video (with audio) showing TechnoFrolics' other creations such as Dancing Banners™ choreographed fabric. (Regarding this last, be sure the volume/speakers are enabled on your computer.)
[Note that the Spin Browser application requires Windows 2000 or XP. It will not run on a Mac or properly within Windows 95/98/ME. (We have not yet tried it on Vista.)]
To prevent static discharges to the dial (created, for example, by carpets and dry weather) from causing USB port disconnection and/or permanent hardware damage, we recommend grounding the domed interface using the provided green-ground-wire-only cable, with round connector on one end and standard wall plug on the other. Simply plug one end into a standard wall outlet, and the other into the small round mating receptacle on the rear of the domed user interface. (Plug designs will make obvious which end is which.)
[In the case of international demo units, an alligator clip replaces a USA-style 3 prong plug. Simply secure the alligator clip to a good ground such as the metal case of a standard desktop/tower computer.)]
For quick demonstrations, an ungrounded dial will suffice, but for anything else we strongly recommend the grounded setup. Otherwise, one significant user-generated spark could cause the dial interface to cease functioning until the computer is rebooted. (Sometimes unplugging the user interface, counting to 5, and replugging in will reset things, but other times not... Also, if a sufficiently large static discharge is applied to an ungrounded dome/dial, it can permanently damage the computer's USB port.)
[Note: If the drive was shipped to you directly from a previous evaluator rather than straight from TechnoFrolics (where we are very careful), simply as a precaution we recommend insuring your virus protection is up to date and enabled (which we recommend for your computer anyway!) before connecting the drive.]
The drive needs, in all cases, its main "Power & Data" cable plugged into a powered USB 2.0 port. Note that if the USB port is not functioning in USB 2.0 High Speed mode (480Mb/s), you will notice significant abnormal jerkiness in Spin Browser operation. When properly functioning on a reasonably up-to-date computer (purchased say in 2005 or later), both the HD and standard def samples should be completely smooth in operation, with no perceptible delay between dial motion and movement through video, and no frame jerkiness. (We have found, with Windows 2000 though not XP, that after the new USB drive is detected, a reboot is required to get the connection functioning in USB 2.0 High Speed mode - otherwise the system runs in VERY slow and jerky 1.1 mode!)
Always recommended, and often required, is to plug the second arm of the cable's "Y" labeled "Power Only" into a second powered USB port. The drive light must be red continuously when no disk access is occurring. Flashing or static blue (and potentially drive beeping), during times of no disk access, implies inadequate power to the drive - as does no drive letter, drive letter but no files, intermittent Windows "Delayed Write" error messages, etc.
Note that electric current requirement of the drive increases during disk access, so if your USB port is right on the edge of providing enough current, the drive may work at initial plug-in, but not once the Spin Browser application is running. Diagnosing this situation is confounded by the fact that, under normal operation and with adequate power, the red light turns blue during disk access - thus masking what might in fact be a low-current warning... So we always recommend plugging in both legs of the "Y".
Either of the primary samplers, #1 Standard-Def or #2 High-Def , may be started by double-clicking the appropriate ".bat" batch file listed above. To exit the application, type ESC.
These two main samplers have substantially distinct content, each with their own strengths; we strongly encourage you to experience both. Because the High-Def sequence is relatively more content-specialized, and does not present TechnoFrolics' choreographed artworks in music-accompanied performance, we normally recommend returning to the main Standard-Def demo should the unit be left unattended for people to play with.
Newer demo units also include more content-specific samplers including:
#3 Art & Architecture (mostly from stills).
#4 Agriculture: Corn - from seedling to jelly bean.
#5 Museum medical content.
#6 Bose ElectroForce Systems Group corporate trade show presentation/attraction.
#7 Nanoscale zoom into dragonfly wing, using scanning electron microscope.