Video Encoding for Windows Mobile 2003 SE

[DiGiTYZED]

Anybody played with encoding videos (WMV or DivX) for WM2K3 SE device? Specifically encoding to 640x480 resolution? If so, if any success, what max bitrate you recommend?

[Mitchybums]

Well, basicaly since the processor speed of your device is not higher then most non-VGA devices, the bitrate would not differ from others.
Encoding on a higher resolution on a similair bitrate will end up looking very bad.
Same bitrate but 4x the amount of pixels on screen would basicaly mean that you are encoding a movie on 320x240 and 1/4th of the bitrate.

So still use the 320x240 I guess, and a similair bitrate as suggested on ppc-video related websites (www.bigdsvideo.com for example)

[DiGiTYZED]

So eventhough we now have VGA displays and resolution, we still should encode 320x240?

Doesn't that mean our videos will be double-sized to fit the screen?

That's why I have no faith in VGA. It means nothing

[Mitchybums]

Honestly I dont know.
I dont have a VGA device, but since the e80x has a 400mhz, similair as the one I have in my 2215 (maybe a different xscale model, but still)
the processor would not be capable in high bitrate conversions.
Betaplayer has been mentioned to be able to play 700mb sized DIVX movies without issues, but I have not tested this personaly.

Encoding a movie on 640x480 with the limitations of the processorpower would result in lower quality movies then when encoded for a lower resolution.
the movie will be less sharp, but will look better.

[Wiggster]

So eventhough we now have VGA displays and resolution, we still should encode 320x240?

Doesn't that mean our videos will be double-sized to fit the screen?

That's why I have no faith in VGA. It means nothing

So watching videos on a PDA is everything?

Just because some legacy applications don't work, it doesn't mean it's worthless.

Let me ask you this, though. Have you ever watched a video on your computer? Fullscreen? Did you encode it at your full computer resolution (1024x768 or above)? Or did you watch a lower-resolution video and let it scale upwards? VGA provides much more clarity in the (about) same size as the QVGA screens, it's not designed to be a portable DVD player. But as far as I know, there are some (http://www.pockettv.com/) players that scale upwards quite well on VGA devices.

[Mitchybums]

'd like to add that I have a VGA pda on my wishlist, but not for the purpose of Video. I'm perfectly happy with the way video plays on my ppc.
I could spend $120 at Wallmart for a 4' portable dvd player, but I rather have something with more capabilities.
Even if I already had my Asus, with the faster cpu and bigger screenres, I would still encode my movies for the smaller screensize. I even watch movies I encode for PPC on my 15' tft laptop without being bothered about the lower quality.

Basicaly a PPC is not a dedicated video player, even if you use it for that purpose alone. It's also not a gaming machine, even though it plays games quite well. It's an allround device with additional capabilities.

The 640x480 would be handy for me, since I use my ppc for remote desktop stuff, and browsing the web.

[DiGiTYZED]

easy easy. i don't wanna use this thang as a video player. i'm just seeing what this sucka can do.

maybe i should try xcpuscaler too with these

[Mitchybums]

I wasnt trying to be hard on you,

I believe PocketMVP or BetaPlayer has some added speed when used on a device with an Ati chip (a tosh80x has one I believe)

basicaly to test the device's capabilities, TRY.

get a small clip, maybe 2-5 minutes or so, and convert it with multiple bitrates for audio and video.

Then just play them and see how it goes.
you can also try playing a normal (700mb) divx file, and see if that works.

To get almost dvd quality, the video bitrate should be around 1400kbps for video.