Zerama Togo 1.0: Synchronize and Transcode Media Files

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.zerama.net/productDetail.aspx?id=ToGo&sub=Summary' target='_blank'>http://www.zerama.net/productDetail...oGo&sub=Summary</a><br /><br /></div>"Using Zerama ToGo you can synchronize and encode your media quickly and easily between your desktop computer and Pocket PC. Because ZTG is so convenient even the smallest media cards or built-in-memory becomes useful media storage.<br /><br />• Encodes music with Windows Media Encoder (WMA) at 32, 48, 64, 96 and 128 one or two-pass encoding optimized for the Pocket PC <br />• Compatible with both MP3 and WMA, unlike Sync &amp; Go you can copy mp3 files or convert them on the fly. <br />• Create playlists with the offline library <br />• Tap-and-Hold automatic playlist creation <br />• Connects via ActiveSync (wired or wirelessly) <br />• Automatic synchronization process copies and encodes music with minimal hassle <br />• Easy copy/remove features makes even small 32MB media cards useful <br />• Desktop companion application allows direct media management for those times you are sitting in front of PC."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/ZeramaTogo-ppc-main-Gray.gif" /> <br /><br />This looks like a very cool too for the digital audio fiends among you. Anyone tried it yet?

[joelevi]

Sure, music is great and I've got lots of it on my iPaq 4155's 128mb MMC, but I also have a bunch of music videos that (presently) I have to open in Windows Movie Maker, then save as a Pocket PC formatted movie file. It's a pain.

Why not add this feature so we can watch WM9 encoded, an PPC scaled versions of our music videos on our Pocket PCs?

That's the primary method that I use to show people just how cool Pocket PCs really are.

[Yorch]

I agree, Video capabilities would be a hit. Not only encoding, but also synching. There should be a setting that would allow to sync one episode (file) or any user's specified folder. Either in order or randomly.

I have a bunch of The Simpsons Episodes that are suitable to watch in the ppc, and I would like a setting where It would sync, each day, a different chapter. Kind of like Sync-n-go, but with your own media.

Imagine, you would have something interesting in your PPC all the time. You would be able to save a whole season of a TV series, and then watch it on your ppc, one chapter each time, just like on a TV

Also, this would be very useful for people that have PVRs, they can specify the folder they recordings are and either convert and sync, or just sync. In that way, the possibilities are endless, ...as long as you have memory.

[Jason Dunn]

Well, if you guys want video capabilities, just ask the developer. ;-)

[lonesniper]

As soon as I started to read about Zerama ToGo I thought "oh hope they do video too". That would make me buy the product. I have 60Gb of TV shows on my PC and it is a time consuming process to reencode all of them to a PPC format. If I could specify a file or two to be automatically formatted and synced over night to my PPC ready for my morning commute that would be a killer app.

I am going to post in their forum requesting this feature, I hope all PPCT members do too :D

[mkrigsman]

I've been using it and its a really good product. Does exactly what it's supposed to do and does it well.

I also use Zerema Remote, which is also very good.

[dantanzer]

On the subway ride home from work, I use my Pocket PC as an mp3 player with a 128MB storage card. With a 128MB card, I wanted to swap the music out of my pocket pc every day or so. Most mornings on my way back to work, I realized that I completely forgot to do it the night before.

What I wanted was a way to create, modify and delete playlists on my pocket pc from an offline library and when I get home have it automatically copy and encode my playlists onto my storage card. Being a computer programmer by trade and pocket pc enthusiasts, this problem quickly became a new opportunity for my second Pocket PC project, Zerama ToGo
Now while I am playing with my pocket pc on the subway, I can select whatever song or playlist I want for the next day at work and have Zerama ToGo automagically fill up my storage card.


Please be aware this is only version 1.0 :D. Features already in development are:
PC Card Reader (in development)
Automatic media selection (in development)
Video support (in development)

Please feel free to suggest any ideas you have and I will be happy to consider them.

Thanks
Dan Tanzer
www.zerama.net

[cuteseal]

I'm wondering what the difference is between this and Windows Media Player (desktop)?

WMP does the same job with the "Copy to Device" function - it transcodes high bitrate files to lower bitrates automatically to save space (according to your settings), and also limits the number of tracks you can copy based on the estimated storage space on your device.

As far as I'm concerned, this is another less app to clutter my machine...

[dantanzer]

Zerama ToGo does a simliar job as windows media player when using the PC version of the software.
The big difference with Zerama ToGo is that you can create playlists from the offline library on your pocket pc and when you get home, Zerama ToGo will automatically copy and encode when activesync connects.

[jngold_me]

Isn't this similar to the freeware PlayList sync posted (and which I am using now) here sometime ago?

So, if I understand correctly, this app allows you to select your songs from your PPC (from some app) then when AS is activated, goes to your PC, grabs MP3's and "encodes" them to WMA, and x-fers them to your PPC (or storage card)?

Is the above a correct assessment of this product?

[dantanzer]

So, if I understand correctly, this app allows you to select your songs from your PPC (from some app) then when AS is activated, goes to your PC, grabs MP3's and "encodes" them to WMA, and x-fers them to your PPC (or storage card)?

Is the above a correct assessment of this product?

YES! that about sums it up.

[Bruno Figueiredo]

Huh? :confused totally:

You can do that with Windows Media Player 9! I use it all the time.
Say you have a couple of media files sitting around on your PC.

Go to Tools > Options, then, on the Devices Tab (You must dock your PPC to see it here), select your PPC or Digital Media Player.

If you don't see them hit Refresh. Now you must see your PPC and your Storage Cards separately. You can configure different settings for each.

Select one and click Properties. Then, select quality level to select the bitrate you wish to convert to. Click OK.

Now on the actions column on the left select Copy to CD or Device.
You now have 2 columns. One with your media files on the left and the file structure on the PPC on the right (You must select the device first from the drop-down list).

Then hit the Copy Button and WMP will re-encode and transfer automatically the selected songs to your PPC. How much easier can that be?

:roll:

[hamishmacdonald]

This one's fun, too: I only recently discovered that you can click on playlists on your desktop or in Windows Media Player and use the right-click "Copy to CD or device" contextual menu item.

This will queue everything in the playlist up in WMP, then you can just tell it where you want it stored (and the great tip above will apply your custom compression settings for that location).

[uvahoos]

I think some of you are missing the point here... What this app does (among other things) is that it syncs a list of all of your music onto your PPC. Then, offline, you can either create a new playlist using that list of music r pick an existing playlist. Then when you sync, Zerama Togo will pull the actual music files (on your PPC you just have a list of those files) onto your PDA.

Pretty cool if you ask me. The nice thing is that you can browse your music collection offline and say "Hey, I'd sure like to listen to that album." So then you queue it up, go run ActiveSync and there's the music on your PPC. A good compromise for those of us who don't have a 40GB iPod or other music device.

[intastella]

Does anyone know if togo 1.0 converts using the wmv 9 codec?

Just wondering.

intastella

[dantanzer]

Does anyone know if togo 1.0 converts using the wmv 9 codec?

Just wondering.

intastella

ToGo version 1.0 does not support video, we are currently looking into video for a future release.
thanks
Dan

[k_kirk]

I have a bunch of WMA files I ripped from my CDs with license protection turned on. Don't know what I was thinking back then and now I'm too lazy to do it all over again without license protection turned on.

When I transfer these to PPC using WMP the license info is transferred or disabled (don't know which) so I can play them on PPC.

When I use Zerama ToGo I find that I can't play these files on the PPC.

Any chance for this to be corrected? I have been looking for a product like this for a long time and would like to buy asap once this issue is resolved. Thanks

[dantanzer]

I have a bunch of WMA files I ripped from my CDs with license protection turned on. Don't know what I was thinking back then and now I'm too lazy to do it all over again without license protection turned on.

When I transfer these to PPC using WMP the license info is transferred or disabled (don't know which) so I can play them on PPC.

When I use Zerama ToGo I find that I can't play these files on the PPC.

Any chance for this to be corrected? I have been looking for a product like this for a long time and would like to buy asap once this issue is resolved. Thanks

Windows Media Player SDK and DRM for the pocket pc have too many outstanding issues at this time for us to try to tackle and support DRM in Zerama ToGo. We thought most users recorded their music without turning DRM on or those who bought on-line from Napster copied the music to cd a CD and then re-encoded without DRM, although I may be wrong.

Therefore I will pose this question: Do many of you here, use DRM ?

[k_kirk]

All right all right... I give up! ;-) I have purchased this product since my last post and currently re-ripping all my CDs once again with DRM turned off. This issue put aside, I find this to be a brilliant concept. The product is a little rough around the edges for the time being but the developer is very responsive and with free-life-time-upgrades one can't go wrong I guess. All in all it was money well spent for me. Cheers