Windows Media Player

[sqaccord]

Where can I download the lastest version of the Media Player for my PPC? I am trying the DVD to Pocket PC software but do not have a way to play it.

Something free is a must.

[mscdex]

How about this (http://www.projectmayo.com/projects/detail.php?projectId=9) or an 'optimized' version of the same thing here (http://home.adelphia.net/~mdukette/downloads.html#Pocket_PC)?

[sqaccord]

I loaded the file but can not get an image. The sound is fine but the image is a bunch of grainy seperated bars. Is it my file or player? I even used Dr. Divx to encode the movie.

[Mitchybums]

I believe DVD2PPC only supports Windows Mobile 2003 devices.
From what you describe, you have an older device.
For PPC2002 you can download the Media Player update from Microsoft, but this will allow you to play back files encoded using the Windows Media 8 protocol for video.
The audio codec from PPC 2000, 2002 and 2003 can playback WM9 audio files without any issues (this hasnt changed over the years)

PocketPC 2000 support Windows Media 7
PPC 2002 can play 7 and 8
WM2003 can play all Windows Media Files.

I sugest sticking to the Dr DIVX program to convert the DVD to a normal DIVX file, and then use something like Windows Media Encoder 9 to convert the file for PocketPC usage.
look at www.bigdsvideo.com for some help on that, and make sure to select the Windows Media 8 for the video compression.

Goodluck

[maikii]

Windows Media Player comes on all PPCs, doesn't it, built into ROM? Or did that start with WM2003?

Someone recommended Pocket MVP. A nice program, but a new player based on that is actually much better. Take a look at Betaplayer www.corecodec.com

The newest beta (called "unstable'") versions will play WMV and WMA as well.

Completely free.

I don't know why some are recommending programs like "DVD to PPC", or Movie2MemCard. From what I understand, these are just repackaged freeware. Is that not the case?

There is plenty of free software available that can convert DVD movies to PPC, such as AutoGK, Fair Use, or Pocket DIVX Encoder. Windows Movie Maker or Media Encoder can make nice PPC movies starting with a movie file. Or you can do it directly with VirtualDub. Lots of guides out there regarding how to do it.

What happens with the repackaged freeware, is that the developer spends many hours developing the software, then is so generous as to make it available to the public at no charge.

Then--someone else takes the software someone eles has developed and provided for free, and repackages it and sells it to make money for themself. Seems rather unethical to me!

[Mitchybums]

OK, as I am the developer of Movie2Memcard, you hit me below the belt.

M2M is NOT repackaged freeware. It's written entirely by me, and MAKES USE of freeware applications like Mencoder and Windows Media Encoder as a Specialized Frontend Application.
By selecting files for conversion, Movie2Memcard calculates the required settings for either the DIVX encoder or the Windows Media Encoder.

Yes you can do the same with the programs that M2M uses by hand, and feel free to do so, but M2M just makes the process a whole lot easier, including access to the more advanced options like cropping.

I wrote the program basicaly because I already had a fairly big DIVX collection of movies I backed up for myself over the years, and to convert them manualy, every conversion needed to be recalculated in regards to screensize and bitrate settings. At the time of release there was no other program availiable that would give you a guaranteed filesize that fits on the specified filesize of a memory card.

Other programs use templates, and result in an unpredictable filesize. Since I only had a 128mb card at that time, I needed something that would make sure it would fit on my card, while still giving me the best possible quality.

There is a big difference between repackaged freeware and a specialized Frontend.

Repackaged freeware takes about 5 minutes of programming, for only the company name and logo needs to be changed to fit.
A Specialized Frontend is an application that adds easy access to advanced features in freeware applications, while hiding the complicated stuff for the novice user.
Movie2MemCard has about 3 Months of 20hrs a day of programming into it, and is defenately not repackaged freeware.
In regards to the other applications you mentioned, I dont know if they are repackaged freeware, but from what I have seen from those applications it does not seem so.

[Zab]

OK, as I am the developer of Movie2Memcard, you hit me below the belt.

M2M is NOT repackaged freeware. It's written entirely by me, and MAKES USE of freeware applications like Mencoder and Windows Media Encoder as a Specialized Frontend Application.
By selecting files for conversion, Movie2Memcard calculates the required settings for either the DIVX encoder or the Windows Media Encoder.

Yes you can do the same with the programs that M2M uses by hand, and feel free to do so, but M2M just makes the process a whole lot easier, including access to the more advanced options like cropping.

I wrote the program basicaly because I already had a fairly big DIVX collection of movies I backed up for myself over the years, and to convert them manualy, every conversion needed to be recalculated in regards to screensize and bitrate settings. At the time of release there was no other program availiable that would give you a guaranteed filesize that fits on the specified filesize of a memory card.

Other programs use templates, and result in an unpredictable filesize. Since I only had a 128mb card at that time, I needed something that would make sure it would fit on my card, while still giving me the best possible quality.

There is a big difference between repackaged freeware and a specialized Frontend.

Repackaged freeware takes about 5 minutes of programming, for only the company name and logo needs to be changed to fit.
A Specialized Frontend is an application that adds easy access to advanced features in freeware applications, while hiding the complicated stuff for the novice user.
Movie2MemCard has about 3 Months of 20hrs a day of programming into it, and is defenately not repackaged freeware.
In regards to the other applications you mentioned, I dont know if they are repackaged freeware, but from what I have seen from those applications it does not seem so.

From my old everquest days.....OWNED!

but, you sold me on M2M! soon as i have the money 8)

[rocky_raher]

I believe DVD2PPC only supports Windows Mobile 2003 devices.
From what you describe, you have an older device.


Are you referring to the DVD2PPC program make by Makayama? It runs on a desktop PC and produces an .wmv file, which will run on my Jornada 568 running 2002 without any problems.