I make videos of cars and bikes. I shoot using a Canon 7D and GoPro HD cameras. Final Cut Pro editor.
I also run carpromos.co.uk
Car & Trackday Filming Services.
I buy all my GoPro HD cameras and accessories from dogcamsport.co.uk.
Use 'JMCB10' at the checkout for 10% off!
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Solving the ‘low on space’ problem on HTC phones!
I usually post camera/filming related stuff, but I HAD to share this.
An example of the ‘Low on space’ warning.
So I’ve had my HTC Desire for nearly two years. It’s been a constant battle with the internal memory running out due to apps such as Facebook for Android gulping it all up. Facebook (and others) were installed on the phone’s internal memory and couldn’t be moved to the SD card.
I got to the point where I couldn’t use the phone for what it was designed for - I couldn’t use any popular apps as well as send or receive txt’s at the same time etc. The phone nearly went out of the window a few times due to frustration.
Somehow I had to get this sorted. You can either ‘root’ your phone and install a third party firmware such as Cyanogenmod - this allows apps to be moved or installed on the SD card - therefore freeing up a LOT of crucial space, essentially allowing you to use your phone as you want to!
However if, like me, you’re running Android 2.3.3, rooting tools like Unrevoked don’t work.
I found a thread on the Android Forums explaining how, with a few lines of code, you can set your non-rooted HTC phone to allow apps to be installed to, or be moved to, the SD card! This process literally made my HTC Desire feel like a new phone! All the apps I’ve ever wanted to use, all installed, all functioning and the phone flags zero ‘low on space’ warnings.
I started by backing up all of my contacts onto the SD card and then did a factory data reset - effectively starting with a blank canvas. I set the phone up again and then did the following. I’ve simplified the process as written on the above Android Forums thread…
- You’ll need a Windows PC, laptop or netbook.
- You need to have HTC Sync installed.
Head over HTC.com and search for your phone.
There will be the option of downloading HTC Sync for your model. - Then you’ll need to download the Android Mini SDK Tools.
Here’s the link to the .zip file you’ll need. - Unzip and put all the files in a folder on your hard drive.
C:\SDK-Tools is best as this directory will link in with the code you need to type shortly. - Ensure your HTC phone has ‘USB Debugging’ enabled.
Settings > Applications > Development > USB Debugging. - Connect your phone to the computer.
- Open a command prompt window. So, Start > Run, type ‘CMD’.
Right click on the CMD icon and select ‘run as Administrator’.
A black window with white text will open. - Type “cd\SDK-Tools” - without the speech marks.
Hit Enter. - Type “adb devices” - without the speech marks.
Hit Enter. The serial number of your phone should then appear. - Type “adb shell” - you guessed it, without the speech marks.
Hit Enter. - Type “pm setInstallLocation 2” - it’s important to type this exactly as it’s written here. Take note of the spaces and upper/lowercase letters.
Without the speech marks. Hit Enter. - Type “Exit”. Hit Enter.
This is the final step - if you get any kind of ‘Denied’ error, this doesn’t matter. Disconnect your phone.
You’re done! You can now move the majority of apps you have or want to download to the SD card, leaving a huge amount of space free for your phone to function.
Settings > Applications > Manage Applications > Downloaded or All > Click an app > Move to SD Card. If the ‘Move to SD Card’ button isn’t active, this specific app will have more ties to the phone’s internal memory, so you can’t move it.
If you have any issues doing this process, I recommend joining the Android Forum and posting about the problems. This all worked first time for me so you shouldn’t have any problems.
Thanks for reading and enjoy your ‘new’ phone! :-)
Here’s a photo of the 3-sucker mount I put together for the Oulton Park shoot as mentioned in the previous post. I used a Zoom H1 stereo recorder as well as the Rode Video Mic for sound. The good thing was all the turbo whistle, spool as well as dump valve noises came out amazingly well! Although, I had to apply some sound filters in Final Cut to get rid of some wind noise.
I’ll either be buying a mega bonnet mount for next year or making my own again, but using an even better, more robust solution.
A recent edit I did for the Mitsubishi Lancer Register (MLR). Shot at Oulton Park’s slippery sprint circuit, I used my 7D and about 5 GoPro HD cameras. Brilliant day with lots of Evo’s going mostly sideways!
The chase sequence was done by mounting the 7D onto the bonnet of one of the faster cars. I put together a 3-suction-cup cluster connected to a Manfrotto tripod plate. As sketchy as it sounds, it worked really well! Canon 18-200 lens locked at 18mm, fixed focus point and the IS turned on. I also used a polariser to take away window reflections etc.
I was lucky with the music, I wanted to use Chase and Status’s ‘Time’ but because its paid work, it had to be a variant of the mainstream original. So I managed to find a great remix on Soundcloud! I chopped it up and merged sections where I needed to. Enjoy! :-)
Stephen Brooks, Matti Hemmings, Bristol. Enough said.
GoPro have just released their new GoPro HD Hero 2!
The main upgrades include…
- Higher-resolution 11MP sensor
- New LCD screen and menu system for better usability
- Slightly longer battery life
- Faster image processor
- Sharper lens
- Better low light performance
- 0.5sec timelapse mode
- What looks like an HDMI port
- An up-coming Wifi-BacPac which lets you stream live video to the web!
For me, though, the biggest update is the ability to plug in an external mic (3.5mm) for stereo recording! This will be fantastic as I, as well as a lot of other people, were sick of the ‘tinny’, mono sound - especially when filming cars! So this is most likely going to be a massive benefit to amateurs and professionals alike! Thank you, GoPro!
For those in the UK, you can pre-order an HD Hero 2 here! Use code ‘DC10’ at the checkout for 10% off! I know I’ll be getting a couple!
Hit up windsor and thought id try some black and white styles!
WEISS LP-E6 Replacement Batteries for Canon 7D/5D
I’ve been using a couple of these WEISS LP-E6 replacement batteries for my 7D for a few months now - and I’m VERY impressed! I know a lot of people (including me) who have been looking for batteries that are cheaper than Canon’s original LP-E6 battery which communicates with the camera properly, holds charge and indeed charges in the Canon charger. This WEISS offering ticks all of these boxes faultlessly. They are roughly £30 each and come in packaging that Apple would be proud of! If you’re on a budget and need some replacement/additional LP-E6 batteries, buy some of these.
What’s lurking in the shadows? A Corolla with 48 kilometres on the clock.
A new video shot and edited by myself - John Shrewsbury riding the new 2011 Inspired Element!
