PicMail

PicMail is a multimedia mail application that lets users send and receive recorded video and audio over the Internet. PicMail helps users record themselves on the computer using video camera. After capturing, recorded video stream is sent to recipient via email on the Internet. The recipient can play back the recorded stream on their computer just by double clicking the executable file attached to the email.


Main Characteristics of PicMail

-    Real Look User Interface (UI): PicMail has an appliance-like interface to give friendly look to users.

-    Users can easily record video with a mouse click. After recording, it can be sent to other via email or be stored.

-    Captured video is compressed before being sent for faster and more efficient delivery. Also, the captured video is stored in compressed format, taking less space on the disk.

-    Sending email is very easy, with only a mouse click.

-    Users can select whether to record audio only, video only, or both.

-    Current status window is shown on a big display. It is easy to see if PicMail is recording or playing. It also shows the duration of the captured video.


Before You Start


System Requirement

 CPU       	     Intel Pentium 100 MHz

 Memory                 16 MB

 HDD  	     3 MB

 Video Memory	     1 MB

 Video Mode	     640 x 480 x 256

 OS	                  Windows 95


Basic Environment Setup

Since the program is highly dependent on the hardware you installed on your machine, it is recommended that you check the hardware settings before you start using the program. Ensuring correct hardware settings will get you the maximum performance of the program. If the program does not seem to work properly, consult the hardware manual and change the setting first.


Getting Started with PicMail
Main Window

Once you run the PicMail program, a video mail appliance appears on the screen.


Video Window

When PicMail starts up, video window shows the live view from the camera. If the video camera is not installed on the PC or the video button is off, video window shows SEROME Technology logo. When recording, the video on this window is recorded. When a recorded video is played back, the video is shown on the video window.


Status Window

Status window displays useful information about the current status of PicMail. It shows if PicMail is ready, recording, or playing. It also shows the name of the current file and the timer.


New Button

Pressing New button puts PicMail into a READY status. In this state, no file is selected for playing and users can begin to record a new video sequence.


Open Button

Open button displays an Open File dialog box.

Here, users can select a file to be played back. PicMail can play back files with <.vmi> extension, generated by PicMail.


Save Button

Save button opens a Save File dialog box.

Users can save recorded video into a file on the disk.  Also, by changing file type to .EXE file on the <Save as type> box, users can save recorded file with a player so that they can send the file later or give the file to friends not by mail.


Setup

Setup button opens a Preferences tab dialog.


General

 In the General section, users can select to enable audio, video, or both. Also, either MAPI or SMTP Internet mail protocol needs to be chosen. If the user is currently using a MAPI compatible email client application and selects MAPI Compatible option, PicMail will execute the MAPI email client to send video mails. Recorded video will be attached to the email to be sent. If SMTP option is selected, PicMail uses its own SMTP protocol to send video mails.

When sending video mails, users can elect to Send Both Player and Data. In this case, recorded video will be embedded to the Player (vmiplay.exe) and the Player application will be attached to the email. Recipients are able to play back the recorded video by executing the Player only. If Send Data Only option is selected, PicMail will attach only the recorded video data to the email. Recipients need either PicMail, or the Player application (vmiplay.exe), to play back the received video sequence.


Media

Media tab in the Preferences lets users adjust multimedia settings. Speaker volume and microphone sensitivity can be adjusted by sliding a knob with the mouse. Also, the degree of video compression can be adjusted. When the video quality is set to low, the recorded video is compressed to smaller size. And, it takes less time to upload and download the video mail. When the video quality is set to high, the recorded video is compressed to a larger size. But, it takes longer to upload and download the video mail.

The estimated video mail size and the estimated time to transfer the video mail over a 33.6Kbps link are displayed for a 2 minute long video sequence.

By clicking [Source] button, users can change various options that camera or capture board manufactures provide.


SMTP

In order to send video mails via SMTP protocol, user needs to fill in email information here. Signature File is a text file attached to the bottom of every mail. It usually contains sender information.


Internet

In the Internet tab, user selects whether he is using Internet over a LAN connection or a dial-up connection.


Mail Button

Mail button opens a Send Mail window.

Here, users can compose and send an email. Current recorded video, or an opened video file, is automatically attached to the email. When using MAPI protocol for email, the MAPI email client will be executed to send the video mail. When SMTP protocol is used, PicMails mail window will appear for sending the video mail.


Video On/Off

Click this button to enable / disable video. When video is disabled, only audio will be recorded and sent.


Audio On/Off

Click this button to enable / disable audio.


Video Control Buttons

There are four control buttons for recording and playing video. These buttons looks and acts just like the buttons on a VCR. Users can record, play, stop and pause using these buttons. It is not possible to pause during recording.


Window Buttons

On the top right corner, there are three buttons for the Window control.  Click the [?] button to display about box and access on-line help.  Click the [_] button to minimize the window.  Click the [X] button to exit PicMail


Using the Player


Main Window

When a user sends a video mail with both the Player and data attached, recipient can double click to start up the Player. The Player is a very compact application for playing back recorded video.


Play Back

The Player can play and stop the playback of recorded video. When a video mail is played back, SEROME Technology logo will be on the screen for 3 seconds. Recipients can save and open files from the File menu.