I am getting second thoughts about using DDPai m6+

[Jc0187]

Hi all. I've been reading the threads started on here about how there is no such full proof way of obtaining video footage from the micro sd card. My wife got me this camera for Christmas and I was hoping it would provide a safety net in the event someone crashes into me and it turns into me vs the driver that hit me and the only thing that would help my case was video proof I wasn't at-fault for the car accident. But, after reading on here that extracting footage off of the sd card is problematic, am I better off returning this camera and getting something that is more user friendly? I really do like the camera and I am hoping video extraction is simple as I am not a very computer savvy person that knows the workarounds of programs that will extract video properly.

 

[Billaboard]

I am sticking with the M6+ because, even though it is badly let down by the software and the manufacturer's possibly flawed social media concept, it still seems to me to be potentially by far the best camera for the money. I also have a very cheap camera in the Jeep second car. It's great value, but the resolution is less good, there's no gps (or wifi), access to change sd card is difficult and it came with a cable that didn't quite reach. SD card access seems a problem on many cams I looked at.

The M6+ firmware and app still seem to be under active development. A Mac and/or PC program that enables full data to be pulled out and presented as a file in evidence needs to be written or commissioned from someone by ddPai, but for now it is fairly easy to combine the video files into a playlist for, for example, VLC player, and this presents a video with time and speed info, but without other data and maps etc.. Hopefully ddPai will eventually show sense and sort out serious software.

What convinced me that I needed a gps dashcam and made me go for this was not just accidents. In the last few weeks, family members have encountered the following:
1. Daughter in a taxi found themselves on deserted motorway. Stopped and site foreman accused them of ignoring closure signs, threatened huge fine or prosecution costing taxi driver his licence. Heated argument, then foreman led hem to safety off motorway but, as they left, apologised that his diversion-marking vehicle and driver had admitted leaving position. Camera evidence might have been vital if he had not backed down.
2. Police notice for speeding at position and time that the driver had remarked to his passenger that they were well withing the speed limit, but the overtaking police car was not.
3. My car parked outside house facing down road soon after fitting the camera. Next door house up the road burgled between 12 and 2pm. I was able to step through the parking time lapse videos and pull out stills of everyone walking up the road during those hours. Unfortunately, the only doubtful looking person was identified by my wife as the local priest. If only the car had been facing the other way it would have covered the house entrance .......

 

[Sutton]

I am sticking with the M6+ because, even though it is badly let down by the software and the manufacturer's possibly flawed social media concept, it still seems to me to be potentially by far the best camera for the money. I also have a very cheap camera in the Jeep second car. It's great value, but the resolution is less good, there's no gps (or wifi), access to change sd card is difficult and it came with a cable that didn't quite reach. SD card access seems a problem on many cams I looked at.

The M6+ firmware and app still seem to be under active development. A Mac and/or PC program that enables full data to be pulled out and presented as a file in evidence needs to be written or commissioned from someone by ddPai, but for now it is fairly easy to combine the video files into a playlist for, for example, VLC player, and this presents a video with time and speed info, but without other data and maps etc.. Hopefully ddPai will eventually show sense and sort out serious software.

What convinced me that I needed a gps dashcam and made me go for this was not just accidents. In the last few weeks, family members have encountered the following:
1. Daughter in a taxi found themselves on deserted motorway. Stopped and site foreman accused them of ignoring closure signs, threatened huge fine or prosecution costing taxi driver his licence. Heated argument, then foreman led hem to safety off motorway but, as they left, apologised that his diversion-marking vehicle and driver had admitted leaving position. Camera evidence might have been vital if he had not backed down.
2. Police notice for speeding at position and time that the driver had remarked to his passenger that they were well withing the speed limit, but the overtaking police car was not.
3. My car parked outside house facing down road soon after fitting the camera. Next door house up the road burgled between 12 and 2pm. I was able to step through the parking time lapse videos and pull out stills of everyone walking up the road during those hours. Unfortunately, the only doubtful looking person was identified by my wife as the local priest. If only the car had been facing the other way it would have covered the house entrance .......

May I add this... My friend stopped by police. He had a dash with GPS. Police radar claimed my friend was speeding over the limit. Doing 52KM in a 40 KM (school zone) My friend swears that he was doing 43KM as per his dash cam. Went to court with the $200. ticket to fight it. He tried to produce the GPS proof copied on a flash drive and the Judge said it is not admissible in court. He had to pay $200. plus $100 court cost and lost 6 points. Also $15. for parking and half a day pay. It is understood in Ontario that police will allow 5KM over the limit with no pulling over. So I think a DVR is basically proof only in an accident/ speed with Insurance companies

 

[Jc0187]

I am sticking with the M6+ because, even though it is badly let down by the software and the manufacturer's possibly flawed social media concept, it still seems to me to be potentially by far the best camera for the money. I also have a very cheap camera in the Jeep second car. It's great value, but the resolution is less good, there's no gps (or wifi), access to change sd card is difficult and it came with a cable that didn't quite reach. SD card access seems a problem on many cams I looked at.

The M6+ firmware and app still seem to be under active development. A Mac and/or PC program that enables full data to be pulled out and presented as a file in evidence needs to be written or commissioned from someone by ddPai, but for now it is fairly easy to combine the video files into a playlist for, for example, VLC player, and this presents a video with time and speed info, but without other data and maps etc.. Hopefully ddPai will eventually show sense and sort out serious software.

What convinced me that I needed a gps dashcam and made me go for this was not just accidents. In the last few weeks, family members have encountered the following:
1. Daughter in a taxi found themselves on deserted motorway. Stopped and site foreman accused them of ignoring closure signs, threatened huge fine or prosecution costing taxi driver his licence. Heated argument, then foreman led hem to safety off motorway but, as they left, apologised that his diversion-marking vehicle and driver had admitted leaving position. Camera evidence might have been vital if he had not backed down.
2. Police notice for speeding at position and time that the driver had remarked to his passenger that they were well withing the speed limit, but the overtaking police car was not.
3. My car parked outside house facing down road soon after fitting the camera. Next door house up the road burgled between 12 and 2pm. I was able to step through the parking time lapse videos and pull out stills of everyone walking up the road during those hours. Unfortunately, the only doubtful looking person was identified by my wife as the local priest. If only the car had been facing the other way it would have covered the house entrance .......

I have to say, I've had some time to monkey around with the camera and I'm finding the downloading of files seems pretty easy and fluid. I was able to send via text message short 2 minute video clips to my wife. So I'm starting like my camera a lot now. As for trying to get footage to my insurance agency in the event of a car accident, I guess I'll just cross that bridge when I get to it.

 

[Jc0187]

I have to say, I've had some time to monkey around with the camera and I'm finding the downloading of files seems pretty easy and fluid. I was able to send via text message short 2 minute video clips to my wife. So I'm starting like my camera a lot now. As for trying to get footage to my insurance agency in the event of a car accident, I guess I'll just cross that bridge when I get to it.

Oh man. That sucks! I wonder if in the US it's the same? I heard that the speed recorded could be off a bit on the gps and maybe that's why it's not admissible.

 

[Billaboard]

I suspect that it would be difficult to get any judge in most countries to admit dashcam footage in evidence, except maybe with backup from a forensic IT specialist's analysis of the original files. I doubt if this would be justified for $200. But IANAL.

My concern is that ddPai's concept of a social media fest where young people all over the world are driving round "using" mobile phones and sharing videos together with the lack of "serious" software may make the M6+ less likely to be taken seriously than other cameras.

Ironically, another of the reasons I went for the M6+ was because I wanted to swap video footage from it with a friend in another country, which I suppose is a social media use.

 

[Hawkeye]

Hi all. I've been reading the threads started on here about how there is no such full proof way of obtaining video footage from the micro sd card. My wife got me this camera for Christmas and I was hoping it would provide a safety net in the event someone crashes into me and it turns into me vs the driver that hit me and the only thing that would help my case was video proof I wasn't at-fault for the car accident. But, after reading on here that extracting footage off of the sd card is problematic, am I better off returning this camera and getting something that is more user friendly? I really do like the camera and I am hoping video extraction is simple as I am not a very computer savvy person that knows the workarounds of programs that will extract video properly.

I'm sorry, but I can't see whats difficult about getting video from the camera's SD card?

1. Remove Camera from car (Dead easy with this camera's magnetic mount)
2. Remove SD card and using appropriate adapter, insert into your computer.
3. Open file explorer and view files. (If your PC doesnt play the MP4 files nativily, the download suitable player such as VLC


All of the above is pretty standard for most dashcams...

I wouldn't get too hung up about viewers that show GPS data etc..... It's the video file you will use if needed

 

[Jc0187]

I'm sorry, but I can't see whats difficult about getting video from the camera's SD card?

1. Remove Camera from car (Dead easy with this camera's magnetic mount)
2. Remove SD card and using appropriate adapter, insert into your computer.
3. Open file explorer and view files. (If your PC doesnt play the MP4 files nativily, the download suitable player such as VLC


All of the above is pretty standard for most dashcams...

I wouldn't get too hung up about viewers that show GPS data etc..... It's the video file you will use if needed

Yea, I was getting hung up on everyone wanting the gps to sync with the video. I don't really care about the gps, just as long as there is video proof of a car accident.

 

[andrew 738]

Don't forget the button press, records 5 seconds before and after, also copies to my iPhone.

Getting video off the memory card is dead easy, as Hawkeye said, just plug the card into your computer, copy across and you are done.

Open the file in VLC and go!
Too easy.

 

[Sutton]

Don't forget the button press, records 5 seconds before and after, also copies to my iPhone.

Getting video off the memory card is dead easy, as Hawkeye said, just plug the card into your computer, copy across and you are done.

Open the file in VLC and go!
Too easy.

Exactly

 

[nerys]

one way to handle courts who "decide" reality does not apply to them and refuse to accept your GPS logged video is to use something they can not dispute or refuse to accept.

Geometry and Physics. at the time the cop pulled you over (ie before his lights went on ie when he was checking your speed) find 2 points on the road you can measure the distance between. frame by frame the video to measure passage of time between those two points.

distance and time get you speed. this is simply independently verifiable data they can not dispute. this would also "validate" the speed readout on that video clip for the GPS.