Eye-Fi Card and Flip-Pal

Olympia Tea Room, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Using the Flip-Pal with an Eye-Fi Card

No matter whether you are using the Eye-Fi card with your camera of with your Flip-Pal mobile scanner, you must first go through the installation process, the setup with your home wif-fi network and deciding which photo hosting site you wish to use. So read this post first. 

I gathered three items to scan with my Flip-Pal. One is the coaster you see here (which is not completely flat) and two photos from the massive number of snapshots to be scanned. Three is enough for your first test.

I removed the Eye-Fi card from my camera and put in another SD card. NEVER leave your camera empty.

Because I had already set up my Eye-Fi Center software during the installation process and set up my photo-hosting site, I was ready to work with the Flip-Pal.

I popped out the SD card that I keep in my Flip-Pal and set it carefully aside to be put back in when I was done. NEVER leave your Flip-Pal without a card in the slot.

I put in the Eye-Fi card in the Flip-Pal mobile scanner and quickly scanned the two of the items. Because I was still in my office and had the Eye-Fi Center open, I could watch them upload as I scanned. One scanned and the other did not. So, I stopped and investigated the failed upload. I think that it was just a glitch but when I clicked on the image in the Eye-Fi Center, it uploaded at that time. After all, I still had the Flip-Pal and the Eye-Fi card in range of the computer and the network.

I picked up the remaining image and went downstairs to my kitchen. I scanned that image from the kitchen. I left my Flip-Pal on the counter and returned upstairs to see if it uploaded. It did. (But, I would leave the card in the Flip-Pal and return to my office while I checked that they uploaded.)

First test of the Flip-Pal worked well. Here's the two images (photo 1 and photo 2.) I have, of course, edited them since uploading them.

I am keeping the Eye-Fi card in the card holder because I want to install the software on one of my laptops.

This worked so well, that I need to draft a new plan for scanning with my Flip-Pal. I will write about that soon. I set up the iPhone app and it works but I still need to spend time with that.

Installation and Using the Camera with Eye-Fi

Eye-Fi Center, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Working with the Eye-Fi and my Digital Camera

Yesterday, I blocked off  two hours of uninterrupted time to work with the Eye-Fi card and my Nikon Digital Camera.

I read the two page "quick-start" manual that was in the box and decided it was quite simple looking, so first I returned to the Eye-Fi Web site and watched the little video. It explained how many file sharing sites were supported and how you can upload them and "get endless space". (This must mean it can delete them from the card when it gets full but you must be in a wi-fi area to do so. Not many cemeteries have wi-fi, I think.)

I quickly moved to the Support page and used the "Get Started" section to answer a series of questions and discovered the results of that created a printable 11 pages of "answers and directions". It included the directions for my iPhone and iPad. Worth the 11 pages of paper.

I left the card in the included reader and plugged it into a USB port on my desktop computer. The light glows on the front so you know it is connected. 

You need your digital camera and the password for your home network setup and any username and password for the photo hosting site(s) you choose.

The installation process began. First it upgraded the firmware on the card. This can be tricky but it worked flawlessly. (upgrade from v5.0008 to 5. 0019). I took notes. I set my email and a special password. Next, I decided to have it uploaded to "My Computer" and enabled my Flickr photo hosting site to work with the card. It is going to place a folder for the photos in the "My Pictures" folder on my hard drive. (I am using Windows 7).

When the process was completed, I made sure I found that location so I can archive them after each session and delete them from my hard drive. This is why I only did four or five test images on the first day.

I recommend that you follow the two page "Get started" manual that was in the Eye-Fi box. Both Mac and Windows directions are included.

What I ended up with is shown on the screen above. It is called the Eye-Fi Center.  The installation process asked me to take a photo with the eye-fi card in my camera. Since I didn't want to leave my office. I took this photo of my Dad's medals and quickly sat down to watch.

After a few seconds, the photo appeared in the Eye-Fi Center and under that a blue striped bar appeared. I opened my browser and looked at Flickr. Yup, that's what it is doing, uploading them as "private" images to my account. I checked my email and there was an email verification link from Eye-Fi which I clicked on to verify that I got it.

It was so easy! I left the card in my camera and went outside to take a couple photos. (photo 1 and photo 2) When I returned inside, they were already in the Eye-Fi Center and at Flickr because I was still in range of my wi-fi network as I walked into the house.

The images were tagged with my home location and the tag of Wi-Fi. I changed them from private to public so you could see them.

Moving on to the Flip-Pal....

Eye-Fi Inside

Eye-Fi Inside, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Adventures in Eye-Fi: Inside the Box

I carefully opened the box in case this doesn't meet my needs and have to return it. I laughed when I saw that what I thought was the SD card from the outside of the box was actually fake! The card is in the card reader and not visible from the outside (to fool shop-lifters!).

There is a manual! That's good. Also, there is a three step visual photo of using the card. A support Web page is clearly spelled out (in three languages).

I suggest you check out this support page before you get started. I am going to read the manual and read this page before going ahead.

More posts as this adventure continues...

First Look: Back of Box

Back Eye-Fi Box, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Adventures with Eye-Fi: Unboxing 

Before carefully cracking the seal, I used the QR code reader on my iPhone to see what the QR code said. It brought me to the Web site. If I had been in an actual store, I could have done that and made an informed decision (if I had not read Diane's post)

I am expecting to do a lot of this when I am actually out in the world shopping. I circled the code with an arrow so you can see what that means. This is a screen shot of what the Web site looks like on my iPhone.

Before ordering, I investigated the Web site to make sure my camera will work with the Eye-Fi. There was a warning that some users have experienced a problem with my model camera. See known issues below: (so before buying you should look at this at the bottom of the Web page: 

The unboxing continues....

Adventures with Eye-Fi

Eye-Fi Box Front, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Adventures in Eye-Fi

My genea-buddy, Diane MacLean Boumenot who blogs at One Rhode Island Family, is a "cousin" with my Hubs, lives in Warwick, RI not far from the Cranston neighborhood where I grew up. Isn't is it amazing how these things happen?

Her goal was to extend the life of her "aging" digital camera so she decided to buy a Eye-Fi card. As I already had my eye on one (pun intended), I waited to read her blog post, before I "copied" her and bought one for myself. Hubs loves that I buy my own gifts. What 65 year old mom wants this for Mother's Day? Me.

Read her post and then come back here. I'll wait.

So you're back. She wrote a great post and covered a lot of ground as well as her experience with the set-up.

I looked over the one she bought and decided that I needed the 8GB one (which cost more but was available for the Amazon Prime shipping cost of, well, nothing). Cost to me with two-day shipping was $58. (My invoice was $56.99 but the price today was $58.)

It arrived this past Thursday and I decided to wait until the weekend to start this project. I studied the box and opened it this morning.

But, before I did, I re-read Diane's post. She and I talked. I want mine for my Flip-Pal mobile scanner so our goals were a bit different. This way, we both learn about the benefits and limitations.

Let's talk about the two sides of the box: One the front you can see clearly the basic tech requirements and that it should work with mobile devices. I have an SD card reader for my iPad mini so I have put that on the list of things to test. 

Moving on to take a look at the back of the box....

Back to show Slider

Back to show Slider, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

The back of the top of the keyboard case slides out to give a better angle for viewing the iPad min's screen.

I have found that in the fully out position (as shown here), the screen angle is comfortable for my liking.

Open with mini holder in slot

Open with mini holder in slot, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

In the open position without the mini. Top of the case fits upright in the slot.

SHARRK Keyboard Cover Lays Flat

Lays Flat, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

This week, I have been using my new keyboard/cover for my iPad mini so that I will be completely used to it for an upcoming genealogical conference.

As seen here, without my iPad mini in the case, the keys on the keyboard are not flat like other bluetooth keyboards. It is small, but my hands are tiny and I am getting used to using it. 

I had some trouble finding the apostrophe key. It is accessed by pressing the blue Fn key and the "L" key. On the keyboard, it looks like a blue comma.

My biggest problem so far, is remembering to turn the keyboard ON and then  to turn it OFF again when I am done with it. I am afraid I will get out somewhere and not have brought the charging cord for the keyboard. It stays charged quite a long time.

SHARRK Keyboard

SHARRK Keyboard, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Keyboard

I like to take a close-up of the keyboard because it is very small and I think that this might be a problem for some users.

It needs to be charged for first use.

Back of Box

Back of Box, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Back of Box

This is the reverse side of the box which shows the features.

SHARKK iPad mini Case-Keyboard

SHARKK iPad mini Case-Keyboard, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

SHARKK iPad mini keyboard and cover

Purchased at Amazon.com for $33.99, this affordable keyboard combo is now in my home office for testing.

Photo # 28 First Cousins

Photo# 28: First Cousins

This very cute photo is of me enjoying a popsicle with my big girl first cousin, Kathy. She and her brother, John are my only first cousins. They still live in the Connecticut/Westerly area and I have not seen them since my father passed away in 1998.

I carried this photo in my wallet for a long time. I really like photos of kids in their play clothes. This was taken on a Memorial Day in Bradford, Rhode Island on Bowling Lane. This story of mine for the challenge should end they way it began with my father's family. Immigrant families can be so much more fun to research but I must admit, I have spent a lot of money doing so. I hope my ancestors are happy with this.

I have found so many things that need clarification in my charts and so many missing dates by working with the information I have gathered for this challenge. I have a huge list to work with. The photos are all in archival envelopes. All are scanned to jpg and many to tiff. All are backed up. I have accomplished much but have so much yet to do.

But, for now, I must get one of my writing projects started again plus get back to writing about gravestones and project based genealogy.  Thanks for riding along with me on this adventure!   Thanks to all those who helped me with my research.

I have learned that many people find commenting on blogs clumsy and "too public" so if you'd like to ask questions or make a comment on this project, please feel free to email me at:  midgef@midgefrazel.net

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