Author Topic: CVS Video Camera Hacking (Read 3421 times)

mr.Curmudgeon · « **on:** September 12, 2005, 02:52:34 pm »

Step by step instructions on how to hack a CVS "one time use" video camera into a USB-enabled "as much as you want to use" video camera:

Instructions: http://www.mrbill.net.nyud.net:8090/cvscamera/
Sample Videos: http://www.mrbill.net.nyud.net:8090/cvscamera/video/

It looks really easy...I may try it just for the fun of it, or to create x-mas gifts for the kids in the family.

mrC

ChadTower · « **Reply #1 on:** September 12, 2005, 02:53:57 pm »

Awesome. They did the firmware for that about 15 cubes from where I sit. They'll love that link.

mr.Curmudgeon · « **Reply #2 on:** September 12, 2005, 02:58:18 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on September 12, 2005, 02:53:57 pm

Awesome. They did the firmware for that about 15 cubes from where I sit. They'll love that link.

Doh! That's pretty cool.

Not that it's any of their fault, but the concept of a "single-use" video camera is retarded. I personally endorse hacking the hell out of these things since all CVS does it recycle them after they are used, wasting energy and other resources.

It's like the original DiVX format...thank god the internet killed that concept too!

mrC

Stingray · « **Reply #3 on:** September 12, 2005, 02:59:44 pm »

I had no idea there was even such a thing as a one time use video camera. I suppose you turn it in for "developing" and they send you a DVD?

I agree that the concept is fairly cheesy.

-S

ChadTower · « **Reply #4 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:00:24 pm »

Hey, not like I care, really.

mr.Curmudgeon · « **Reply #5 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:03:32 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on September 12, 2005, 03:00:24 pm

I bet they won't even close the hole, simply not worth investing resources in it to stop the 25 people who have both the skills and the reason to do this.

Probably right.

Oh, and it's 26 people including myself!! heh.

Looks like a fun, clean hack though.

mrC

Stingray · « **Reply #6 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:05:45 pm »

27. I do have the skills & the reason, but I lack the motivation so the product is safe in my hands.

-S

mr.Curmudgeon · « **Reply #7 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:08:29 pm »

Quote from: Stingray on September 12, 2005, 02:59:44 pm

I had no idea there was even such a thing as a one time use video camera. I suppose you turn it in for "developing" and they send you a DVD?

I agree that the concept is fairly cheesy.

-S

I believe the DVD they send costs an additional $13...

So for $43 ($30 camera + $13 DVD) you can process 20 minutes of digital video footage. What a DEAL!!

mrC

ChadTower · « **Reply #8 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:10:22 pm »

Dude, 20 hours.

My boss just told me he'd go get one and bring it back to me tomorrow.

mr.Curmudgeon · « **Reply #9 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:12:49 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on September 12, 2005, 03:10:22 pm

Dude, 20 hours.

Am I reading the Press Release [link] wrong?

Says, "Holds 20 saved minutes of digital quality video and sound"...

So, is there like multiple "20 minute" segments, for "up to" 20 hours? If so, that's not so bad.

mrC

ChadTower · « **Reply #10 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:13:40 pm »

No, it says 20 minutes, though my boss swears it's 20 hours.

I can't find anything that says hours, though, so he could be remembering it incorrectly.

20 minutes is pretty weak.

mr.Curmudgeon · « **Reply #11 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:15:38 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on September 12, 2005, 03:13:40 pm

No, it says 20 minutes, though my boss swears it's 20 hours.

He might be right...just saw this in the release:

"Using just three simple buttons, consumers can
capture up to 20 minutes of digital quality video and sound, in as many
separate segments or clips as they wish."

Still no firm listing on the actual capacity of the thing...hmmmm...

EDIT: Wait...now that I've looked at the above sentence again, it seems they mean as many segments as you want, adding up to a TOTAL of 20 minutes. So much for benefit of the doubt.

mrC

ChadTower · « **Reply #12 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:20:44 pm »

No, further asking around says it actually is 20 minutes total. That's kind of dumb.

mr.Curmudgeon · « **Reply #13 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:22:57 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on September 12, 2005, 03:20:44 pm

No, further asking around says it actually is 20 minutes total. That's kind of dumb.

Yeah...even hacked...that's still reeeeally lame. You'd need to dump video every 20mins.

Stingray · « **Reply #14 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:28:10 pm »

This explains why I was previously anaware with the fact that such a product even exists. 20 minutes? Exactly what is something like that good for? (Chad isn't allowed to answer this question)

-S

Sephroth57 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:30:01 pm »

hack a cheap memory upgrade?

mr.Curmudgeon · « **Reply #16 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:33:18 pm »

Quote from: Stingray on September 12, 2005, 03:28:10 pm

20 minutes? Exactly what is something like that good for? (Chad isn't allowed to answer this question)

20 mins...that's enough time to make a private porno. Or maybe five!

Uh...not for me though...yeah, you'd need like..more time, or something. I'm tantric!

ChadTower · « **Reply #17 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:37:49 pm »

Quote from: Sephroth57 on September 12, 2005, 03:30:01 pm

hack a cheap memory upgrade?

At this point, you may as well buy a real cheapass video camera.

Stingray · « **Reply #18 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:39:48 pm »

Quote from: mr.Curmudgeon on September 12, 2005, 03:33:18 pm

Quote from: Stingray on September 12, 2005, 03:28:10 pm
20 minutes? Exactly what is something like that good for? (Chad isn't allowed to answer this question)

20 mins...that's enough time to make a private porno. Or maybe five!

Uh...not for me though...yeah, you'd need like..more time, or something. I'm tantric!

Obviously I should have banned you from answering too!

Seriously, to what use can a video camera with 20 minutes recording time possibly be put?

-S

ChadTower · « **Reply #19 on:** September 12, 2005, 03:45:08 pm »

It could be a low risk, low cost test market product. As in, put this sucker out at a low price, see if anyone buys and uses it. It's definitely a new market area, a one time use video camera, much like the one time use digital still camera we also offer.

Stingray · « **Reply #20 on:** September 12, 2005, 04:06:39 pm »

Where's the link for hacking the one time use still camera? That one I can see use for.

-S

ChadTower · « **Reply #21 on:** September 12, 2005, 04:07:20 pm »

If it costs more than about $20, you may as well buy a cheap real thing.

Stingray · « **Reply #22 on:** September 12, 2005, 04:14:50 pm »

Yeah, but then I don't get to take stuff apart and make a big mess.

-S

ChadTower · « **Reply #23 on:** September 12, 2005, 04:18:56 pm »

You're not going to bother to do it anyway.

Stingray · « **Reply #24 on:** September 12, 2005, 04:19:59 pm »

That's entirely possible.

-S

Sephroth57 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 12, 2005, 04:22:27 pm »

man you guys must be doing nothing all day =p

ChadTower · « **Reply #26 on:** September 12, 2005, 04:24:31 pm »

Actually, I've gotten quite a bit of work done. I type REALLY fast.

Sephroth57 · « **Reply #27 on:** September 12, 2005, 04:24:57 pm »

yeah im waiting for some HVAC units to kick into heating mode so i can monitor their temp readings... yay

Stingray · « **Reply #28 on:** September 12, 2005, 04:31:11 pm »

I enrolled our first displaced hurricane Katrina victim in school today. I also shuffled some papers around to make it look like I've done more than I have. I also had lunch.

-S

Sephroth57 · « **Reply #29 on:** September 12, 2005, 04:33:12 pm »

lol, this thread is such a waste of bandwith. that i enjoy it even more

ChadTower · « **Reply #30 on:** September 12, 2005, 04:33:39 pm »

We were going to get 2500 evacuees and house them at the National Guard base here... instead, for some reason, we got 75 dogs.

Stingray · « **Reply #31 on:** September 12, 2005, 04:34:45 pm »

Newsflash: My phone just rang. Someone trying to get me to do something. I told her I was too busy.

-S

DarkKobold · « **Reply #32 on:** September 12, 2005, 08:12:59 pm »

Actually, In Chad's case, it'd be easier, and more in-line with normal buisness practice to send out a C&D letter. It's cheaper, and if it works, great, it won't be 27 people destroying their buisness model. If it doesn't, eh, it cost 37c in postage.

ChadTower · « **Reply #33 on:** September 12, 2005, 08:14:56 pm »

I don't work in legal, so I don't have anything to do with C+D.

DarkKobold · « **Reply #34 on:** September 12, 2005, 08:29:37 pm »

I meant your company in general, not you as a person. Didn't mean the mixup.


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