Flip Video DVD Service FAQ
About the Flip Video DVD Service
How does it work?
Your Flip camera allows you to shoot and share your favorite moments. Now the Flip Video DVD Service offers one more way to share your videos easily and in DVD quality. Using this service, you can design the DVD you want through your web browser; then we will create the DVDs for you, and we’ll ship them to you, your friends, and your family. No hardware or software to buy and learn, no discs to pack and no trips to the post office.
Using the Flip Video DVD Service, you can design, produce and order your DVD in 6 simple steps:
1) Enter Details: Tell us who you are and name your DVD.
2) Upload Videos: Upload one or more Flip Video clips.
3) Organize Videos: Re-name and organize the order of your video clips using a preview of the DVD menu.
4) Create Label: Select images for your DVD cover.
5) Create Cover: Select images for your DVD label.
6) Checkout: Place the order and tell us how many you want, where you want them shipped, how quickly you want them shipped and how to bill you.
That’s it. You’re done. You’ll receive your DVD in the mail.
What do I need to use the Flip Video DVD service?
You need videos from a Flip Video camcorder, a broadband connection, an email account (for project status notifications) and one of the following browsers:
- Internet Explorer v6 or v7
- Firefox v2.0.0.12 (or later) for PC and Mac
- Safari 2.0.4 (or later) on Mac OS X v10.4 (or later)
The Flip Video DVD Service also requires the latest version of Adobe Flash player, available here.
How much does it cost?
Each Flip Video DVD costs $19.99 plus shipping. This is an introductory price so be sure to try the Flip Video DVD service soon. Standard USPS shipping is free. Two days shipping (DHL 2 Day) is also available and is priced based on destination and volume.
Can I use the service if I don’t live in the US?
Currently, the Flip Video DVD service can only take orders from a US billing addresses and US credit cards. We intend to offer full international support at a later date.
Can I ship DVDs to international addresses?
Currently, you can ship DVDs to the 50 US states and Canada. We intend to offer full international shipping at a later date.
What is in the DVD that I get?
Your Flip Video DVD arrives in a customized DVD case and DVD label, so you can be assured that your DVD is both protected and easily identifiable.
The Flip Video DVD contains up to 1 hour of your Flip Video clips. Each DVD has a menu that allows you to play the DVD in its entirety or select a single clip you would like to play. While watching a movie in its entirety, you can advance from clip to clip or return to the DVD Menu.
Will the DVD contain a copy of my original files?
The Flip Video DVD service is designed to take advantage of the high video quality of your home DVD player. Since DVDs use the MPEG2 video format for storing and playing back video your original Flip Videos in AVI format are not stored on the DVD disc itself. Make sure to keep a backup copy of your AVI video clips if you want to use them in the future.
Will the DVD play on any home DVD player?
Your Flip Video DVD will play on any DVD player that supports DVD-R media. Most home DVD players and computer DVD drives support this DVD format.
What countries will my DVD work in?
The Flip Video DVD is created for playback in the US and Canada and uses the NTSC video format. Other countries use other video formats for DVD playback (for example PAL and SECAM). Currently the Flip Video DVD only supports the North American standard (NTSC) and is only guaranteed to work in the USA (all 50 states) and Canada.
Can I customize the DVD look and feel?
Yes, each Flip Video DVD project can be customized. The Flip Video DVD Service automatically creates a DVD menu using thumbnails from each video clip, so you can easily find the clip you are looking for. You can select 2 images for the DVD case cover, and 2 images for the DVD label. In addition, small thumbnails of the first 20 clips will appear on the back of the DVD case. Each DVD automatically determines and displays the date range of the videos you have selected. Finally, you can personalize the DVD menu, cover and label by adding a Title and Sub-Title, and you can give credit to the producer – you!
How do I select the thumbnails that appear in the DVD menu?
The thumbnails used for each video clip are automatically created from the first frame of the video. You may want to check to see that your videos start with a usable frame (in focus and not moving), or edit your video to address this. Video files can not be edited once they are uploaded, so any editing should be done before running the service. We recommend using your Flip Video software to edit your Flip Video files so that they are guaranteed to be compatible with the Flip Video DVD service.
Can I upload video files that are not from a Flip Video camcorder?
No. Only video clips captured with a Flip Video camcorder are supported by the Flip Video DVD service.
How many clips fit onto a DVD?
A DVD has a maximum of 99 DVD clips per disc. If you upload more than 99 clips, you will have to choose which clips you want to include on your personalized DVD. It’s important to remember that while 99 is the maximum number of clips, there is a maximum DVD length of 1 hour (60 minutes) as well. Longer clips may reduce the total number of clips you can include.
How much video can a DVD hold?
You can have a maximum of 1 hour (60 minutes) of video on your Flip Video DVD. The Flip Video DVD Service keeps all video clips intact; we do not cut off the end of a video clip. If you upload more than 60 minutes of video, one or more videos will be excluded from the DVD. You can use the “Include in DVD” checkboxes in “Step 3, Organize Videos” to choose which videos you want to leave in and out of the DVD to stay within the hour limit.
My upload was interrupted. How do I get back to my DVD project?
Once you have uploaded at least one file, you will receive an email confirming the start of a new Flip Video DVD project. This email includes a link to your project. Should you accidentally lose your connection and need to resume your DVD project, click on the link in the email and the project should re-open in your browser.
How long does it take to upload videos?
The Flip Video DVD Service uses high speed data connections and servers to receive your Flip videos, but there are a number of factors that impact upload speeds. To estimate the upload time, it is important to remember that most residential Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offer different speeds for uploading and downloading. Uploading is usually 2 to 4 times slower then downloading. The amount of video is also a critical factor. Flip Video cameras use a very high quality video format. While short clips may load quickly, a full hour of Flip video uses approximately 1 to 2 GB of storage, depending on your camcorder model. The table below shows estimated upload times for 10 minutes of video using typical upload rates:
|
Download |
Upload |
Approximate Upload Time for |
Basic DSL |
768 |
128 |
158 minutes |
Typical DSL |
768 |
384 |
52 minutes |
Enhanced DSL |
768 |
512 |
40 minutes.6 |
Cable Modem |
1200 |
384 |
53 minutes |
Enhanced Cable Modem |
3000 |
768 |
26 minutes |
Upload time is also dependent on the traffic on your home network and the Internet, so your upload time may vary.
For best results, you should always start the upload process when you can leave your PC running and connected to the Internet for an extended amount of upload time. If you lose your connection, however, you should be able to return to the project to upload additional files later (see “My upload was interrupted. How do I get back to my DVD project?”).
We also recommend that you check your computer power settings to make sure that it will not switch to “stand by mode” or “turn automatically off” while uploading your videos.
Do I need a broadband connection to order a DVD?
Yes. Dial-up Internet connection is usually much slower than a broadband connection and it is much less likely that you would maintain your Internet connection for a long enough period of time to complete the upload of your videos. We highly recommend that you do not try this service if you do not have a broadband connection.
What happens if I complete a project but don’t place an order?
The Flip Video DVD services stores uploaded orders for 15 days before erasing them. If you complete your order and provide your billing information we will keep your order for a 30 day period to allow you to re-order copies of your DVD. You can use the link you receive in your “Project Started” email to return to the project and place your order. After that time has elapsed, you will need to upload your video files again.
Where can I send the DVDs to?
The Flip Video DVD service can mail your DVD to any location in the U.S. and Canada.
Can I send DVDs to multiple locations in a single order?
There is only one shipping address per order, but you can use the reorder process to place additional orders with different shipping addresses (see “Can I reorder a DVD?”)
Can I reorder a DVD?
Yes. Once you have placed an order, you will receive an email with a link to the project. You can use the email link to return to the project and order additional copies. You will not have to re-upload or re-design your DVD project. We will keep your Flip Video DVD project available on our servers for 30 days after your last order/re-order. As an extra convenience, you will also receive a notice 5 days before your project and files will be cleared from our service, so you can be sure to place any final orders.
How long does it take to receive the DVD?
Your Flip Video DVD will be produced and shipped in 2-3 business days. Shipping time will range from an additional 3-7 days (USPS First Class Mail), or 2 days, if you selected DHL 2-Day delivery.
What will I see on my credit card statement?
After placing an order with the Flip Video DVD service your credit card statement will show a charge from “DRI*FlipVideo”.
Do you have a question that wasn’t answered in this FAQ?
Contact the Flip Video DVD customer support team here.
Learn about the affiliate program
Sign up for email updates
Tell us what you think