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I'd like to trim my latest video on PMB. How is it done, please?
Hi Hm.PT.5,
After you connect the camcorder to a computer you simply select the files you want to import (or you can import all the files at once). |
Everything is fairly simple with the PMB software, although the program doesn’t have too many features. As with most free software that comes with a camcorder, the most useful aspect of PMB is for importing video to a computer. The PMB software handles this task with relative ease. Once files are imported they are arranged as thumbnails—much like you’d see on iPhoto or any photo organization program.
Clips are arranged as thumbnails and can be organized by a variety of different criteria. |
PMB has some very limited editing features that allow you to trim your clips and capture still images from videos. You can also arrange clips together to form a short movie, burn videos to DVD, or upload your clips to websites like YouTube. There’s even a tool that allows you to send a compressed video to friends via email.
The e-mail tool is a good way to share videos or photos with friends. |
Overall, we’re mostly satisfied with the Picture Motion Browser software that comes with Sony’s 2010 HD Handycams (like the HDR-CX550V), although we would have liked to see the program incorporate a few more actual editing features. We’re also disappointed that the program does not work on Macs. If you are an Apple user you’re basically stuck using iMovie or a higher-end editing program (not that that’s a bad thing, really).
Sony Bloggie HD and Webbie HD Provided Software
Sony has a couple of different software packages depending on what camcorder you purchase. Sony’s ultracompact Bloggie HD and Webbie HD camcorders come with PMB Portable software that is embedded in the camcorders themselves, while Sony’s other models ship with a different version of PMB (Picture Motion Browser) software. The PMB Portable software isn’t as extensive as Sony’s regular edition of PMB, but it has a simpler design and is geared towards helping you upload footage to YouTube or other websites.
The opening screen of the PMB Portable software is very sparse. |
The PMB Portable software featured on the Sony Bloggie HD MHS-CM5 isn’t much different than what we saw on last year’s MHS-CM1camcorder. The biggest change, however, is that the software built into the MHS-CM5 is compatible with both Macs and PCs (the MHS-CM1’s software was compatible with PCs only). The software looks essentially the same whether you use it on a Mac or a PC. It opens with a simple screen that includes your array of recorded videos and photos in thumbnail form. This opening screen is almost too sparse, but overall we think it captures the simplicity that is necessary for a camcorder like the Bloggie HD.
From the opening thumbnail screen you have the option of saving your videos to your computer, playing videos in a separate window, or uploading clips to the internet. You can also adjust the size of the thumbnail images by adjusting the slider on the top-right, or you can access the settings menu by clicking on the toolbox icon. There are no real editing features available on PMB Portable, so the software’s main purpose is as an importing and uploading tool.
Step 1 of the upload process—choose your clips |
Step 2 of the upload process—choose the site |
Step 3 of the upload process—enter login info |
You can add your own websites for uploading video in the advanced settings on the software. |
When you click the Share Online icon, a panel of numerous websites appears on the right side of the screen. This allows you to easily upload your videos or images to preset service sites like YouTube, Dailymotion, Photobucket, Picasa, or Shutterfly. You can add additional websites to this list by going through the software’s settings menu. Clicking on the How To Use link brings you to a website that provides detailed information about the software’s Share Online feature. It’s all pretty simple, though, so we think most people will be able to figure everything out after a few tries.
The PMB Portable software on the Bloggie HD is definitely an upgrade over what we saw on last year’s MHS-CM1, but it still isn’t as seamless or simple as what you get on a Flip camcorder. It does come close, however, and we applaud Sony for paring down its software to make it simpler to use as well as for offering Macintosh compatibility.
Sony Bloggie Provided Software
The 3D Bloggie comes with nearly identical software to the other Bloggie camcorders, but the new version does allow you to import 3D clips and upload them to internet sharing sites (just like you would regular 2D videos). One problem, though, the software doesn't ask if you want to add YouTube's 3D tag when you upload 3D videos from the Bloggie. This would allow you to instantly upload the clips in 3D, albeit using YouTube's crappy 3D rendering system.
The Sony Bloggie Touch has similar editing software to Sony's previous Bloggie camcorders (like the MHS-CM5), but it has a new design, which you can check out in the screen captures below. The software is loaded on the camcorder, but it must be installed the first time you connect the Bloggie Touch to your PC. The installation process takes a few minutes and is quite easy, but the software is not yet compatible (as of November 2010) on Macs. Sony says a Mac-compatability update will be available soon.
Installation screen of the Bloggie Touch software |
The Bloggie Touch software does not have any editing features, which leaves its main function as a way to import and share your clips. The software does this very well and the import process is streamlined and simple (as the screen grab illustrates below). The software did run a bit sluggish when we had connected a Bloggie Touch with lots of video clips on its internal memory, but this performance is sure to vary depending on the quality of your computer.
The software allows you to easily import video clips to your computer. |
With Sony's new "Personal Space" feature, you can share your videos in photos without having to use services like YouTube or Facebook. Personal Space is a free website (run by Sony) where you can store up to 1GB of content and send links to said content to your friends via email. Is using Personal Space better than YouTube and Facebook? Not really. In fact, people are probably more comfortable than YouTube and Facebook in general, but we still find this new feature to be interesting.
Uploading to YouTube or Facebook is simple... |
... or you can upload video to Sony's Personal Space. |
As for sharing video on sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Flickr, the Boggie Touch MHS-TS10 makes this process easy. You can either use the "share" interface on the Bloggie Software, or you can tag photos on the camcorder itself so that they are automatically uploaded when the Bloggie Touch is connected to your computer. The process is easy, seamless, and we're impressed that Sony kept things so simple.
The problem is perhaps that i'm not using a camcorder but a cybershot sony camera. The option "trim video" which i'd like to use is not active. Can anything be done ?