03-23-2005, 11:00 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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PocketDVD 1.1 Reviewed by HPC:Factor
"PocketDVD 1.1 is a suite of applications and utilities designed to provide a full video experience. Able to convert multi-region DVD's through PocketDVD and existing video content of a variety of formats through PocketVideo. PocketDVD 1.1 is designed to conform its output to the hardware requirements of any device, from the smallest SmartPhone to the Pocket PC, Handheld PC and high definition PC experience. PocketDVD and PocketVideo allow conversion to Windows Media 7 (Pocket PC 2000), Windows Media 8 (Pocket PC 2002), Windows Media 9 (Windows Mobile 2003), DivX and MediaExtender file formats - All at the touch of a button."
This is a very thorough review, and what looks to be a very powerful program - hopefully it lives up to it's promises. I bought #1 DVD Ripper based purely on a recommendation in Maximum PC magazine, without even downloading the trial version, and it turned out to be a completely crappy application - adding insult to injury is the fact that the developer doesn't respond to support requests from paying customers. But I digress - this looks like a very powerful and flexible application. Check out the full review!
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03-23-2005, 11:37 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 454
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Likewise with DVDtoPocket PC -- or whatever it's called. The Makayama one. I shelled out $39 for it, and seldom had good results. Five hours later, I'd find the movie had no sound, or had weird dimensions, or the conversion failed altogether.
They've since updated it, and -- I don't know who they had create the original, clean look of the program, but now there are fifty "skins" that look like colour schemes from Windows 3.1.
Since then, I've discovered so many freeware apps that do this job and do it better. I wish I had that forty bucks back. This program's $12 price is more reasonable, especially considering that it's probably a wrapper for several open-source conversion applications.
This program looks nice and simple, but I don't see offhand how it's better than Auto Gordian Knot, which is free. I'd like to give it a try, but there's no download or purchase link from the developer's website -- which kinda defeats the purpose of a product launch!
P.S. I found it on PocketGear:
http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=14418
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03-23-2005, 01:42 PM
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Oracle
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 980
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Well, to me the price of 11 dollars for this program is just SUPER!
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03-23-2005, 02:37 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 676
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I thought DVD2PPC was SO weak. The app constantly crashed and took forever to run and produced files with sound and/or video problems. And of course it only ouput .wmv files, which forces you to use the shoddy WMP on your PPC. I really regretted shelling out $29 for that program (which I have since uninstalled from my computer).
Since then I've had excellent results with Dr. DivX. It gives you really fine-tune control over screen dimensions, frame rate, bit rate, audio quality, etc and it produces .avi files which run great using the far superior BetaPlayer on my PPC. (This new app seems to offer a similar level of control judging from the screenshots.)
I compared copies of the same movie of the same approx size (500MB) made via DVD2PPC and Dr. DivX and it was like night and day (granted a lot of this difference was also due to using WMP vs. BetaPlayer to play the results - but it's the total package of converter + player that matter in the end).
__________________
64 GB iPad 2 WiFi, Apple TV 2, 32 GB iPhone 4
Early 2011 MacBook Pro 13" (dual boot with Windows 7), Early 2009 Mac Mini
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03-23-2005, 02:48 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 618
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i'd be real anxious to hear more about this... i've been looking for an EASY (read: very easy) way to convert some of my DVDs to PPC (for use w/ betaplayer) when i travel. with all my other PPC playing, i don't have the time really to learn the complications of the process - i'd love to find a program that really makes it all painless...
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03-23-2005, 03:15 PM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 524
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free stuff
get:
BetaPlayer - for your pocket pc
dvd decrypter - to rip the dvd's
PocketDivxEncoder - to encode the files for playback in betaplayer
- Default options work well but audio sync is off. There is an option under advanced called "ivtc" that you can turn on to fix or at least greatly improve that but the files take longer to encoder
It's all free and the results blow away everyone I show. I can get a full dvd into under 400MB of space with ease and it's good quality.
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03-23-2005, 03:22 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 618
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do these produce video that fills my x50v screen (e.g. some level of widescreen rather than square), and are there any special considerations if you have a VGA device?
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03-23-2005, 03:37 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 607
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Re: free stuff
Quote:
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Originally Posted by vector
get:
BetaPlayer - for your pocket pc
dvd decrypter - to rip the dvd's
PocketDivxEncoder - to encode the files for playback in betaplayer
- Default options work well but audio sync is off. There is an option under advanced called "ivtc" that you can turn on to fix or at least greatly improve that but the files take longer to encoder
It's all free and the results blow away everyone I show. I can get a full dvd into under 400MB of space with ease and it's good quality.
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hey vector...i'll raise you one. Get a program called Fairuse wizard. You can tell the program the final size you want, and it does it aaaaall for you. Including ripping...it has a full auto mode. i use it alot, i find it a hell of a lot more easy to just put this thing on full auto mode and walk away. i dont have to worry about those steps you mentioned. give it a try. oh...and its freeeeeee
http://www.fairusewizard.com/lang_en/index.html
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03-23-2005, 03:42 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 65
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I second that on Fairplay - that is the absolute best software I've tried (and I've tried many) - plus it's FREE.
The quality of audio and video are outstanding on my X50v with Betaplayer. It is VERY easy to do. Once you set up a couple options is just a couple clicks per DVD.
I'd recommend this!!!
-Silver
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03-23-2005, 04:32 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 3
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Thanks for posting HPC:FACTOR's review Jason,
The trial versions can be downloaded from the Sales websites listed on the website, but here are the links for ease of use.
http://www.handango.com/PlatformProd...oductId=125079
http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=14418
http://pdassi.de/product.php?prod_id=24410
PocketDVD/Video are made to simplify the conversion of movies/dvd's video files for pretty much any mobile device.
There are numerous configuration options, and the output format is either WMV or DIVX, allowing you to use the Native player on most devices for playback.
There are basicaly no limitations on filesize or even screensize, so if your device can playback the supported output formats, you can create video files for it.
Instead of just focussing on the newer devices and leaving the user to either upgrade or go without, PocketDVD also provides support for the older WindowsCE devices, and can even put out fullscreen video on these devices.
Its truely impressive to see a 6 year old device such as the Jornada 720 playback 640x240 video (extra cropping applied to make the video truely fullscreen).
We know that there are numerous other programs, but just try the trial version. It gives you 5 full days of playing around with the program, so what is there to lose?
Sincerly,
PocketDVD
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Linear Mode
