12-04-2006, 04:00 PM
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Executive Editor, Android Thoughts
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,233
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Much To See With Spb Mobile DVD!
Product Category: Entertainment Software
Manufacturer: Spb Software House
Where to Buy: Handango [Affiliate]
Price: $24.95 USD
System Requirements: Windows 98/2000/XP/Vista with sufficiently fast processor for DVD viewing / converting.
Pros:
Simple operation;Practical output options;Speed.
Cons:
Resolution limited to mobile devices;Options may be too simple for power users.
Summary:
On a recent flight, I was amazed at just how many people actually were forced to (due to one reason or another) watch the horrendous in-flight entertainment. Now I'm not knocking movie previews and old sitcom reruns as entertainment, but I do think these people would have been happier with their own favorite videos playing on their PDAs. The issue, of course, is how to easily transfer your DVDs to your PDA - and using their knack for producing easy to use products with the features people want, Spb Software House offers for your consideration Spb Mobile DVD. How does this latest offering stack up to its competitors? Read on!
Getting Started
It's a bit different to install Spb Mobile DVD than other Spb products simply because Mobile DVD resides only on the desktop - there is no Pocket PC component to install. Downloading the 8 MB setup file takes a few minutes (even for me at high speed - blasted satellite internet!), but once I have it on my hard drive, install was a breeze.
Unlike other Spb Products, Spb Mobile DVD requires an activation (rather than registration) key. Upon launching Mobile DVD for the first time, the user is prompted to enter the key and the software checks it via the internet. There is also an option for offline activation. No activation key? No problem, the software will allow a 14 day trial period. After activating, the software displays an initial Wizard start screen, and upon pressing Next, asks you what you want to convert.
Figure 1: Initial setup screen, shown just after activation & initial splash screen.
The ability to convert both DVDs and files is a nice offering. Especially in this day and age of internet video options popping up left and right, I assume that many of us probably have favorite video clips we've downloaded and stored away for various purposes (I know I keep a collection that reminds me why it's bad to climb down a ladder too quickly or beat the blade of a Katana against a table too hard). Spb makes it just as easy to convert these as to convert a DVD.
Figure 2: Navigating to the movie's start screen.
After selecting DVD, the user is presented with the screen above, asking them to navigate through the movie's menus to the start of the movie. The user can click straight on the screen, navigating the menu as usual.
Figure 3: The format options screen.
Spb Mobile DVD then prompts for what format options the user wishes to select for their file. The menu options are a bit limited, but most likely perfect for non-power users out there who just want to convert. Selecting just the defaults is fine for 90% of users out there who want to watch their movies in Windows Media Player; however, Spb has also added in an option for TCPMP users to convert into a friendlier format for their software of choice. Resolution is limited to a maximum of 640x480 (for Pocket PC's with VGA screens). Support is also present for devices with square screens.
Figure 4: The output options screen.
One last step before the actual conversion starts - selecting where to put said converted file! The options to copy to a memory card and to upload straight to the device are some of the things that make Spb Mobile DVD stand out. For novice users, the task of moving the file to the device may be troublesome, so having the option to upload the file straight to the device can be very welcome. Now let's get converting!
Conversion: The Need For Speed
Spb advertises that their software converts DVDs and video files in such a way that is optimized to do the fastest possible work on both single and dual core processors. Not surprisingly, the faster the processor you have, the quicker the DVD conversion process will go. However, even on my three year old Compaq N800c laptop, the conversion process clipped along at around 1.4x time actual speed of the movie - not too shabby. The only time it got considerably slower was when I started jotting down notes for the review in Notepad, and switched around a few windows while resizing images. The speed then dropped to 0.5x the actual speed. The moral of the story - unless you have a super fast computer, DVD converting is a process best done on its own without the user attempting to do other tasks!
Figure 5: Converting The DVD.
Again, the converting process underscores the theme of simplicity that runs through Spb Mobile DVD. The process couldn't be easier to start, and at no time did I find any feature or menu that I felt would be confusing to Windows Mobile experts or novices alike!
Finishing Touches
Figure 6: Autoplay Screen.
It wouldn't be a Spb release without some thoughtful touches to truly enhance the user experience. One such touch is the addition of an autoplay menu option. After a user has installed Spb Mobile DVD, an option to "Convert the DVD for Mobile Device" is added to the autoplay screen. This truly can make the whole conversion process seamless, due to the fact that Spb Mobile DVD takes a Wizard-like interface. Mimicking the wizards users are already used to in Windows allows users to easily step through the conversion process straight from disc insertion, with no program to explicitly launch.
Spb Mobile DVD also includes WYSIWYG quality choosing and zoom mode choosing during the initial formatting options screen, which is an advantage over competitors that do not provide feedback prior to conversion. Adding in the ability to convert just parts of a movie and helpful estimation features (time remaining, estimate file size) makes Spb's offering on-par or above the features offered by its competitors.
Conclusions
Overall I've been very impressed with Spb Mobile DVD. The software takes a traditionally complex task (converting a DVD to a file playable on a mobile device) and turns it into something any novice Windows user could easily accomplish. While I would have liked to see some more advanced options (i.e. the ability to convert into other resolutions that I could play on my desktop systems), the product features all of the essentials to get new DVD converters up and running!
Jon Westfall truly does not know how to classify himself. Decision making researcher? System Administrator? Editor & Reviewer? Maybe all of those. To find out more than you want to know, you can visit JonWestfall.Com or just watch for his frequent news posts here at Pocket PC Thoughts!
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12-04-2006, 09:10 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 444
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Legally, how is this any different than ripping a DVD and resizing the vdeo with something like Nero? I mean, aren't the DMCA police going to come and grab me if I do this?
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12-04-2006, 10:19 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 126
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How big were the converted files?
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12-04-2006, 10:26 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 351
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i was under the impression that if u owned the media(a real dvd in your hands) you have every right to make a backup. this is just a smaller backup to be played by the original owner of the media.
i think the laws are more flexable nowadays...with itunes and more online dvd downloading on rise. it the digital revalution. took long enough.
now if u start using this app to make copies and then they some how end up on bittorrent. then thats where the laws are tougher.
hopefully one day we will figure out how to perfect it.
customers pay a fee and authors get the fee. no in between.
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12-04-2006, 10:33 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 147
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Underwater Mike
Legally, how is this any different than ripping a DVD and resizing the vdeo with something like Nero? I mean, aren't the DMCA police going to come and grab me if I do this?
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As long as you have the physical media you can rip without much of an issue. It is when you go newsgroup diving and get a DVD .ISO that you start running into issues. :-)
__________________
Clinton Fitch ~ MVP-Mobile DevicesPrincipalClinton Fitch (Dot) Com!
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12-04-2006, 10:42 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 147
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Mr. PPC
How big were the converted files?
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A 2:20 minute movie converts to about 290MB +/- a little.
__________________
Clinton Fitch ~ MVP-Mobile DevicesPrincipalClinton Fitch (Dot) Com!
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12-05-2006, 06:27 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 761
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Over here it is actually illegal to break dvd protection even if you own the dvd itself  . How many different dvds did you try the program out with? Did it fail on any of them?
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12-05-2006, 03:00 PM
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Executive Editor, Android Thoughts
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,233
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by juni
Over here it is actually illegal to break dvd protection even if you own the dvd itself . How many different dvds did you try the program out with? Did it fail on any of them? |
While I didn't try out too many DVDs with the software due to time constraints, I didn't run into any trouble with my Region 1 DVDs. I also haven't heard of any other reviewers that have had issues ripping region specific DVDs with the software. To be certain, check with Spb before buying the software to make sure there have been no reports of problems.
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Dr. Jon Westfall, MCSE, MS-MVP
Executive Editor - Android Thoughts
News Editor - Windows Phone Thoughts
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12-05-2006, 03:06 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 147
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jon Westfall
Quote:
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Originally Posted by juni
Over here it is actually illegal to break dvd protection even if you own the dvd itself . How many different dvds did you try the program out with? Did it fail on any of them? |
While I didn't try out too many DVDs with the software due to time constraints, I didn't run into any trouble with my Region 1 DVDs. I also haven't heard of any other reviewers that have had issues ripping region specific DVDs with the software. To be certain, check with Spb before buying the software to make sure there have been no reports of problems. |
I'm in the middle of reviewing the software now and have found a few DVDs that it has not liked. Some of these same DVDs were not liked by other applications (Such as DVD Catalyst GT) but some worked fine in GT and wouldn't in Mobile DVD.
I agree with Jon: Give it a try to make sure it will meet the needs before buying it.
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Clinton Fitch ~ MVP-Mobile DevicesPrincipalClinton Fitch (Dot) Com!
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12-06-2006, 02:02 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,079
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Clinton Fitch
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Mr. PPC
How big were the converted files?
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A 2:20 minute movie converts to about 290MB +/- a little. |
Such a small file must be in QVGA output rez, isn't it?!
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Linear Mode
