Intel Play Digital Movie Creator

• Quick Start Guide (pdf)
• Activity Book (pdf)
• Technology and Play Pattern: Intel Play Digital Movie Creator (pdf)
• Intel Play Digital Movie Creator technical issues

Turn your kids into budding filmmakers with this digital video mini-camera. The tiny machine holds up to four minutes of images that you can then plug into your computer, edit and turn into a major mini- motion picture.

The Intel® Play™ Digital Movie Creator supports the following operating systems: Microsoft Windows 98, 98 SE , Me, 2000, XP.

[edit] System Requirements

• A computer that is USB-enabled. (Most computers manufactured after June 1998 are USB-enabled.)
• Microsoft* Windows* 98, Windows* 98 SE, Windows* Me, Windows* 2000, or Windows* XP
• 300Mhz Intel® Pentium® II , Intel® Celeron™ Processor or Faster (or equivalent)
• 64 MB of RAM
• Minimum 300MB Hard Disk Space
• Quad Speed (4x) CD ROM
• 800x600 Display, 16-bit Color
• 16-bit Windows-compatible Sound Device
• Video and Sound Compatible with DirectX*

[edit] Product Discontinuance Statement

24-Feb-2005 -- Solution ID: CS-020521

Installation software and drivers are not downloadable for the Intel® Play™ Digital Movie Creator camera. If you are trying to reinstall the camera's software, use the camera's CD. When you install the camera's software, both the application and its dedicated drivers will be installed together from the CD.

Intel has released only one version of the software for this product. There are no plans to release updated software. All Intel® Play™ Toys were discontinued in March 2002. Thus, no further development or updates will be made for this product.

I heard that Intel has discontinued the Intel® Play™ product line. Why? All of the Intel® Play™ toys were discontinued on March 29th, 2002. What this means is that Intel no longer manufacturers nor sells these products. No further development or updates will be made for these products by Intel. In October 2001, Intel decided not to develop any new cameras, toys, audio players, or other branded products in these specific categories. Instead, Intel is focusing its business going forward on silicon products where the company has recognized expertise and market presence. For further information, visit the Product Discontinuance Statement.

[edit] Release Notes

These release notes contain the latest information available about the Intel® Play™ Digital Movie Creator:

Contents:

1. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

• A computer that is USB-enabled. (Most computers manufactured after June 1998 are USB-enabled.)
• Windows* 98, Windows 98 SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows XP
• 300Mhz Pentium® II, Celeron™ Processor or faster (or equivalent)
• 64 MB of RAM
• Minimum 300MB hard disk space
• Quad speed (4x) CD ROM
• 800x600 display, 16-bit color
• 16-bit Windows*-compatible sound device
• Video and sound compatible with DirectX*

2. INSTALLATION NOTES

2.1 Issue with IKernel.exe on Windows* 98 Systems

When you install this product on some Windows* 98 systems, you may see an error that mentions Ikernel.exe. To work around this error, you must download and install DCOM98 from the Microsoft Web site or the InstallShield* Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/com/dcom/dcom98/dcom1_3.asp ^†
http://support.installshield.com ^†
† This link will take you off of the Intel Web site. Intel does not control the content of the destination Web Site.

After installing DCOM98, restart the Digital Movie Creator Setup program and follow the on-screen instructions.

2.2 Administrator Privileges on Windows* 2000 and Windows* XP Professional
To properly install the camera drivers and DirectX* 8, you must be logged on to your computer system with "Administrator" privileges.

2.3 Manually Installing the Software on Windows* XP
If you have difficulty installing the software because Windows* XP does not acknowledge your Administrator privileges, you can manually start the Setup program as follows:

• If your system is not responding, restart your computer and log on with "Administrator" privileges.
• Using Windows Explorer, click on the drive with the Digital Movie Creator software CD
• Double-click the "Install" folder and then double-click "setup.exe".
• Follow the on-screen instructions.

2.4 Version Conflict Messages When Installing on Windows* Me
When you install the Digital Movie Creator software on Windows* Me, you may see several "version conflict" messages that ask whether you want to keep certain system files on your hard drive or install files from the CD-ROM to your computer. Click "Yes" to keep the existing files on your hard drive.

2.5 Connecting Camera for the First Time on Windows* Me
When you connect the camera on a computer using Windows* Me, it can take anywhere from 1 to 5 minutes for the operating system to locate all the files required by the Digital Movie Creator camera. For best results, please wait about 5 minutes before starting the Digital Movie Creator software.

2.6 Choosing a Microphone for the Digital Movie Creator Software
When you start the Digital Movie Creator software the first time, you will be asked to select a microphone. Choose the "Intel Play DMC Audio" or "Intel Play Digital Movie Creato" [sic] from the list and click OK. This enables the camera's microphone when the camera is connected to your computer.

2.7 USB Connection Issue
If the camera does not work after installing the software and restarting your computer, you may have a problem with USB support. Try unplugging and replugging in the camera base's cable from the USB port and then re-inserting the camera into the camera base.

If the camera does not beep and you didn't see the spinning wheel on the camera display, try unplugging the camera cable and plugging it into another USB port. If the camera still does not beep and you see no spinning wheel on the camera display, USB is not working on your computer. Contact your system manufacturer for instructions for enabling USB.

2.8 Product Registration Option "Send via Internet" Does Not work
The product registration utility has problems using dialup networking, so you may see a dialog asking you to provide proxy information. Click Cancel to close this message. To register over the Internet, you must manually open an Internet connection. Try this workaround:

1. If the product registration utility is still open, close it. All your answers to the registration questions will be saved.
2. Start your Internet connection.
3. Click Start >> Programs >> Intel Play Digital Movie Creator >> DMC Electronic Registration.
4. In the registration utility, click Next and go to the Send Options page and choose Send via Internet and then click Next.

3. KNOWN ISSUES AND LIMITATIONS

3.1 Don't Run 3D Screen Savers and Other Software Applications
Turn off your screen saver and shut down other applications when you use the Digital Movie Creator software.

3.2 Don't Change Display Settings While Running the Software
Do not change the monitor settings while the Digital Movie Creator software is running. When you start the Digital Movie Creator software, it automatically adjusts your monitor settings to the required resolution. The previous settings are automatically restored when you close the software.

3.3 Avoid Pressing Buttons When Connecting the Camera
When placing the camera in its base to download pictures, avoid pressing the video record button. Pressing the button as the camera enumerates can result in lost memory.

3.4 No Audio Heard As You Record Sounds with Systems Using Half-Duplex Sound Cards
If your computer uses a half-duplex sound card, you won't be able to hear sounds from your speakers as you record, nor will you be able to hear sounds while playing back in the Live screen. You'll have to check recorded sounds by playing them back in the Create screen after you finish recording.

3.5 No Audio Heard In Live Screen Accompanied By Error Message
Older sound card drivers may not work properly with the software sound effects in the Digital Movie Creator. Symptoms consist of not hearing any sound effects as you work in the Live screen and you may see the following error message:

"Due to limitations in the currently selected sound device, all sounds are disabled in Live Mode. Try updating your sound card drivers."

To update the driver for your sound card, go the Web site for your sound card manufacturer, download a new driver and install it. After restarting your computer, open the Live screen again. Sounds should now work.

3.6 Starting to Capture Video Immediately After Stopping Video Capture Causes Errors
If you quickly start and stop recording video, you may see several error messages in the Live screen. You can dismiss the error messages and keep on working. You must wait several seconds after stopping a video before you start recording again. If you continue to quickly stop and start recording video, your computer may stop responding and require you to restart it.

3.7 Your Computer May Stop Responding After Unplugging the Camera
Your computer may stop responding when you unplug the camera under the following conditions: exiting the Live screen to open Create or Share screens or to quit the software; opening the collections; finishing a stop-motion animation; stopping video capture in the Live screen. The lock-up happens when you immediately unplug the camera after one of the actions listed. To continue using the software, you must restart your computer.

On systems that use the OHCI type of Universal Serial Bus (USB), you can prevent this from happening by using your computer sound card to record audio, as follows:

1. Connect a microphone directly to your sound card.
2. Click Start >> Programs >> Intel Play Digital Movie Creator >> Audio Setup Wizard.
3. Choose your computer sound card from the list and click OK.

To determine whether your system uses OHCI, open Device Manager and check the Universal Serial Bus category. The host controller device description will include the words "OHCI" or "open host controller interface."

3.8 Playing Video Clips in Windows Media Player While Using Digital Movie Creator Software Can Cause Problems
Before playing videos in Windows Media Player, shut down the Digital Movie creator software. Playing videos while using our software can cause skipping audio and/or a system lock-up, requiring you to turn off and restart your computer.

3.9 On Windows* 2000, Problem with Standby Mode and Hot Plugging the Camera
If you unplug the camera while Windows* 2000 is in Standby Mode (one of the Power Management settings), awaken your system by moving the mouse or touching the keyboard. Wait at least 30 seconds before connecting the camera. If the camera doesn't work after connecting, wait 30 seconds, disconnect the camera and then connect it again.

3.10 Camera Software May Not Respond After Awakening Your PC
If you use the automatic shut-down features of Windows* Power Management, your camera software may not respond properly after you wake up your computer. For example, your hard drive and monitor can be configured to shut down automatically after a period of idleness. As your camera awakens, you may see the following message:

"An error has occurred. Make sure your camera is connected, then try restarting the application. If you are still having problems, disconnect your camera, reboot your computer, then reconnect your camera."

To completely resolve this issue, make sure you complete these steps BEFORE you start the Digital Movie Creator software.

3.11 Unplugging the Camera in Live Screen May Cause Problems
Depending on your operating system and sound card, unplugging the camera while streaming video in the Live screen can cause your system to stop responding. This requires you to restart your computer. The following systems are affected:

• Windows* 98
• Windows* Me with SoundMax IDA or Riptide sound cards

To avoid this problem, you can connect a microphone directly to your sound card and use the Digital Movie Creator's Audio Setup Wizard to select your sound card:

Click Start >> Programs >> Intel Play Digital Movie Creator >> Audio Setup Wizard.

If you see this problem on a Windows 98 system, upgrading to Windows* 98SE, Windows* Me, Windows* 2000 or Windows* XP will also resolve the problem.

3.12 Very Small Selection Is Not Displayed in the Digital Movie Creator Clipboard
If you select a very narrow (1 pixel) section of a video clip or snapshot, you will not see the selection in the Digital Movie Creator's clipboard on the Tools menu. The selection is too small to display on the clipboard. However, you can still paste the selection.

3.13 Effects Appear in Layers in Video Clips and Snapshots
The effects in the Digital Movie Creator software work on individual layers, which are 'stacked' on top of each other. Effects on layers further down in the 'stack' can get covered up by effects on higher layers. The layers are stacked in this order (from highest to lowest):

• transitions (on the storyboard)
• filters (from the Tools menu)
• paint (from the Tools menu)
• text (from the Tools menu)
• animations (from the Special Effects menu)

For example, painted effects appear on top of animations, because the animation is added in a lower layer. Similarly, adding a filter affects all the layers in a video clip or snapshot.

If you've added an effect to a video or snapshot but you don't see it, make sure it is not covered up by another effect on a higher layer.

3.14 On Windows XP, Do Not Download Images with Other Imaging Software
Do not use other imaging software, such as software for another camera or scanner, to transfer images from the Digital Movie Creator camera to your computer. To download images, use the Digital Movie Creator software, as follows:

• Make sure the camera base is connected to a USB port on your computer.
• Put the camera in the camera base.
• Start the Digital Movie Creator software.
• In the Live screen, click OK to start the download.

4. NON-ENGLISH OPERATING SYSTEM ISSUES

4.1 Double-byte Windows 98SE, Screen Savers and Delayed Video in Live screen
If your screen saver has been showing for a while and you don't see video in the Live screen when you wake up your computer, wait 20 - 30 seconds. The video stream should appear automatically. To see the video stream sooner, you can open the Create screen or Share screen and then go back to the Live screen.

4.2 Double-byte Windows 98SE and Names of Imported Files
Files are imported into the collections using the original double-byte file name. In some cases, this file name will be illegible in the Digital Movie Creator software. There is no work-around for this problem.