenes without the need of additional plug-ins. Navigate around a 360° PixAround scene with the help of buttons built into PixScreen's friendly user interface, or print out your PixAround scenes in normal or panoramic view!
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xiii
MediaRing Talk
™
With MediaRing Talk, you can literally call somebody half a world away without worrying about exorbitant phone charges. MediaRing Talk uses sophisticated patent “knocking” technology to call the other party’s PC or phone. The party you are calling does not need to be connected to the Internet. That means you don’t have to waste time pre-scheduling Internet phone conversations. In addition to making Internet phone calls, MediaRing Talk also lets you leave voice messages and engage in text chat.
In addition, if you are a Sound Blaster Li ve! user, y ou can use Creativ e VoicePersonas, a feature incorporated into MediaRing Talk that allows you to disguise or distort your voice. This cool feature lev erages on S ound B laster Live! po werful au dio proces sing techno logy to provide you with a range of VoicePersonas such as Chipmunk, Male to Female, or Female to Male.
Microsoft
®
NetMeeting
®
Microsoft NetMeeting is a voice communications client that includes support for international conferencing standards and provides true multi-user application sharing and d ata con feren cing capabilities.
It supports one-w ay or two-w ay video-conf erencing, so your f riends can see y ou ev en if they do not have a camera. Audio-only conversations and text chats are also supported. Two or more users can collaborate on a document, doodle on a whiteboard, or even share any Windows application in real-time over the Internet or a corporate intranet.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Microsoft Internet Explorer is an Internet browser that features ActiveX technology, so web pages can combine interactive ActiveX Controls, Java applets, and more to create interactive content. Activ eMov ie technology allo ws you to vie w mu ltimedia conten t on the web, i ncluding MPEG audio and video.
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xiv
Creative LAVA!™ Player
An advanced software developed at the prestigious Creative-EMU Technology Center, LAVA! Player lets you create and p l ay s tunn ing animated 3D videos to accompany your music files. It combines textures, images and colours to create mesmerizing forms that dance and groove — all in a matter of secon ds. LAV A! videos are relativ ely compact and may be sent easily through the Internet.
LAVA! Player requires a 3D graphics card.
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Before You Begin
README File
❑ The README file on the WebCam Go Plus installation CD contains information not
available at the time of printing. Read the file before connecting your WebCam to the PC.
System Requirements
❑ 166 MHz Intel
®
Pentium® or higher 100% IBM®-compatible PC
❑ 32 MB RAM ❑ 70 MB free hard disk space for installation of all software titles ❑ Available USB port or self-powered USB hub ❑ Microsoft Windows
®
98, Windo w s Millenni um or Windows 2000
❑ Display adapter that supports16-bit colour at a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels ❑ CD-ROM drive installed ❑ Sound Blaster
®
or other Windows-compatible sound card and microphone
(required for videoconferencing)
❑ Modem or LAN access to the Internet at 28.8 Kbps or faster (required for
videoconferencing)
For optimal performance
❑ 200 MHz Intel Pentium or higher 100% IBM-compatible PC ❑ 32 MB RAM ❑ Display adapter that supports 24-bit colour at a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels ❑ Sound Blaster 16 or higher, or other Windows-compatible sound card with full-duplex
support for simultaneous two-way conversations
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Document Conventions
The following typographical conventions are used throughout this document:
T ab le i: Document con ventio ns
This Represen ts bold Text that must be entered exactly as it appears.
italic
Title of a book or a placeholder, which represents the information you
must provide. UPPERCASE Directory nam e, file name , or a cro nym. < > Symbols, let te rs, a nd key names on the keyboar d.
This notepad icon indicates information that is of particular importance
and should be co ns i dere d befo re cont in uin g.
This alarm clock icon indicates that failure to adhere to directions may
result in loss of data or damage to your system.
The warning sign indicates that failure to adhere to d irections may result
in bodily harm or life-threatening situations.
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Installing WebCam Go Plus 1-1
1
Installing WebCam Go Plus
This chapter consists of the following sections:
❑ In Your Package ❑ About WebCam Go Plus ❑ Inserting or Changing Batteries ❑ Installing WebCam Go Plus.
In Your Package
Your package contains the following items:
❑ One WebCam Go Plus camera ❑ One USB cable ❑ One WebCam Go Plus installation CD ❑ Quickstart Leaflet ❑ One carrying case with belt loop
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1-2 Installing WebCam Go Plus
About WebCam Go Plus
Figure 1-1 shows you the front and back views of the camera.
Figure 1-1: Front and back views of WebCam Go Plus.
LED light
Lights up w h en t he camera is turned on.
Snapshot button
After you have st arted WebCam Go Control, press this button to capture a still image.
Viewfinder
Focus-free Lens
Objects m ust be at l eas t 2 f ee t (61cm) from the lens for the images to be sharp.
Front view
Back view
Viewfinder (back view)
When taking snapshots with the camera disconnected, use this to verify that the object of your snapshot is in view.
Camera busy LED indicator
When the camera is connected to the system, this indicator blinks when commands are sent from the system to the camera.
When the camera is disconnected, this indicator blinks briefly after you press and release the Snapshot button. At this point, do not shake the camera. The indicator will remain lit for a while. When the indicator is turned off, you can take another snapshot.
Built-in Microphone fo r annotation recording
Press the Audio Record button near the LCD display to recor d your voice or sounds.
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Installing WebCam Go Plus 1-3
Figure 1-2 shows the buttons and LCD display on the camera.
• To view pictures that you have taken while using the camera on-the-go, you must connect the camera to the computer and download the pictures using WebCam Go Control.
• As JPEG compresses an image according to its details, colours and compression ratio, the file size varies according to the picture taken.
• The counter value decreases by one every time a picture is taken. However, if there is insufficient m emory, the counter will drop to zero immediately.
Figure 1-2: Buttons and LCD display on WebCam Go Plus.
Multiple-Snapshot mode
In this mode, the camera takes a series of pictures, with a constant interval between consecutive takes. By default, the total number of pictures taken is 10 and the int erval is 0.5 seconds. If the interval is set to zero seconds, a video is created. You can change this interval using WebCam Go Control.
Self-timer Multiple-Snapshot mode
In this mode, the camera takes a series of pictures after a specified length of time, with a constant interval between consecutive takes. The default delay time is eight seconds, the total number of pictures taken is 10, and the interval is 0.5 seconds.
Single-Snapshot mode
In this mode, the camera captures the view in one single shot.
Self-timer mode
In this mode, the camera takes a picture after a specified leng th of time. The default delay time is eight seconds.
Image counter
Shows the remaining number of pictures that can be taken with the camera undocked. When the counter reaches “000”, you cannot take any more pictures until you have cleared the camera’s memory by downloading or removing the existing pictures.
Audio Record button
Press and release to start recording your voice or sounds. The displayed counter shows the remaining time left to do audio recording. Press again to stop recording.
Note:
Just position the camera near the sound source. You need not position it directly at the microphone.
On/Off button
To turn on the camera, press this button. Y ou can only turn it on when the camera is disconnected from the system. To turn off the camera, press and hold for two seconds.
Note:
The camera will turn itself off if it is left idle for one minute. This length of time can be changed by using WebCam Go Control.
Battery-low indicator
Lights up when the battery is running low. When the battery is low: i. the idle-timeout is set to 10 seconds; ii. the Power LED blinks rapidly; iii. no pictures can be taken.
Mode button
Press to switch to one of the following four modes of the camera: single-snapshot mode, multiple-snapshot mode, self­timer mode or self-timer multiple-snapshot mode.
Page 17
1-4 Installing WebCam Go Plus
Inserting or Changing Batteries
For WebCam Go Plus to function as a portable digital camera when it is disconnected from the computer, you need to insert two 1.5 V “AAA” alkaline batteries into its battery compartment.
To insert or replace batteries
1. Press the On/Off button to turn off the camera.
2. Flip the camera’s head unit upwards.
3. Hold the camera in one hand and press the bottom area of the back cover with your thumb until the catches on the cover are detached from the groo v es. See Figure 1-3.
4. Push and lift the cover outwards.
5. Remove the old batteries (if any).
6. Insert the new batteries according to the directions shown in the battery compartment.
7. Align the catches on the cover with the respective grooves in the casing and slide the cover until it snaps back into place (see Figure 1-4).
Figure 1-3: Removing the bac k co ver of
the camera.
• No batteries are required when the camera is connected to the system.
• If the camera is to be connected to the system for a long period of time, remove the batteries to prevent battery leakage.
• Make sure that you insert the batteries in the correct direction. If not, they may leak and cause damage to the camera.
• Do not mix old batteries with new ones or batteries of different types together.
Figure 1-4: Slipping the back cover of the camera back into place.
Page 18
Installing WebCam Go Plus 1-5
Installing WebCam Go Plus
Use the installation procedure for your operating system. For users of Windows 98 and Windows Millennium, see “In Windows 98 and Windows
Millennium” in the section that follows. For users of Windows 2000, see “In Windows 2000” on page 1-7.
In Windows 98 and Windows Millennium
1. Do not connect WebCam Go Plus to your computer before installing the drivers.
If you accidentally begin installation with WebCam Go Plus connected, the Add New Hardware Wizard dialog box appears. Click the Cancel button and disconnect WebCam Go Plus from your system.
2. Insert the WebCam Go Plus installation CD into your CD-ROM drive.
3. Click the names of the drivers and applications you want to install on your system.
Page 19
1-6 Installing WebCam Go Plus
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. You may be asked, after an application is installed, if you want to restart your computer. Click the No button until all the drivers and applications are installed.
i. If you are prompted to insert the Windows 98 CD, replace the WebCam Go Plus installation CD
with the appropriate CD. Note: Window s 98 is available in various editions. Be sure to use the correct editi on for your system.
• The USB port(s) on your computer may be found on the front panel instead of the back panel.
• Y ou can also attach the camera to a self-powered USB hub.
• You can connect the camera while the computer is switched on.
• If you have a microphone, connect it to the external microphon e jack of your au dio card.
• Consult the documenta tion for your audio card for more information concerning the use of a microphone and, in particular, how to adjust the volume.
Figure 1-5: Connecting WebCam Go Plus to the computer.
USB port
USB connector
USB cable
Page 20
Installing WebCam Go Plus 1-7
ii. In the Insert Disk dialog box, c lick the OK button. iii. Follow the instructions on the screen.
5. Restart your comput er.
6. Connect Webcam Go Plus to available USB port.
Verifying the installation in Windows 98 and Windows Millennium
1. Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop.
2. On the menu that appears, click Properties.
3. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Device Manager tab.
4. Click th e plus (+) sign next to the Imaging Device icon. The entry “Video Blaster WebCam Go Plus (WDM)” should appear. If the entry does not appear, repeat the installation procedure in “In Windows 98 and Windows Millennium” on page 1-5.
In Windows 2000 1. Do not connect WebCam Go Plus to your
computer before installing the drivers. If you accidentally begin installation with WebCam Go Plus connected, the Found New Hardware Wizard dialog box appears. Click the Cancel button and disconnect WebCam Go Plus from your system.
2. Insert the W ebCam Go Plus installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. Choose your language and proceed to inst all dr ivers and applications. When the Digital Signature
Not Found dialogue box appears, cli ck the Yes button. You may be asked after an
application is installed if you want to restart your computer. Click the No button until all drivers and applications are installed.
Figure 1-6: Digital Signature Not Found
dialog box.
Page 21
1-8 Installing WebCam Go Plus
3. Restart your computer.
4. Connect WebCam Go Plus’s USB cable to an available USB port on your computer (see Figure 1-5 on page 1-6). Place WebCam Go Plus on t op of y our computer monitor or another flat surface. The Digital Signature Not Found dialog box appears (Figure 1-7) again, telling yo u that Video Blaster WebCam Go Plus (WDM) has been detected.
5. Ignore the message and click the Yes button. Installation will be complete in a while.
Verifying the installation in Windows 2000
1. Right-click the My Computer icon on your desktop.
2. On the menu that appears, click Properties.
3. In the System Properties dialog box, click the Hardware tab.
4. Click the Device Manager button. A window appears.
5. Click the plus (+) sign next to the Imaging Device icon. The entry “Video Blaster WebCam Go Plus (WDM)” should appear. If the entry does not appear , repeat the installation procedur e in “In Win dows 2000” on p age 1-7.
Figure 1-7: Digital Signature Not Found
dialog box.
Page 22
Using WebCam Go P l us as a Web Camera 2-1
2
Using WebCam Go Plus as a Web Camera
When you connect WebCam Go Plus to the computer, you can use it as a Web camera. Read the following sections on how you can do that:
❑ Starting WebCam Go Control ❑ Taking a picture ❑ Recording a video clip ❑ Viewing an image in its actual size ❑ Selecting the video capture device ❑ Starting WebCam Go Control Help
Page 23
2-2 Using WebCa m G o Plus as a Web Camera
Starting WebCam Go Control
WebCam Go Control is an easy-to-use application that enables you to take pictures and record short videos with the WebCam Go Plus camera. You can also view the pictures and videos, create and manage albums, and download image files from the camera.
To start WebCam Go Control, do one of the following:
❑ Click Start -> Programs -> Creative -> Video Blaster WebCam ->
WebCam Go Control.
❑ Press the Snapshot button on the camera. ❑ If, during installation, you opted for WebCam Control to launch automatically at Windows
startup, you will have an icon on your taskbar. Click this icon.
After WebCam Go Control is started, the W ebCam Go Control screen similar to Figure 2-1 appears, displaying the view that the camera is capturing currently.
The following sections describe the more commonly used operations. For more details on how to use WebCam Go Control, see the section “Starting W ebCam Go Control Help” on page 2-4.
If WebCam Go Control does not recognize the camera correctl y, see Appendix B, “Troubleshooting”.
Figure 2-1: WebCam Go Control screen.
Record a video
button
Snap an image
button
Page 24
Using WebCam Go P l us as a Web Camera 2-3
Taking a picture
1. In the WebCam Go Control window, click the Live Cam button. The current view of the camera is displayed in the Preview window.
2. To capture an image of the preview shown, click the Snap an image button. You can also press the Snapshot button on the camera. The image is captured and sa v ed as an image f ile with an automatically generated f ile name. It is added to the current album, where its name is prefixed with the still image icon .
Recording a video clip
1. In the WebCam Go Control window, click the Live Cam button. The window displays the current view of the camera.
2. To start recording a video, click the Record a video button. The button starts blinking to indicate that recording is now in progress.
3. To stop the recording, click the button again. The button stop s blinking. The video is saved as an AVI file with an automatically generated file name. It is added to the album, where its name is prefixed with the video icon .
Viewing an image in its actual size
1. Click the Album button.
2. Select the desired album.
3. Double-click the thumbnail of the image that is displayed in the Thumbnail list. The image is displayed in the Video window, in its actual size. If you are not satisfied with the result, adjust the appropriate settings in order to get the desired result, and then capture the image again.
The built-in microphone in the camera cannot be used to record audio while the camera is connected to the computer. You need to use the microphone which is connected to the audio card.
Page 25
2-4 Using WebCa m G o Plus as a Web Camera
Selecting the video capture device
To do so
1. In WebCam Go Control, click the Settings button.
2. Click the Camera docked settings button.
3. Click the scroll button until you get to the General tab.
4. Click the General tab.
5. In the Video device list box, select the desired video capture device.
The change is applied. Note: The WDM driver gives better performance in terms of frame rate and is the recommended choice.
Starting WebCam Go Control Help
This Help file contains instructions on how to use WebCam Go Control to take pictures and record short videos. It also teaches you how to chan ge settings so as to achieve op timum quality for your pictures and videos.
To start the Help file
1. Click the Creative logo at the top left corner of WebCam Go Control’s main window.
2. On the WebCam Go Control menu, click Help.
• If you select the VFW driver, some of the settings in the General and Source tab may not be available. If so, go to the General tab and click the Format or Source buttons to change settings.
• The VFW drive r is compat ible only with software that supports Video For Windows.
Page 26
Using WebCam Go Plus as a Digital Camera 3-1
3
Using WebCam Go Plus as a Digital Camera
To use WebCam Go Plus as a portable digital camera, simply disconnect it from the computer. Note: Remember to insert two 1.5 V “AAA” alkaline batteries into the camera’s battery compartment.
This chapter provides instructions on the following aspects of using WebCam Go Plus as a digital camera:
❑ Taking pictures ❑ Recording audio ❑ Downloading pictures and audio from the camera ❑ Customizing camera settings
Page 27
3-2 Using WebCa m G o P l us as a D igital Camer a
Taking pictures
1. Unplug the USB cable from the camera.
2. Press the On/Off button on the camera.
The number of images you can take is shown by the Image counter on the LCD display. See Figure 1-2 on page 1-3.
3. To change the mode of the camera, press the Mode butt on:
❑ Single snapshot
Select this mode if you want to take single snapshots instantly.
❑ Multiple snapshot
Select this mode if you want to take a series of successive snapshots. If the interval is set to zero (using WebCam Go Control), a video sequence will be created.
❑ Self-timer single snapshot
Select this mode if you want a snapshot to be taken after a specified length of time. You can use this feature to take pictures of yourself.
❑ Self-timer multiple snapshot
Select this mode when you want a series of snapshots to be taken after a specified leng th of time. You can create an AVI file out of these snapshots.
After pressing the Mode button, the LCD displays one of the following codes which represents the current video setting for the mode:
• You can only turn on the camera when it is disconnected from the syst em.
• The counter value decreases by one every time a picture is taken. However, if there is insufficient memory in the camera, the counter drops to “000” immediately.
• When the counter value reaches “000”, you cannot take any more pictures until yo u have cleared the camera’s memory by deleting existing pictures.
• The Multiple snapshot mode consumes more battery power.
• The camera turns i tself o ff if it is left idle after a specified amount of time.
Codes Video Setting
1L or 1H 160 x 120, Low/High quality 3L or 3H 320 x 240, Low/High quality
6L, 6H or 6U 640 x 480, Low/High/Uncom pressed quality
Page 28
Using WebCam Go Plus as a Digital Camera 3-3
4. Aim the camera at the desired object, using the camera’ s vie wf inder to ver ify that the object is in the camera’s view. Note: The object should be at least 2 feet (61 cm) from the camera.
5. Hold the camera still and press the Snapshot button.
6. Continue holding the camera until the Camera busy LED (red light) goes off. The picture taken is stored in the camera’s memory, and the image counter value also decreases.
7. To take another picture, repeat steps 4 through 6.
8. To switch off the camera, press and hold the On/Off button for two seconds.
Recording audio
To start recording voice or sounds, position the camera near the sound source, and then press and release the Rec (Audio Recording) button on the cam era. The co unter on the LCD display shows the remaining recording time (in seconds). A blinking dot also appears on the LCD. To stop the audio recording, press and release the Rec button again.
Note: If you do an audio recording after taking a picture, the audio file will be linked to that image.
Downloading pictures and audio from the camera
After taking pictures, connect the camera to th e computer and then use WebCam Go Control to download the pictures and audio recordings.
To do so
1. In the WebCam Go Control window, click the Cam Memory button. A thumbnail view of the pictures and audi o files stored in the camera’s memory is displayed.
2. If the album is not displayed yet, click the Album button to display it.
3. From the Album list, select the album that you want to store the pictures and audio files in.
4. Select the desired files and click the Download selected image(s) button.
Page 29
3-4 Using WebCa m G o P l us as a D igital Camer a
Customizing camera settings
Use WebCam Go Control to adjust the following camera settings for photo-taking:
❑ Image size ❑ Number of frames in multiple snapshots ❑ Time interval between successive frames for multiple snapshots ❑ Level of quality ❑ Beep mode enabled or disabled ❑ Duration of the delay for taking delayed (self timer) snapshots ❑ Power -s aving enabled or disabled ❑ Length of time before the camera is switched off
You can set different settings of image size and quality for each of the four camera modes.
For more information on downloading pictures and customizing the camera, refer to the Help file in WebCam Go Control.
Page 30
Technical Specifications A-1
A
Technical Specifications
Features and Specifications
❑ colour VGA (640 x 480) CMOS image sensor ❑ 8 MB of on-board non-volatile memory for image storage ❑ LCD counter display to indicate number of pictures left and mode of stills captured ❑ Snapshot button ❑ LEDs to indicate powered-on state and camera-readiness state ❑ High-quality, focus-free, scratch-resistant glass lens ❑ Built-in optical viewfinder ❑ Built-in Piezo transducer to provide audio cues ❑ Built-in microphone for audio recording ❑ Mode selector for four different modes of still capture ❑ When detached:
• Capable of capturing in excess of 92 (JPEG format) 640 x 480 still pictures
• Images are stored natively in JPEG format
• Draws power from two “AAA” batteries
(Note: Battery life in this mode depends on the battery type. Two “AAA” alkaline batteries can last for up to 300 snapshots.)
• Auto shut off after a specified length of idle time (software-configurable)
Page 31
A-2 Technical Specifications
❑ When attached:
• Captures video at up to 30 frames per second at resolutions of 352 x 288, 320 x 240, 176 x 144 and 160 x 120 and up to 15 frames per second at 640 x 480
• Captures still images in 24-bit colour at all resolutions up to 640 x 480
❑ Attaches to the PC via the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port
Driver and Operating System Compatibility
❑ USB model supports Windows 98, Windows Millennium and Windows 2000 ❑ WDM MiniDriver for DirectShow, and Video For Windows compatibility. ❑ TWAIN support ❑ Standard interface works with virtually all camera applications including Microsoft
NetMeeting.
❑ Microsoft Still Image (STI) support
Power
From USB port or self-powered USB hub (powered by an external power source).
Sensor
CMOS image sensor
Resolution (for both Video mode and Still mode)
❑ 640 x 480 ❑ 352 x 288 ❑ 320 x 240 ❑ 176 x 144 ❑ 160 x 120
Resolution (for Undocked mode)
❑ 640 x 480 ❑ 320 x 240 ❑ 160 x 120
Sensitivity
6 lux
Page 32
Technical Specifications A-3
Video formats
❑ 24- and 16-bit RGB ❑ 4:2:0 YUV Planar ❑ JPEG
Exposure control
Automatic (optional manual control with software)
colour balance
Automatic (optional manual control with software)
Colour matrix
Preset and integral to camera
Field-of-view
52 degrees (horizont al)
Depth-of-field
2 feet (61 centimeters) to infinity
Port compatibility
Universal Serial Bus port
Page 33
Troubleshooting B-1
B
Troubleshooting
Problem Installing Software
The setup program for WebCam Go Plus does not run automatically after you insert the installation CD into the drive.
Cause The AutoPlay feature in your Windows system may not be enabled. Solution To install the software from the CD:
1. Leave the installation CD in the CD-ROM drive.
2. Click Start -> Run.
3. In the Run dialog box, click D:\CTRUN\CTRUN.EXE.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
Problems Using WebCam Go Plus
There is no USB port available to connect the USB cable.
Solution Do one of the following:
❑ Unplug the device currently connected to the USB port. ❑ Add a self-powered USB hub. ❑ Add a PCI USB card.
Page 34
B-2 Troubleshooting
An application reports that th e video driv er is already in use, or that the camera can not be found.
Solution Do the following:
❑ The camera is not properly connected. T o resolve this problem, ensure that the
camera’s USB connector is inserted, and that the USB host controller is enabled in the BIOS. Refer to your PC’s documentation for information on the BIOS.
❑ Reinstall the video capture drivers and reboot.
The image is too bright e ven thoug h e xposure and brightness lev els ha ve been adjusted.
Cause The amount of light entering the camera has exceeded the e xposur e control limit.
There may be a very bright object in the camera’s view.
Solution A void point ing the camera at very brig ht objects (for examp le, sunlight, lights, or
highly reflective surfaces).
Insufficient system reso urces re served for the USB port, causing the sy stem to be unab le to function.
Cause There are too many devices in the system, causing IRQ problems with the
system’s USB controller.
Solution Do the following:
1. Remove some devices from the system.
2. Restart the system. The system will automatically re-allocate the resources.
When the camera is con nected to the system, press ing the Snapshot butto n does not start an application.
Cause The application to be activated has not been pre-selected.
Page 35
Troubleshooting B-3
Solution Do the following:
1. Click Start -> Settings -> Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel window, double-click the Scanners & Cameras icon. The Scanners & Cameras Properties dialog box appears.
3. On the Devices tabbed page, select the entry Video Blaster WebCam Go Plus (WDM) and then click the Properties button.
4. In the Video Blaster WebCam Go Plus (WDM) Properties dialog box, click the Events tab.
5. On the Events tabbed page, ensure that the Disable de vice ev ents check box is not selected.
6. In the Camera events list, select “Open Application”.
7. In the Send to this application list, select WebCam Go Control and/or other applications that you want to activate by pressing the Snapshot button.
8. Ensure that you have selected an application for taking pictures. See the following problem description and solution.
When the camera is c onnected to the syste m, pressing the Snapsh ot button does n ot take a picture after WebCam Go Control is started.
Cause The application for taking pictures has not been selected. Solution Verify that pressing the Snapshot button starts the correct application.
If it does not, see the solution on page B-2. To select an application for taking pictures:
1. Do steps 1 through 5 above.
2. In the Camera events list, select “New Picture Captured”.
3. In the Send to this application list, select WebCam Go Control and/or other applications that you want to use to take a picture.
If you select more than one application, yo u will be prom pted to choose one of them when you press the Snapshot button.
If a selected application is already running, pressing the Snapshot button will n ot start an y other applications. Instead, the current running application will be used to take a picture.
Page 36
Note on USB Compatibility C-1
C
Note on USB Compatibility
While testing WebCam Go Plus on PC motherboards with integrated Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, we encountered a small number of motherboards that do not meet the USB specification exactly. These and other non-USB-compliant motherboards may not operate correctly with WebCam Go Plus. Fortunately, the manufacturers of some of these motherboards have released new versions of motherboards or BIOS to address the problem.
If the setup program warns you that your motherboard’s USB port is incompatible, or if the camera does not work on you r s ys tem and you suspect that the prob le m may be rel at ed to your PC’s USB port, the following is a list of available options:
1. Contact your PC vendor. Your PC vendor may be able to upgrade your motherboard or its BIOS to a newer version that addresses USB incompatibilities.
2. Use a PCI host adapter which provides USB connectors. If you are not able to upgrad e you r mot h erbo ard or its BIOS, we recommend this approach.
3. Attach the WebCam Go Plus to a powered USB hub. Some USB devices (such as monit ors) also operat e as po wered USB hu bs; you can al so b uy dedicated power ed USB hubs which are to be attached to your PC’s USB port. However , in some cases, attaching a powered USB hub to a non-USB-compliant USB motherboard connector will not solve the problem.
To look for a USB compatible product, you can visit the product search page at the official USB Web site: http://www.usb.org/ app/search/products.
Page 37
Technical Support D-1
D
Technical Support
We are committed t o giving you the best produ ct a s wel l as t he be st tec hnica l su ppor t.
For fast and efficient Technical Support solutions, please use the Creative Web Support services in the first instance. If your Creative product was pre-installed in y our computer, your primary source of technical support is the Personal Computer supplier who provided the system.
The European support area on our web site at www.creative.com is continuously updated and contains the follo win g:
FAQ: Access the latest information on Creative
products with advice on how to resolve commonly asked q u estions
Solve Your Own Problem: Enter keywords to search the comprehensive
library of product and technical information
Download Drivers: Quick access to the latest Creative drivers Library: Find the documents for a wide range of
Creative prod uct s
Before contacting “European Help Line”, please ensure that you have read the ‘Troubleshooting’ Appendix. The Creative web site at www.creative.com
gives you access to the latest drivers and troubleshooting tips.
Page 38
D-2 Technical Support
Email Your Problem: Complete the technical support web form
and submit for a response
Telephone Support: European Telephone Support contact details.
See also European Helpline section in manual
for contact details.
If You Have a Problem
Please retain all content s including packag ing and proof of purcha se until you are fully satisfied with product.
If you have a pro blem installing or usi ng your Creati ve product, ple ase use the Creati ve Web Support and/or Telephone Support services for assistance. Note the following information for reference should you require technical assistance:
❑
The model and serial number of your Creative product
❑
Error information on the screen and how it came about
❑
Information on the adapter cards which may be causing a conflict
❑
Hardware configuration information such as the base I/O address, IRQ line, DMA channels used
❑
Motherboard information: BIOS manufacturer/version and chipset manufacturer
❑
T ype and ver sion of your operating system , e.g., DOS 6.0, Windo ws 3.1x, W indo ws 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT
If, after using the Creative support services, you believe your Creative product to be defective, you should verify the purchase date and the take the appropriate action as detailed below:
Page 39
Technical Support D-3
Less than 30 days since date of purchase
Should your store rece ipt indicate that th e product is less than 3 0 days old, you ha ve the option of retur ning the full prod uct to the dealer/r etailer for a repl acement or credit. The 30-day time period may not apply in all instances, so please check the seller’s replacement/credit terms.
More than 30 days since date of purchase
Contact European Technical Support to clarify the natur e of the prob le m and to obtain details of our r epair retu rns procedure. Cre ativ e Labs requires that all return s for repair / replacement must first be issued with an authorisation number.
Page 40
D-4 Technical Support
Returning a product for repair
❑
Contact Technical Support to receive your authorisation number for repair/replacement of product.
❑
Technical Support will communicate how to return the product in question for repair/replacement.
❑
You should only return the hardware item in question and return it to the address detailed by Technical Support. Please retain all software, accessories and the original packaging.
❑
Please quote the authorisation number clearly on the outside of the packaging in which you return the hardware item in question.
❑
Upon receipt of the faul ty item, Creati ve Labs wil l process your request and arrange a return or replacement.
Creative may replace or repair the product with new or re-conditioned parts, and the faulty parts will become the property of Creative. The warranty period for your repaired/replace ment ite m is 90 days fr om the dat e of shipmen t from Creat i ve, or wha t is left on the original item’s warranty, whichever is longer.
T o avoid ta riffs when shipping a product to Creati ve Labs from outside the E.U., you must complete the relevant customs d ocum ent ation before shipping the product (p lea se a llow 30 days).
Page 41
Technical Support D-5
Limited Warranty
Creative Labs (Ireland) Limited (“Creative”) warrants to you, the original purchaser only, that the hardware product will be free of defects in materials and workmanship for a period of two years after the date of purchase, or such other period as may be expressly specified by Creative or required by applicable law (“Warranty Period”).
Creative’s entire liability and your remedy will be, at Creative’s sole discretion, the repair or replacement (with the same or similar model) of any hardware or accompanying item(s) not meeting the “Limited Warranty” explained above that is returned to Creative’s authorised distributor or dealer during the W arranty Period with a copy of your receipt.
What this warranty does
not cover
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Creative disclaims all other warranties and conditions, expressed or implied, including the conditions of quality, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to the use of this product. Creative also disclaims any obligation to support products for all operating environments - for example, by ensuring interoperability with future versions of software or hardware. In no event shall Creative or its licensors be liable for any indirect, incident al, specia l or consequ ential loss or for an y lost pro fi ts, savi ngs or data arising from or relati ng to the use of this produc t, e v en if Cre ati v e or its lic ensors ha v e been advised of the possibility of such loss.
Specifically, this warranty does not cover failures of the product which result from accident, abuse, misuse, alterations (by persons other than Creative or its authorized repair agents), moisture, corrosive environments, shipping, high voltage surges, or abnormal workin g conditi ons. This warra nty does not co ver no rmal wea r and tear. Y ou are specifically advised to take a backup copy of any software provided with the Creative product for security purposes.
This warranty gi v e s you s pe cific legal rights. You may have other rights which vary from country to country. Ce rtain limitations in this warranty are not permitted by the jurisdiction of some countries, so some limitations here may not apply to you.
Page 42
CREA TIVE LABS (IRELAND) L TD.,
T echnical Support Department, Ballycoolin Business Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Ireland.
Fax: +353 1 8205052 United Kingdom
Tel + 44 (0) 870-876 08 76
Germany
Tel + 49 69-66982900
Ireland
Tel +353 1 820 7555
France
Tel + 33 1 55 46 87 77
Spain
Tel +34 (91) 66 25 116
Italy
Tel +39 02 4828 0000
Austria
Tel +43 (01) 589 244 320
Belgium
Tel +32 (02) 7171 198
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Tel +358 (09) 2294 3101
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Tel +47 2305 0401
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Tel +46 (08) 7519 147
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Te l +31 (0) 205040616
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Tel +41 (01) 2121 868
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Tel 800 8 53066
Czech Republic
Tel + 353 1 8066964
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Freephone 00 800 353 1229
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Freephone 06 800 12222
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Tel + 353 1 8066967
Operating Hours / Heures d’ouverture / Öffnungszei ten / Ore d’ufficio / Horario de oficina / Openingstijden / Horário de abertura
EUROPE
Mon-Fri : Business Hours Sat-Sun & Public Holidays : Closed Lun. au vend. : Heures de bureau Sam., dim. et jours fériés : Fermé Mo-Fr : Geschäftszeiten Sa, So & gesetzl. Feiertage : Geschlossen Lunedì-venerdì : Orario d’ufficio Sa b at o , do me n ic a e fes t i vi : Chiuso Lunes-Viernes : Horario de oficina Sábados, domingos y festivos : Cerrado Maandag-Vrijdag : Kantooruren Zat.-Zon. & Nationale Feestdagen : Gesloten Segunda a sexta-feira : Horário de expediente Sábado, domingo e feriados : Fechado
Internet T o rec eive technical support via the Inter net, please e- mail: support@eur ope.cr eative.com
Web Site www.creative.com
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