Amazon Prime: How to Get Unlimited VIDEO Storage!

Amazon Prime is a good membership to have, at least it is for me. There are some decent benefits to having it. Recently, Amazon Prime members have received the ability to have unlimited storage for photos. Of course, videos can be huge, so they likely decided against unlimited video uploads immediately. However, I am going to teach you a technique that will allow you to bypass this restriction...

Unlimited Amazon Prime Video Storage

Amazon Prime Benefits
Besides the normal 2-day shipping, and free video library, Amazon Prime members get a few other benefits. One is that a Prime member can allow up to four members of their "household" to latch on to that same account. That's a little less than $20 split five ways!

Another benefit is that if a package comes later than shipped - and I believe this also applies if you pay for shipping - you can receive a month of prime free. Of course, I doubt they'll just give it to you, you would need to call in and demand it.

A final benefit not already mentioned, is that Amazon Prime members can get early access to certain Lightning Deals Amazon offers. It's usually only 30 minutes before, but on some items, this is an absolute necessity!

Amazon Prime Photo & Video Storage
As an Amazon Prime member you automatically receive unlimited photo storage regardless of type or size. As for videos, a Prime member is automatically allotted 5GB of storage. You can pay monthly subscriptions for more, but considering that other places offer better deals, it's not very enticing as an option.

If It Were Easy...
The easiest solution to think of for bypassing the video storage capacity issue is to rename a video with a picture extension. This would be great, if it worked.

I tried both the Android Amazon Photo app, and the web app, but neither could be tricked into thinking that a video was a picture of some sort. I used .JPEG, .BMP, .PNG, and .GIF. I even tried a .JP2 and a .RAW to be absolutely sure. I assume that Amazon's software is "smart enough" to differentiate video data for what it is.

You can check this yourself by uploading a video with a picture extension and then checking your storage capacity. It can take a few minutes to update, but it will show that you ARE using some of your 5GB.

The Road Less Traveled
The method needed to store videos requires a bit of work on the user's part. This method is best used for people who have very little storage space available to them, but need to somehow store a video for later:

1. Choose a video you want to upload.
2. You will need either the VLC player (free), or another program that can extract images from video. You can also use video-editing software and output each image.
3. If you are using the VLC player, follow the links and create the numerous images that will be extracted from your video.
4. Once you have all your pictures, open up your Amazon Web Photo & Video Storage web app.
5. Upload all your photos!

Note: You should be able to do the reverse to convert the pictures back into a video. You should also be able to use QuickTime. Video-editing software will also work.

I should add that you can use your Amazon Photo Storage iOS or Android app, or the PC desktop software, if you prefer. I assume most people who would do this would be on a computer, so it would be superfluous to do this on your smartphone.

Also, if possible, I would use something like JPEG 2000, as it is meant for videos and is much higher quality than a JPEG, and likely other picture formats when concerning video. Something like Photoshop might be best if attempting to use JPEG 2000.

Roll Credits
This is a basic way to get your videos into the cloud for free (minus a Amazon Prime subscription). It takes a bit of work to get the videos up there, but it is fairly simple and fast to do. If I ever run out of cloud storage, or have a load of files that start ranging in the terabytes, this would be my method of choice to store them.

The Safest Way To Download Media (Videos, Music, Games & Software)

In my last article I wrote about what should be the safest possible way to use torrents. Yet, with torrents, there is always a risk involved (even when used legally). The only way to minimize that risk is to not use them at all. Now you're safe, but what about all that stuff you want to download? Well, I must first state that all the information in this article is purely for educational purposes and I will not be held responsible in how this information is used.

Music, Video, Games & Software

Isn't This Illegal?
Yes, it is. However, there are legitimate reasons to do this. I will provide a few examples for different pieces of media:

You end up downloading some music on iTunes. Something happens to your Apple account that has you create a new one. All your music was on your old account which can no longer be accessed. Is it right for Apple to make you to buy each song or album again?

I might own a Blu-ray disc of a movie I love. It has become so damaged it no longer plays. I still own the movie and still want to watch it. Why should I pay again for another copy of the same movie?

The new Mario game is about to arrive and you're feeling nostalgic. Digging through your garage you find your old NES console and a copy of Super Mario Bros. After everything is hooked up you find that the console, or the game, or both, are not working. Is it fair that something - which is discontinued - no longer works, through no fault of your own, and the only way you could get a "new" one is to have someone fix it (which may cost more than what it's worth)?

One problem with purchasing the Windows 8 OS digital download was that if you lost the email that had your key, that was it, it was lost forever. What if you did downloaded it and a couple of months later wanted to make a fresh new install of Windows 8. You realize you lost your email with the product key and Microsoft is of no help. Should you be forced to buy Windows 8 again?

My answers to these questions are no, that's ridiculous. While the copyrighted material should not be on the net in the first place, that doesn't change the fact that it exists. But copyright infringement is about infringing on rights. What rights are you infringing on if you already own the material?

No Torrents?
Yes, you should avoid torrents at all costs. That is, if you're ISP and/or country actually cares. There are plenty that really don't, trust me.

The reason you should not use torrents is because ISP's and cable companies can view and monitor what you are downloading since you are using a peer-to-peer network. Many people use VPN's for this very reason, and they can work well, if you ensure that your anonymity is safe. They also can cost you quite a bit, which was the main reason to use my method in my last article here.

Usenet is another option, but you do have to hand over credit card information to get access, so you could still be found out if that service hands over their information to a government agency or company.

Music Methods
The easiest to way get music is to use YouTube. There are numerous online sites that allow you to turn YouTube videos into MP3. There are some sites that will do the same conversion but output FLAC.

Albums are a bit different, and can be tedious if using the YouTube method. You can use "index of" tricks to search directories, and you may get lucky enough to find what you're looking for (if it's popular). There are plenty of sites that are just for downloading albums, not singles. And of course, there are plenty of host sites that allow downloads of albums. FilesTube.com used to be a good way to search, but they have since changed completely to legal content. There are other sites that will allow you to search these host sites though...

Video Methods
The YouTube methods for music also apply here. There are a lot of sites that will download YouTube videos for you, but there are better ways.

All over the internet hundreds of sites stream movie and TV show content for free. They will likely have a lot more variety than what YouTube offers, but they can also do one other thing that can greatly benefit you.

If you have a download manager you can download your videos at blistering speeds. This does depend on the hosting server limits and your Internet speeds, but it can be extremely helpful for those with slow speeds.


Games & Software Methods
These are a bit more difficult as your only options are hosting sites. Normally, if free, games or software will be divided into multiple chunks, and can take quite a long time to finish. What's worse, if there are something like 20 parts, and you get to part 15 realizing it has been taken down, you just wasted a bunch of time. To avoid this, open each part first and make sure they are available to download.

Furthermore, a download manager can help here too. Some hosting sites allow download managers for free users, and some hosting sites allow multiple downloads at once. This can greatly decrease the time used on downloading this type of content.

Older consoles and respective will usually have emulators scattered across the net that are free and quick to download.

Is It Safe?
These are by far your safest options. Unlike peer-to-peer networks, your ISP or cable provider can't just see what your downloading and if it's illegal or not. The most that seems to happen is if you use a hosting site for downloads, those hosting companies will either take the download down when they see or are told to by whatever company that owns the rights or represents the rights holder. Hosting companies are normally to big to constantly monitor and peruse through what is actually on their servers.

If you happen to be the uploader and are hosting illegal content, you can have your access restricted or completely revoked.

For Each Beginning, There Is An End
While I gave out ideas as to what can be done, I tried not to specify or detail too much. It's not exactly hard to figure out, but why poke the beast? Regardless, as I wrote earlier, there are legitimate times when downloading content should be legal. This doesn't mean you can't get in trouble nonetheless, but at least you would have a valid excuse if something were to happen.

Free Serial Numbers for Canon EOS & Dazzle (DVC-100) - Get the FREE Software for Free!

Everyone knows that getting serial numbers for paid software - that you don't own - is illegal. But what if you do own the software? Okay, let us make the situation a bit simpler. How does this work for free software? Many large companies will post their free software on the web and let you get copies whenever needed. Yet some companies do this, but require you to give them your product's serial number beforehand in order to download the respective software; or input it afterwards to have the software open. Enter Canon and Dazzle.

Dazzle DVC-100 Serial Number & Canon EOS Software Serial Number

Dazzle
I wanted to start with Dazzle as it is not nearly as well-known as Canon, and it is less likely that you will need to use it since this is really a specialty product. Dazzle has numerous products that concentrate on recording from devices to your PC. Originally, their devices were focused on digitizing VHS. It seems that they are more geared towards digitizing DVD, and logically so.

DVC-100
The DVC-100 was one of Dazzle's early models. It was small, popular, and easy-to-use. The model has been updated since that time, but little has changed from a technology standpoint.

I first got this model many, many years ago. It cost me around $100+ brand new. The price is still around $90 new, and can be somewhat cheaper on eBay. I guess you really don't fix what's not broken.

That Dazzling Recorder Software
The software to download from their site is the "Pinnacle Instant DVD Recorder Setup". I believe the software is mainly just for recording but has some additional features like basic editing. Most would think this would be a free download, as there are many alternatives for their additional features that are far superior. But no, Dazzle wants to make sure you cannot use their product unless you have their serial. Oh, you bought it used? So? We're too busy to separate the basic recording software from everything else!

Oh, Canada
Those Canucks come in handy sometimes, and this is one shining example. When the Dazzle DVC-100 was released in Canada there were some issues regarding the serial numbers. It seemed that many of them simply did not work. How did Dazzle fix such a large-scale issue?

Dazzle decided that instead of addressing each case individually, why not kill a bunch of loonies with one stone? They created one serial number that would work on any of their DVC-100 products. Of course, this was only meant for Canadian consumers. However, there is still an article on their website that gives it out.

Serial #
I came across this serial number because I had lent out my DVC-100 to my friend's mother. She never used it and ended up losing the software disc. I had bought it in-store several years prior and no longer had the receipt.

Serial Number: JADIO-AABAA-BAAAA-AAATO-JPHUF

I have tested this a couple different times and it has always worked for me. Here is a software version that I have saved in case you can't find a newer one.

Canon
If you don't know Canon then you probably have never gone shopping for a camera, lens, printer, scanner, or any other number of items Canon produces. They are a world-renowned Japanese company known for their quality products.

Canon cameras have been around for decades and have is one of the biggest contenders in the field along with Nikon. They have many consumers cameras that are excellent and revered by many. But their professional lineup is what the hubbub is all about.

EOS
EOS (Electro-Optical System) has been their current professional lineup since 1987. It has always been a mainstay for professional photographers, and in recent years has become a great and inexpensive choice for amateur and professional videographers looking for exceptional quality.

EOS Utility
EOS cameras come with specialized Canon software. One such piece of software is the EOS Utility. This utility is mainly meant for updating an EOS camera's firmware to fix or improve certain issues. Some people do not bother or feel the need to update their camera's firmware. Others are just too afraid to do it.

However, even if you use profiles like Cinestyle from Technicolor, you will need the EOS Utility to load it onto the camera. And if you are a Magic Lantern fan, you may need to upgrade your firmware to a supported firmware version before your EOS camera can take advantage of it.

Smile! You're On Canon Camera's... Software Site. 
Canon has made the EOS Utility available on their website as either an updater or as part of their package mimicking the contents of the CD that should have come with your EOS camera. You can download the updater files without a serial number, but if you do not already have the software, how does that help?

If you want to download the actual EOS Utility you will be need a valid serial number from an EOS camera in order to download a product. Simple enough if you have the camera with you, a pain if not.

The Old Workaround
In the past, you could download the Mac DMG file for the EOS Utility and use a Mac to extract the proper contents (since it actually held the full EOS Utility inside), and use it from there. This no longer works with newer versions.

The New Workaround
This involves registry hacks and other steps depending on whether you have a Mac or Windows OS. This information can be found here - along with the old workaround. If you really want to spend a lot of unnecessary time, go for it!

Serial #
The EOS software is the same for any of the EOS cameras. All you need is any EOS camera serial number and you can download their packaged software. The following serial number is posted publicly on the web.

Serial Number: 0330113672

NOTE: If you are looking for the ImageBrowser EX, Digital Photo Professional, Picture Style Editor, or PhotoStitch software from Canon, this method will be exactly the same as the package that contains the EOS Utility also contains all the aforementioned software.

Summation
I hope this helps anyone who buys a DVC-100 and loses their CD, or bought it used without one. I also hope this helps anyone looking for the Canon EOS software. I myself have had to go through both these situations and was extremely glad I was able to find this information. Best of all, nothing illegal or complicated needs to be done to obtain this software.

Why Being a Jack of All Trades Is Better than A Master of One. Or, A Crash Course on How Video Works for Lighting and Quality.

Video. The technical name of digital film. It's something very near and dear to me heart. I have worked with video for the majority of my life and have thus learned more than enough to know the ins-and-outs of what's important when making a video.

Click here or Scroll down to read some important basics about video lighting and quality.

I am a big Android fan. I like to "hack" my smartphone and enjoy frequenting the XDA community for new tricks, mods, ROMs, and Kernels. I'm not well-known in the community, but I do try to contribute as much as possible since I appreciate how everything is (mostly) free. But sometimes, I notice things that disgust me, and I wonder if it happens to other people for other situations.

My favorite mod for any Android smartphone is increasing the quality of my camera by changing certain values and testing accordingly. This is great to get the best out of your camera. I have been able to do this with every Android smartphone I have - save a Chinese Galaxy S4 Clone I couldn't get rooted.

Our adventure begins with yours truly browsing the community and finding a camera mod for my current smartphone. I was disappointed because I was just about to make my own, but had been preoccupied helping recoveries get created for my model. I flashed the mod and while it seemed better, I found that the mod I performed was fiddled with, but not at its full potential. So, I created my mod. Even luckier for the public, my mod could work with the preexisting camera mod to get the best of both worlds.

I then saw one of the posts on the preexisting camera mod where a user had asked if decreasing the bitrates video would decrease quality? The original poster (OP) replied no. That, to me, was an outrage. How could someone say that? This is where my title comes in.

Jack of all trades, master to none.

While most find this to be an insult, I find it to be a compliment. The way I see it, if I don't know at least something all the aspects of one subject, then I shouldn't be a part of it. The best way I see this is if you spent all your time learning a skill but one day that skill becomes obsolete, or the competition to saturated. Because I have no other skills, I'm essentially screwed.

Back to the story. I made a reply to the OP and disagreed. The OP responded by wondering why I cared and stating his was "better". I replied that he has "more" stuff, but then went into an explanation of bitrates.

Bitrates: Bitrates determines one major part of the quality of your video. Other parts involve lenses, audio, etc. As far as an Android smartphone is concerned, bitrate is key. The higher the bitrate the less compression artifacts noticeable in a video. Thus, higher bitrate equals better quality. Additionally, bitrate modes and codecs can also be vital in determining quality, but again, we're talking about an Android phone (and we're not going to bother with 3GP vs. MP4 here).

I also had to do a quick explanation of bitrates and 4K as the OP implied that they could be the same thing.

4K: 4K is a resolution that is a the rage for prosumer video cameras. To illustrate the size of 4K know that it is double the size of 2K, and that 2K is just a tad bit bigger than 1080P. So, 4K is a little bit bigger than twice the size of 1080P.

That being stated, bitrates and resolution do not go hand-in-hand. You can have a 4K video with a high bitrate, or a 4K video with a low bitrate. The bitrate does not determine resolution.

The OP had made some changes to how light worked which would help make the video look better when in great lighting, but come out dark (horrible) in low-lit areas. There are three areas to lighting:

• FPS: Frames-per-second will determine the smoothness of a video, as well as how much light comes into the camera. A lower frame rate means more light but with choppier video.
• ISO: This is known as ASA for film. ISO allows more light into the camera the higher it is, but higher values produces and increases "noise" in the video.
• Aperture: The aperture will be ultimately determine by the lens being used. The lower the lens, the more light allowed into the camera. However, the aperture will also blur part of an image depending on if that image is near or far.

Aperture is not important to Android, or almost any smartphone, as it cannot be changed.

The OP was limiting ISO from 1600 to 1200, and the minimum frame rate for 1080P from 15fps to 30fps (and just recently 720P to 60fps only!). In adequate light, these settings would make gratifying shots, but the reason Android sets these rates are because people like to take pictures in low-lit areas without a flash. You might consider a low-lit area to be dark and gloomy, but a well-lit area for our eyes may still be considered low-lit by our cameras.

The OP wanted to due a comparison of his videos by another member, but I explained that it would be unfair. His method for using such low bitrates (lower than factory settings) was to use something similar to soft focus.

Soft Focus: Is a defect of lenses where an image seems somewhat blurry, but still has sharp edges.

The OP wasn't at an extreme with this, but what is troubling is that Android smartphone manufacturers already employee this technique on a very small scale to make photos seem better. You can normally see this when zooming in very close on a picture. The OP, moreorless, was just pulling back bitrates and making this effect more intense. To someone like myself, they are just ruining quality rather than improving it.

The main difference between their mod and mine was that I increased bitrates and they decreased bitrates. This also means that my mod increased file sizes of images and video, while his decreased sizes of images and video.

While I can rest easy knowing that I am obtaining true quality, I find it sad that people will think that somehow his mod is making their camera better when it isn't. I am a Jack of all trades. I know a bit about Android and I know a bit about video.