Best player and best converter

[dlewis187]

I got a bunch of avi & mpg & vob files on my pc.
I just upgraded to a dell axim x51v
So I want to revist whats the best software out for converting or shrinking my pc vid files for playback on my pocketpc.
Also I am assuming that there is better windows media players out then the one included with the OS? Whats the best for playing all the different formats?

[SteveHoward999]

Use The Core Pocket Media Player

http://tcpmp.corecodec.org/about - used to be called Beta Player.


I have tried all sorts of conversion tools, and so far I am happiest with Pocket DivX http://divx.ppccool.com/ it has a neat batch tool.

I encode at 320x240 and watch at 640x480. DivX, like Mpeg, scales well and looks good when 'doubled' in size (actually 4x area before anyone wants to get smart ;-) )so the result is a decent compromise on video quality v's file size.

[Nurhisham Hussein]

Agreed - TCPMP is the way to go.

You could also use Fairuse to convert your VOB files - I find that it'll handle files that even PocketDivxEncoder chokes on. It won't do avi or mpg though. Typical file sizes for QVGA video would be in the region of 180MB-360MB depending on the original file size and the options you select. i don't have much of a space problem, so sometimes I don't even bother with conversion, and just copy movies over direct. The X51v should be even better at this with its onboard GPU - there is an optimised version of TCPMP for it IIRC, make sure you get that one (or was it a setting? can't remember sorry).

[Sven Johannsen]

I got a bunch of avi & mpg & vob files on my pc.
I just upgraded to a dell axim x51v
Just for grins, use the sync function in MP10 on the desktop to sync the content to your X51v. At least for the avi and mpg. Don't try to just copy. MP10 will convert and compress for you. I don't know about the vob, but if MP10 on the desktop plays them, chances are it will convert them. You can decide about the quality compared to the convenience.

[Don't Panic!]

I'm another TCPMP fan.

I don't really sync at home so I haven't tried WMP10's sync feature yet. How long does that process take for say a 90 minute .avi movie Sven?

[Sven Johannsen]

I'm another TCPMP fan.

I don't really sync at home so I haven't tried WMP10's sync feature yet. How long does that process take for say a 90 minute .avi movie Sven?

Haven't really timed it. I was just surprised that I could grab avi's, mpeg's, even asx from a little video camera I have, and say send it over and it did the conversion and compression on the fly (or crawl). I was doing this on a Media Center PC and it even converted the dvr-ms files you get when you record TV, which are kind of a pain otherwise. I don't recall the process being any worse than using something like DVD2PPC or MSs own Windows Media Encoder.

Everyone does need to understand that this feature requires MP 10 on both the PC and the PPC, it only works via a USB connection and the PPC needs to be partnered.

[Darius Wey]

Everyone does need to understand that this feature requires MP 10 on both the PC and the PPC, it only works via a USB connection and the PPC needs to be partnered.

Right. You could also do it with WMP10, a PC and a card reader (over USB). Once synchronisation is complete, pop the card in the Pocket PC, and you're good to go. Well, that's how I used to do things, anyway. :)

[Sven Johannsen]

Everyone does need to understand that this feature requires MP 10 on both the PC and the PPC, it only works via a USB connection and the PPC needs to be partnered.

Right. You could also do it with WMP10, a PC and a card reader (over USB). Once synchronisation is complete, pop the card in the Pocket PC, and you're good to go. Well, that's how I used to do things, anyway. :)
Nope. At least you won't get the advantage of the translations and compressions. The process only knows that you need to convert audio to wma and video to wmv and compress them if it sees a PPC out there. It will copy the files as they are if using a card reader. You also won't get any licenses transferred if you are using a card reader. That is, if you have something like Napster downloads, you will move the mp3s, but you won't be able to play them when you put the card in the PPC.

I'd love to be able to use a card reader and be able to specify the target device, but it doesn't work that way.

[Darius Wey]

Nope. At least you won't get the advantage of the translations and compressions. The process only knows that you need to convert audio to wma and video to wmv and compress them if it sees a PPC out there. It will copy the files as they are if using a card reader. You also won't get any licenses transferred if you are using a card reader. That is, if you have something like Napster downloads, you will move the mp3s, but you won't be able to play them when you put the card in the PPC.

I'd love to be able to use a card reader and be able to specify the target device, but it doesn't work that way.

That's interesting. I can't say much for the licenses since that's something I've never bothered with, but every audio/video synchronisation to a card that I have done automatically converts to WMA and WMV based on the quality level that I set it as.

Open up WMP10 on the desktop, select the Sync tab, and then ensure that the device selected in the list is your card reader. In the top-right, there's an icon with the tooltip, "Display properties and settings". Click that, and then select the Quality tab. You should be able to configure whether you want WMP to automatically convert files for that "device", and then you should be able to select the quality setting. The "automatic" quality setting might make WMP just copy the MP3 straight over, though if you manually adjust the quality setting, I'm pretty certain it converts to WMA before copying over.

[Sven Johannsen]

I'll give it another shot. I know about the quality thing, but may not have messed with it much. My experience was that it didn't convert the avi's and mpegs or compress them. Be cool if it does.

I'm sure on the licensed stuff though. The target has to be in the device you plan to play it on for the license to be done correctly.

[Darius Wey]

I'm sure on the licensed stuff though. The target has to be in the device you plan to play it on for the license to be done correctly.

From what I've read, I'm pretty sure you're right about that too. Most of my music comes direct from CDs, so thankfully, I don't have to deal with DRM all that much. :)

[Sven Johannsen]

From what I've read, I'm pretty sure you're right about that too. Most of my music comes direct from CDs, so thankfully, I don't have to deal with DRM all that much. :)

I don't much either. I got a Napster branded Samsung player a while back and it came with a coupon for 20 downloads. I've got those and they are useful for reminding me why I hate DRM. I have the DRMd versions and the ones I cut to CD and re-ripped. Occasionaly I copy the wrong one the wrong way and get hit with the license issue.