I got a Sony Handycam HDR CX505VE. With it comes a program to import the recorded video called PMB (Picture motion browser) With the camera I got version 4 and I installed it on my desktop.
It works ok, but files are stored in a directory whose name is the date of IMPORT, not the date of RECORDING.
To make things worse, the directory dataname is in dutch notation, so 4-8-2010 for August 4, 2010. I want to edit the video with on other program, so I need to directly access the windows file system. Because of the stupid naming of the directory they get all sorted in order of DAY. This is extremely annoying. The directories are all mixed up, day 1 of every month of all years are on top etc.
Why not import the files to a directory with a name reflecting YYYYMMMDD. This gets sorted the right way and clips that belong together are in one directory. Have the directory name reflect the date of recording not the date of importing.
To make things worse, on my new Sony laptop (VPCF11M1E) PMB version 5 is installed. The import of clips from the cam is still the same as above.
One of the changes that I notice is that the name of the MODD files is changed from yyyymmmddhhmmss.mod to yyyymmmddhhmmss.m2ts.mod. Why? to confuse the customer that is stupid enough the buy Sony?
The desktop version 4 cannot read the mod files from the laptop and vv. When copy the files to the desktop it starts to create its own .modd files leaving the garbage .m2ts.modd files sit there.
For NO price I will upgrade the desktop to version 5! See below
The next thing I notice is that the PMB creates a directory for every jpg file in my picture directory. In that directory there are 2 thumbnail pictures of the jpg. Why in heavens name create a directory for EVERY picture?
With 1000+ pictures I get 1000+ directories. Poor windows had to maintain those directories. I have tested numerous picture browsers. True they all create there own Thumbnail database. But non of them creates one directory for every .jpg file.
This is programming of the worst kind. I think Sony should fire the person responsible for this. My computers harddisk is no garbage can for Sony programmers.
To import clips from the my cam i HAVE (I'm forced to use) the PMB program. I can copy direct from the cam but then I miss vital information about the clip's date etc.
I am pleased with the Cam, however if I had known the status of this software, that I cannot avoid using, I would not have purchased the cam. 100% sure.
I trying to find a programmer that can build me a program that copies the files away from the directory that the PMB uses.
Does someone know an alternative for this piece of <profanity removed by moderator> software??
Frustrated customer,
Peter
