Xirlink IBM PC Net Camera User Manual

Table of Contents

Welcome to the IBM PC & Net Camera ......................................................1

Minimum System Requirements ................................................................2

Software and Installation ............................................................................3

The IBM PC & Net Camera Application .................................................4-11

How to send Snapshots and V-mail ................................................... 12-14

Videoconferencing with Microsoft® NetMeeting .............................. 15-23

Troubleshooting .................................................................................. 24-30

How To Install the Camera Clip.................................................................31

Additional Help and Resources ................................................................32

Statement of Limited Warranty.................................................................32

Welcome to the IBM PC & Net Camera

The IBM PC & Net Camera makes video mail and videoconferencing easy, with high-quality hardware and software. Whether you are sending video mail, creating images for a web page, streaming video over the internet or videoconferencing, the IBM PC & Net Cameras deliver clean, clear images with smooth video.

A Quick Look at the IBM PC & Net Camera

Snapshot Button

Focusing Ring

(Rotate to focus)

USB Cable

Power ON Light

Swivel Base

Minimum System Requirements

Hardware

- PC with an AMD K6 or Pentium class processor that operates at 200 MHz or faster

- 16 MB or more RAM

- 60 MB of available hard drive space

- CD-ROM Drive

- One available USB port on your computer to plug in the camera.

- Display adapter capable of 800x600 in 16 bit color

- Standard microphone for sending video mail and videoconferencing

messages (Microphone not included)

- Internet connection

(Required for video mail and videoconferencing software)

Software

- Microsoft Windows 98, 98SE, Me, or 2000

- Internet browser application, i.e. Microsoft Internet Explorer,

Netscape, AOL

- E-mail Program, i.e. Microsoft Outlook Express, Yahoo E-mail, AOL

Note: To find the version number of your Windows operating system, select Settings from the Windows Start menu. Open Control Panel, and double-click on the System icon. The System Properties dialog box indicates the version number.

Software and Installation

Install the software before connecting your IBM PC or Net Camera!

If you have already plugged the camera into the computer, please unplug it before installing the software.

1. Insert the CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive.

2. Autorun will display the Installation screen corresponding to your camera model.* Click Install.

3. On the Install window, de-select any software you do not wish to install. Click OK.

4. Read the Software License Agreement. Click Yes to continue.

5. Follow the prompts to finish the installation.

Restart your computer to complete the installation.

6. After your computer restarts, you may plug your camera into the USB port.

*Note: If Autorun does not start, choose Run from the Windows Start Menu. Assuming your CD-ROM drive is the D drive, type “d:\Autorun” in the Run dialog box. If Autorun still does not run, consult your computer manual or manufacturer to locate the CD-ROM drive.

How to Connect the IBM PC & Net Camera

Plug the USB connector on the camera into any available USB port on your computer. A window should appear and recognize a new device being installed.

Note: If your computer does not recognize a new device installed, please refer to the Troubleshooting section of the manual (see pages 24-30).

The IBM PC & Net Camera Application

1. Double-click the icon on your desktop.

2. The Application window opens and displays your camera’s video image.

Note: If you do not see an image:

a.) Try closing and re-opening the IBM PC & Net Camera Application - OR b.) Unplug the camera, restart your computer.

Then plug the camera in again.

If you still cannot see any images, please consult the Troubleshooting section.

Explanation of Buttons

A B C D E F G

A. Snapshots

1. Focus and adjust the camera as necessary.

2. Select the desired resolution, then click the Snapshot button.

3. The snapshot button will automatically save photos to the Album.

Note: Depending on your Capture settings, snapshots are captured in either .JPG or .BMP format.

B. V-Mail (Compressed Video for E-mail Purposes)

1. Focus and adjust the camera as necessary.

2. When ready to record, click the V-Mail button. The video window will self-adjust to an optimized video size for emailing.

3. Once recording begins, notice the V-Mail button changes to the Stop button.

4. To end recording, click the Stop button.

5. Click the Preview button to check your recording.

6. When the Preview button is selected, playback controls appear.

7. To send your V-Mail, finish viewing the video or click Stop on the

playback controls. You must click Stop or finish playback so that the Preview and Send buttons reappear. a. Click Send to launch your default E-mail program - OR

b. If you are using America Online or web-based e-mail, please refer

to the How to send Snapshots and V-mail section on Page 12 to Page 14. If you are unable to launch your e-mail program, it is possible that your e-mail program cannot be designated as a Mail Agent. Please refer to

Page 14 for assistance on manually attaching a V-Mail or Snapshot.

8. To save a copy of your V-Mail to the Album, click the Save button.

Note: All V-Mail files are captured in an executable (.EXE) file format for easy e-mailing.

C. Capture (Uncompressed Video)

1. Focus and adjust the camera as necessary.

2. When ready, click Capture to begin recording.

3. Notice the Capture button changes to the Stop button.

4. Click Stop at any time to end recording.

5. Before saving your video to your IBM Album, click Preview.

6. Playback controls will appear.

7. To save to the Album, finish viewing the video or click Stop.

8. Click the Save button to save the captured video to the Album.

Note: Captured videos are saved in the .AVI file format.

D. Save (to Album)

1. The Save button stores “Capture” video and “V-Mail” files to the

Album.

2. Images are automatically saved to the Album after taking a snap-

shot.

E. Mirror

1. Flip the video image horizontally (must be used before

2. Click the Mirror button before recording to select/deselect mirror.

capturing).

F. Settings

Depending on your camera model, the Settings dialog box consists of 3-4 tabs to adjust video and image options –

VGA Snapshot (IBM Net Camera and Net Camera Pro only). To access

options, click the

1. Capture

Settings button:

a. Maximum Video Size: Dependent on available hard

drive space. Most e-mail applications have disk space limitations when receiving e-mail. (2MB is the default value)

b. Snapshot Delay: When snapshot delay is enabled, select

the number of seconds to delay snapshot.

c. Enable Audio: This allows you to record audio with video.

Adjust the volume by moving the slider across the slide bar.

d. Snapshot Image Format: Select BMP for uncompressed

snapshots or select JPEG for compressed snapshots.

Capture, Video, Mail Agent, and

2. Video*

*Depending on the IBM PC or Net Camera model, not all Video options are available.

a. Video Settings: You can adjust the brightness, contrast,

and colors of an image to get the best possible video quality. Default settings are optimized for overall image quality.

b. Light Type: If the video quality is grainy, blurry, or slow,

make sure the correct lighting type is selected.

3. Mail Agent

a. Simple MAPI Clients: When the Simple MAPI Clients is

enabled, it will allow you to send V-Mail and Snapshots directly from the IBM PC or Net Camera Application. You

may need to adjust the settings or options in your Email program. Please refer to the section How to send

Snapshots and V-mail later in the manual. Some E-mail

program may not support MAPI. (AOL, etc.)

4. VGA Snapshot (IBM Net Camera and Net Camera Pro Only)

a. For VGA resolution snapshot, select “...always in VGA”.

b. For other resolutions, select “...same size as video”.

5. Advanced Settings

a. Color Control / Lighting: Adjust the color settings to optimize the image quality. b. Compression Control*: The higher the

compression rate, the smaller the file size. Best Frame Rate Compression will reduce file size by 8-10x the original

size. Best Quality Compression will reduce the file by 2-4x the original. c. Video Source*: If viewing video from an external video source via the NTSC port, you must select the alternative video source input control.

*Note: IBM Net Camera Pro Only

Inputting video from an external device via the video-in / NTSC port:

1. Under Settings, Select Video Source.

2. Make sure the NTSC cable (included) is inserted into Video-In of the IBM Net Camera Pro. Connect the other end into Video-Out of your source device.

3. To capture your video to your IBM Camera Application, press Play from your video source device. From the IBM Camera Application, click the Capture button to begin recording. To end, click Stop.

4. Preview your captured video clip. To save to Album, click Stop during preview or let preview finish. Click Save. Your video will be saved in the .AVI file format.

Note: To record audio with your video, you must have an External

Audio Input on your Sound Card. Insert the audio cable into Audio-

Out of your source device. Insert the other end into Audio-In of

your Sound Card (Audio cable is not included).

G. Album

When the Album button is selected, the IBM Album will slide out from the Application displaying thumbnails of your saved files along with additional options. Please refer to The IBM Album Application below for a detailed explanation of features.

The IBM Album Application

The Album stores all your video clips, V-Mail, and snapshots displayed as thumbnails. An icon on each thumbnail represents the following:

Snapshot Video Clip

V-Mail

Album Tool Bar

To review and manage your files, click once to select desired thumbnail and any of these tools:

Open- Open file. Send- Send file by e-mail. Print- Print snapshots. Save- Save to another folder or disk. Delete- Delete any unwanted files from the Album. Detail/Large- View in detail/large thumbnails. L Rotate/R Rotate- Rotate your images to the left/right. Mirror- Change the original image to its mirror image. Color- Display color adjustment options for snapshot.

+ 23 hidden pages