Help - movies won't show...

[karinatwork]

For whatever reason, my h1910 is not able to play movies with the Windows Media Player. I installed the Media Player that came with the CD in the package, but I can't get it to work properly. :(

Is there something I am missing? Do I have to install it into the main memory?

Any help would be appreciated!

Karin

[Pat Logsdon]

For whatever reason, my h1910 is not able to play movies with the Windows Media Player. I installed the Media Player that came with the CD in the package, but I can't get it to work properly. :(

Is there something I am missing? Do I have to install it into the main memory?

Any help would be appreciated!

Karin
Are you getting any error messages? Why type of movies are you trying to play?

[arnage2]

You can only play .asf and .wmv movies with pocket pc windows media player. If you want mpeg or avi go with pocket mvp or pocket tv.

[karinatwork]

I am trying to play wmv files, and I don't get an error message. The sound is working, but the little tv screen inside the Media Player is only black. :evil:

[arnage2]

you might have a bad file. Try another and let me know how that goes.

[karinatwork]

I tried two different ones already. One file is a little wmv movie that I downloaded from the internet, and the other one is a little PhotoStory clip that I created myself, in wmv format (3 Mb).

But I'm going to try a third. Only I'll have to wait until I get home, in another hour or so. Thanks for offering your help. I'll get back to you in a little while.

K.

[Jason Dunn]

Is it the Photo Story movie that won't play? What device do you have? Remember that Photo Story uses the 9 Series codec, which is ONLY supported in the WMP9 player - meaning you have to have a Windows Mobile 2003 device. There are some ugly hacks you to (transcoding the WMV file to an earlier version), but the end result isn't very pretty.

[karinatwork]

Wherever I turn I get more and more hints that I might actually have to buy that new h4150. My husband's gonna freak... :)

I am going to test a few more files, so Photostory is out of the question, that's good to know. It was cute how you wrote
Remember that Photo Story uses the 9 Series codec, ...
as if I'd known it earlier but I just forgot. :mrgreen: Who had a clue about that anyway (other than you!) :D
Now please don't make me feel stupid by everyone yelling "me me!!" at once!!!

K.

[arnage2]

Just buy a 1945 and a wifi card. (total cost is around $400) You can get a refurb in box 1945 for less than $250 from hpshopping.com outlet.

[Jason Dunn]

...It was cute how you wrote
Remember that Photo Story uses the 9 Series codec, ...
as if I'd known it earlier but I just forgot. :mrgreen: Who had a clue about that anyway (other than you!) :D
Now please don't make me feel stupid by everyone yelling "me me!!" at once!!!

Whoops - sorry. :lol: It wasn't my intention to make you feel like you should have known that. The reality is that Microsoft utterly and completely dropped the ball on this one - they promote Photo Story as if any Pocket PC can play the files, but in reality they mean "only the newest ones". I'm still angry that they never released WMP9 as a RAM-installable update for users of previous devices, especially when you consider iPAQ 1910 owners didn't have the option to upgrade their OS. :evil:

[arnage2]

Here'sa cheaper alternative. Buy EOvideo (google search it) for wmv to mpeg conversion. Put pocket tv (media player) on your ipaq, and play the movies that way.

[Jason Dunn]

Here'sa cheaper alternative. Buy EOvideo (google search it) for wmv to mpeg conversion. Put pocket tv (media player) on your ipaq, and play the movies that way.

Well, she could actually transcode the 9 Series WMV files to a WMV 7 codec, and it would work, and for free, but the quality is an issue in my mind. MPEG1 simply doesn't cut it at low bitrates.

[karinatwork]

Well, I ran a few more tests, and it's not just the Photostory wmv's that don't work. For example, I used a little sample movie that comes with MS Moviemaker, and the player will not show the first 4 seconds (considering the clip is 6 seconds long, that won't cut it either).

I do believe that it is an issue with having installed the Mediaplayer on my storage card. This must also be the reason why MS won't let me upgrade my Mediaplayer 8 with the update they have on their website. Whenever I try to update it with the appropriate file, my computer tells me that this is a file I can only install if I have Mediaplayer 8 installed on my device - which I have - but Microsoft doesn't seem to listen!!! :(

The main memory real estate on my h1910 is too precious for the Windows Media player. I guess I won't show my PhotoStories to anybody in my office, and my son will have to keep watching still pictures in the car. FINE! :evil:
Thanks for the tips, but this is all getting too complicated. Another reason added to my list why I definitively need to get a h4150 soon! :)

K.

[Jason Dunn]

It may also be the bit rate - WMP8 started to choke at about 250 kbps, and it was never designed to be installed onto a memory card. You can find out the bit rate of a file by right-clicking on the file and selecting the properties.

[karinatwork]

Hmmm. The right-click-trick doesn't work for me. Properites don't tell me much more than the size of the file and where it is, when it was created, last openend, bla bla bla. I can find out the bitrate only by running the file with the Mediaplayer on my desktop and then read what it says on the bottom. The example file I tried is 221 K bits/sec. It still wouldn't play. :(

Jason, I think it's hopeless. As long as I am not ready to give up 1.5 Mb of my main memory, it's not going to work. And because I won't be able to play my PhotoStories (my main reason for trying to make this all work), I won't bother anymore.

Thanks for your everyone's help, anyway!

K.

[Jason Dunn]

Sorry, Properties > Summary > Advanced, then you can see the bit rate.

It's probably a codec issue, but you're right, it's more or less hopefully unless you want to become a master of transcoding. :-(

[Don't Panic!]

Hi karina, Have you tried not using the Windows Media Player on your desktop to transfer the file? Try a simple cut and paste to your memory card instead.

HTH

Don't Panic!
Bobby

[karinatwork]

No, I haven't done that either. Hmmm. I'll try as soon as I get home. I was wondering why the few seconds of the clip that I saw were in such a horrible quality. I guess I am just going to copy and paste.

Thanks. I'll let you know.

K.

[karinatwork]

Ok. Trying to copy file to device without using the desktop media player = no improvement.
Installing Mediaplayer newest version into the MAIN memory of my device = no improvement.

It's official. I give up.

[Jason Dunn]

It's official. I give up.

For what it's worth, this all works beautifully on a Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC. ;-)

[karinatwork]

Oh, thanks! :grumble: I'm already fighting with myself here trying NOT to buy a h4150. Why can't I be intrigued by flowers, or needle point? Why does it have to be pocket pc's??

:boohoo:

Jason (or anyone else who might be able to help), I know it's a lot I am asking, but would it be possible for you to take a screen comparison shot of your wife's h1910 (if she still has it) and your h4155? I loved the ones you published of the h1945 a little while back.

I am desperately trying to find a reseller in my area that has a 4150/55 in store, but I can't find one anywhere. I could purchase one online, but I would really want to know how the screen quality is compared to the h1910... maybe it's even better???? *hoping*

It's strange, last year when I bought my new 1910, I was so disappointed about the screen quality compared to my old E-125, and now I think there can't be anything better out there than the screen of an h1910... funny.

Ok. There are tons of arguments FOR buying a new device. How about some arguments AGAINST it? I mean, my h1910 is a perfectly fine working device (if you don't care about never being able to connect with anything other than a @#$% IR cellphone, and if you don't care about the fact that the #$@%$ Mediaplayer won't work, and if you don't care about the fact that you will never be able to upgrade your @#$%@$ OS!).

I guess my biggest argument against it is that I won't know where to stop. There will never be the "perfect" device that will be working fine for me for many years to come. My first pocket pc was with me for 3 years. For the current one, it hasn't even been a year. What's next???

There. Sorry about the rant. :byebye:

K.

[Ripper014]

I personally do not think you need to upgrade yet... with so many changes around the corner... there is a lot to be offered to you if you can be just a little more patient.

Like you my last PDA was the E-125 and it lasted me 3 years... and when I finally decided to upgrade to the Hp2210... I did not notice that much of a difference. Yes I can see the screen outside in direct light... I had more memory... it was suppose to be faster... I noticed a nominal difference... and I still wait for my Start Menu, but I am beginning to wonder if it is a problem with my device. Anyway... my point is that the upgrade in devices was not that substantial.

I truly believe that your device will still fulfill all your current needs... and that bigger,faster, prettier... unit is just around the corner. Can you say V... G... A... Bluetooth and Wifi... maybe even a dedicated video chip with additional memory... 128mb onboard... and maybe even USB support...

As far as your current problems I would suggest maybe trying other solutions... is there a reason that PocketMVP does not work for you...? This has been my Video Player of choice since I started encoding... and my offer still stands... if you want to send me the clip you want encoded... I can do that and return it to you to test on your pda. If your happy with it we can walk you through the process so you can encode an future videos on your own.

And the another reason NOT to purchase, you like being married don't you...?

[karinatwork]

Uhm... yeah.... :grumble:

You have a point. A few points, actually. But to wait is soooooooooo hard!!! I never worry about having the newest cellphone, or digital camera, or other gadgets, but when it comes to pocket pc's, it's just fatal.

Anyway. Thanks again for your offer, and yes, it would be great if you could help me. I'll send you a file later, and in the meantime I'm going to try to install PocketMVP.

Seems I am not giving up after all. :D

But YOU teaming up with my husband for not letting me get a new PPC, that's just MEAN!!! :wink:

K.