A method of operating a portable ultrasound device to display digital video information from a video camera includes loading instructions into a memory of the device that configures processor electronics to process digital video signals. When a request for the video is received, the ultrasound device can ready itself to receive digital video information and display an image at a display of the ultrasound device based at least in part on the video information. In one embodiment, the video modality is enabled when the portable ultrasound device detects that the digital camera device has been connected to a port.