Eyemodule Digital Camera Springboard Module for Handspring Visor

Rating:
Summary: Mediocrity + Utility + Novelty = Worth The Price?
Review: By now, you've probably heard that digital cameras are becoming a practical alternative to their film-dependent counterparts. Image quality has vastly improved, and many respectable digital cameras are being offered at sub-$300 prices. If you're in the market for a digital camera, Design by IDEO offers an interesting option: the eyemodule2.

Installation was a breeze. Without reading the manual, I slipped the module into my visor and pressed the shutter button on the front of the unit. The eyemodule2 software on the Visor is simple and intuitive.

Let me just come out and say it: the eyemodule2 does not take the greatest pictures, nor is it intended for the demanding photographer. The color images I took looked a little blurry and muddy. Even the sample photographs on the eyemodule2 website didn't look that great.

That said, the eyemodule2 does take adequate pictures for certain tasks. For example, let's say you're sitting in lecture, and the professor draws an elaborate picture of the brachial plexus that you do not have time to scribble down. Unfazed, you break out your eyemodule2, pop it in your visor, take the picture, and view it at your leisure. Or perhaps you're in a business meeting, and you want to make sure you remember that new guy the next time you meet him. You guessed it-you take his picture and associate it with his name in your contact manager software. So what if the colors aren't perfect and the image isn't ultra-sharp-it's the data that matters in these examples. Think of the eyemodule2 as more an information gathering utility than a camera.

Your mileage may vary. Is this utility (or novelty) worth the price of the EyeModule? You decide...

Rating:
Summary: Good and very handy. Worth the price.
Review: I bought this module without any high expectation on the quality of the picture because I already knew before that it's more like a toy. As it turns out, the picture quality and its usefulness are far better than I expected. Also I found that this thing is a great tool to capture and prepare animated B/W GIF image. Moreover, I love the fact that it's small enough to alway plug it in so that you can use it whenever you feel the need.

Rating:
Summary: Fun...but some important caveats...
Review: I'm now on my second eyemodule2; I returned the first one a few months ago, exasperated.

The good part is that the eyemodule2 is a lot of fun. It's great to take candid shots of people who have no idea you're taking pictures, and they get a kick out of seeing themselves on your Visor's screen. It's also quite handy to carry around in a way that a regular camera wouldn't be.

But here are things to keep in mind. First, it uses the memory on your Visor, so if like me you have it stuffed with docs, AvantGo, maps, etc., you'll have to do some deleting or invest in a memory module. Second, keep in mind that this is a fun toy, but not a high-quality digital camera. It's easy to e-mail pictures to people, but if you're going on a memorable trip, take along a real camera and use it more.

And most importantly, note that if you change the Visor batteries with the eyemodule in its slot, your Visor will do a HARD RESET and you will lose everything, including any pictures you had accumulated and hadn't backed up yet. Hence I would STRONGLY recommend that you invest in a backup module as well if you plan to buy the eyemodule2. I lost some 50 pictures learning this the hard way. (Since you'll have to clear some Visor memory for pictures anyway, the 8MB + Backup module might be the way to go if you can spring for it.)

My irritation with losing so many pictures the first time caused me to take it back, but since then I decided it was still too much fun to pass up. But not without backup! I can't find anywhere that Handspring or Blocks Products mention this matter of the battery, so I'm warning you here. If you're going to take pictures, always do a backup before replacing your batteries.

And have fun!

Rating:
Summary: Just one word: "WOW"
Review: Let me start by saying that I love this little gadget. It amuses me endlessly. I take it to otherwise boring meetings, and it just looks like I'm making notes on my Handspring, when I'm snapping quick and funny pix of people. The camera is so small that nobody notices it. I take it on the subway and get great "a day in the life of a commuter" pictures. I use it to take pictures that the kids can include in school reports. I enjoy it thorougly! It is SO EASY to use!!!

That said, the resolution isn't very good. Forget taking pictures of people from beyond 10 feet -- 5 feet if you want to see facial expressions. Forget taking pictures in rooms with uneven lighting. Don't even think about printing the pictures, unless they are real close-ups. It just doesn't capture that many pixels. But -- keeping that in mind -- it's a great little camera.

Rating:
Summary: Really Slick - EyeModule 2!
Review: My Visor Deluxe goes everywhere with me and contains my life in an organized fashion. While checking out add-ons I ran across the EyeModule 2 digital camera. It looked too good to be true. After reading other Amazon comments on this product, I was sold. In less than 20 minutes I owned one. I have to admit I love electronic gadgets, especially cameras. It is so small and weighs nearly nothing. And like one reviewer said, it comes in a slick little tin. The software was easy to load and it's really easy to use--just like the Visor Deluxe. The batteries in my Visor were half used up and I did get the message that I needed to change to new batteries in order to "capture" pictures. You can even make 5 second mini-movies, which I haven't tried out yet, but I'm sure it will be awesome. I'm going to South Africa and Zimbabwe in September and will use it as an adjunct to my SLR camera. And around town, there will be lots of chances to use it I know. I highly recommend this for all 'electronic junkies'and anyone else who wants to be able to take a photograph to document things, send e-mail photos. The only negative thing about the EyeModules is that like other reviewers said, you need to have lots of light and a steady hand.

Rating:
Summary: Useful and fun.
Review: The Eyemodule 1 I just replacedhas provided images that are really useful and fun to take, spur of the moment. It captures the essence, if not the detail of the subject that can be edited into sketchbook images and saved to an address file an email or an illustrated newsletter. It is also great as a visual memo pad or recorder, capturing images on the fly for reviewing later. Stealth factor makes it fun, too.So now I have gotten an Eyemodule 2 and will let you know how it differs.

Rating:
Summary: Does what it does nicely!
Review: The eyemodule does not replace a decent digital camera.

That said, what it DOES do is to provide you with an easy to use, easy to carry camera that has a certain 'stealth' capability as well.

This is an excellent camera for candid snapshots- I carried mine on vacation and used it a lot since I already was using my Visor as a travel guide. It was just so easy to leave the eyemodule in place instead of bothering with the real camera for quick shots.

This is a quick way to note or document something. parked in a really big parking lot? Photograph the nearest location sign and landmark. Working on a project and need a visual reference? Photograph it.

Stealth feature- it does not look like a camera! You can photo a LOT of things that a camera user cannot because of this! It also does not use a flash, so there is nothing to give you away.

Downsides- decent or color pictures eat memory quickly. No flash, zoom, or similar features.

Worth it, especially at under [dollar amount]!

Rating:
Summary: Useful and fun.
Review: This item was a lot of fun until I dropped it. Will probably buy another.Although picture quality fair to poor depending on available light and hand movement, it provides images that are really useful. It captures the essence, if not the detail of the subject that can be edited into sketchbook images and saved to an address file an email or an illustrated newsletter. It is also great as a visual memo pad or recorder, capturing images on the fly for reviewing later. Stealth factor makes it fun, too.

Rating:
Summary: Visor Fun from IDEO
Review: This module is likely the most talked about Visor attachment I've ever seen. And it was one of the first modules I purchased.

The reviews you read of high grain and low resolution of this classic eyemodule are true as are the high coolness and fun factor.

All in all this module is worth its price for two reasons:

1) The 320x240 gray scale mode is seems sharper than the color mode (I guess it is not as sensitive to subtile lighting). For a quick snapshot in a meeting, this works well.

2) The optional software allows you to put thumbnails into an addressbook (eyecontact software has to be downloaded from their website). It's almost worth the price alone to have a little photo of someone next to their address book info.

Don't expect archival images -- but be ready for a lot of fun.

Rating:
Summary: Great Product!
Review: With some trepedation, I purchased the Eyemodule 2 for my Visor Deluxe several months ago. I am a semi-prop photographer, and doubted that it would work well enough for me.

Well, I was wrong.

For most applications that you can think of, particlarly web pictures and newsletters, the Eyemodule 2 is a great product. There are times when a wide-angle lens would help. There are times when a telephoto would help. And there are times when a macro lens would help. But all-in-all, it's a great product.

I have gone on a couple of short vacations recently, and the only camera I took with me was my Visor and Eyemodule 2.

When starting the Eyemodule software or changing modes (shooting to preview, etc.) it's a little slow, but then I have an older, slower Visor. With the faster processor, better screen, and increased memory, this should be a kick-butt product on a Visor Pro!

The only real negative I have is that it seems to really chew up batteries running the Eyemodule 2. Batteries that run the Visor fine won't allow you to take a picture. I understand that this is a common complaint with most electronic cameras, but carry a spare pair of batteries with you.

My only suggestions for improvements for the Eyemodule 3 would be to have the lens have two focus positions (standard and close-up), and to make it a little more sensitive to light.