In Use:
This section of the review will focus on a variety of topics related to normal usage of the HDV-188. From how the menus look, to battery life and video quality, we'll touch on a variety of topics that may be of interest. Let's start by walking through some screenshots with the camera in a variety of modes...
There are four playback modes accessible by pressing the round button closest to the AV out connection. An attractive menu pops up where the four options can be rotated on screen through a scene that looks like each is a planet in a sci-fi galaxy. The first two options are shown below, which allow you to view all the movies and pictures taken with the camera, or otherwise loaded on the flash memory inside.
 
The next two choices allow for music playback and voice recording / playback. These four options take this camera and extend its appeal by giving you a reason to use it at other times. While audio playback is rather weak using the built in speaker, MP3s and the audio from movie files sounds rather good over headphones (or attached to a TV). For simply checking out a video you may have just recorded, the audio is clear enough and loud enough over the speaker, but headphones are required for any real PMP usage.
 
All of these images have shown the device in what I would consider the best configuration for PMP usage, and now we finally see it playing a movie. The below left image shows the initial menu below the movie file, while the below right image shows the movie being played back full screen. While it is quite comfortable to watch movies in this mode, the only issue is that all of the controls are now on the far side of the device. Until you master them without looking, you will be flipping back and forth, which can get annoying.
 
With plenty of room for a good movie on an 8GB SDHC card, you can pass the time quite nicely with the HDV-188 and its headphones.
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