Hubtime

Well the Comp USA in Dearborn (Detroit) Michigan had a few RX3115 on display. Of course I always have my 2215 in tow wherever I go, Socket 802.11b, 1.0gb CF, 512mb SD, to boot. Since this RX3115 is supposed to be the Multimedia PPC out of all of the other new HP PDA's, I figure I would compare Video playback of the RX3115 to the 2215.

I copied Matrix Reloaded (Neo against 100 agent Smiths) to my 512mb SD. I put the SD in the RX3115 and I quickly noticed the screen quality was superior. The video playback however...was absolutely horrible. The playback was so choppy that when I was able to get the 2215 close to the same part of the movie for side by side comparison I stopped when I was within 30 seconds of the RX. The 2215 playback was so smooth that it caught up with the RX's choppy playback.

Okay, Okay, my point is that if HP considers the RX as the Multimedia PDA there is no way that they would load a superior hardware configuration in the HX4705. No way. It is my belief that the addition of the faster processor in the HX will not significantly improve the video playback.

This proposes a problem for me. I copy my DVD's and convert them to WMV format for viewing (I have all 3 Matrix episodes on my 1.0gb CF). If the video playback sucks then that is a significant problem for me. I am not a hard PDA gamer (I'm a gamer though), but I need the movie playback.

On another note, the RX3115 comes with a fully functional version of POCKET TV PRO. Impressive! I like POCKET TV PRO but I won't pay the big money for it.

If anyone has detailed information regarding HX4705 multimedia performance please post it.

Disappointing prospect indeed!

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benn600

I agree totally on how they call it their multimedia companion and it can't even play smooth video. I honestly think that the ppc has differences in hardware configuration besides the processor speed and perhaps video card alone. I think the other components in the system are faster as well. My 3835 will play very good video at around 25fps (maybe a little less) and I can't see the top of the line device going backwards. I have never owned an ipaq other than the top of the line from hp so I have no idea about the performance. Perhaps we can compare it to the celeron processor. It has a high mhz rating but is actually much slower because of cache and other components of the computer as well. Again, though, we'll just have to wait and see. I am sick of waiting, though! I have waited almost a month since I was originally supposed to get it!

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Fortimir

It's all going to be in the hands of the ATi 3220 chip they are using in the hx4705.

The memory bandwidth is the limiting factor. Also, what player you use and HOW the video is encoded will make drastic changes. I have no fear that the hx4705 won't be able to play back fair VGA video at 24fps.

It will just be a matter of using the right video player (Beta Player or PocketTV) and encoding correctly.

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Wassabi

Which video recorder comes with the 4700?

- Was

jgolias

Looking at the specs on the HP site shows no video capture / record software is included with the 4705. It does come with Media Player 9 though.

The way most of us get video onto our PPCs is to encode the video using a program on your desktop machine and then transfer the file to your PPC via a card or some other storage media. There are many different software programs that can take a video file or DVD and encode it for use on your PPC. Check around for some recommendations or visit someplace like http://www.handango.com for some suggestions.

I tend to use a few older programs whos codecs (encoding algorithms) are out of date. They still work fine, but they are not up to par for todays hardware. When I receive my 4705, I'll look at updating the sofware or get new codecs.

So, in short, getting video onto a PPC is a mutlistep process and takes the additional services of a desktop PC or a service on the Net. The rx3715 is supposed to have some capture capabilities, but I'm not personally familiar with the device. So, I couldn't comment on it's quality.

Hope this helps a little.

imported_Pony99CA

Originally Posted by Fortimir

I have no fear that the hx4705 won't be able to play back fair VGA video at 24fps.

You should have some fear. The C|Net review of the 4700 wasn't impressed with video performance compared to the Dell Axim X30. I don't know if that specifically meant video playback or simply general video performance.

The review also didn't note whether this was because the 4700 is a VGA device and has to push 4x the pixels that the QVGA X30 does.

Steve

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Fortimir

Originally Posted by Pony99CA

You should have some fear. The C|Net review of the 4700 wasn't impressed with video performance compared to the Dell Axim X30. I don't know if that specifically meant video playback or simply general video performance. The review also didn't note whether this was because the 4700 is a VGA device and has to push 4x the pixels that the QVGA X30 does. Steve

The review was dumbed down, and we had discussed a very large thread about this over at brighthand. They did fail to mention that it was a VGA device, so they were comparing the speed of QVGA vs. VGA and not making that note apparent.

Running video at VGA resolutions may be hard/impossible to run at a full 24fps, but I think QVGA resolution stretched to size, or even something a little larger than that may not be too bad. I won't complain if I see a pixel here and there.

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HX4705

I dont think they said if it was in VGA mode or not.

BTW it was my comment on brighthand.

serpa4

So, let me buy a nice VGA pda and watch a qvga movie on it...not. What a load of bs. If you have a top of the line/flagship pda with a ati chip (old) and 624mhz, you should be able to watch true vga video! Of course, that is not the top priority for everyone.

Fortimir

Originally Posted by UHF

So, let me buy a nice VGA pda and watch a qvga movie on it...not. What a load of bs. If you have a top of the line/flagship pda with a ati chip (old) and 624mhz, you should be able to watch true vga video! Of course, that is not the top priority for everyone.

I'll just be happy to be able to watch a full movie on my PPC, period.

My Cassiopeia E-125 just can't handle videos at good quality with good framerates.

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imported_Eugene

I found today's review of hx4705 at http://translate.google.com/translat...revue_295.html and among other things it has benchmark data from BetaPlayer:
RL_HQ_640x350_1024_128 video : 184,23%
RL_XQ_640x480_1500_128 video : 132,37%

HX4705

So in english... that means?? 184,23% of what?

Hubtime

Originally Posted by Eugene

I found today's review of hx4705 at http://translate.google.com/translat...revue_295.html and among other things it has benchmark data from BetaPlayer: RL_HQ_640x350_1024_128 video : 184,23% RL_XQ_640x480_1500_128 video : 132,37%

Thanks for the information man! I have been waiting to see some deteiled benchmarks and a thorough review. This is much more useable than the Overview from C-Net. The language difference and some factors lost in translation are difficult but it was understandable.

I think my decision to stay with the HX4705 are reinforced with this information.

MANY THANKS!

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imported_Eugene

Originally Posted by HX4705

So in english... that means?? 184,23% of what?

The referenced sample RL_HQ_640x350_1024_128 is Matrix trailer (with a lot of action) encoded at 1024Kbit/s 2-pass DivX. It has frame rate 24 fps so benchmark value 184,23% means that this clip can be displayed with the maximum rate of 44 fps without dropping any frames.
In other words hx4700 has enough power to show movies with such resolution and bitrate at normal fps (25 or 29) without dropping any frames - and that's what we want Even 1500 bitrate which is more than enough for 640x480 resolution should be played without any problems.

Hubtime

Okay the same test that I performed at CompUSA (Reference the note that started this Thread) I performed the same sequence on an Axim X30 that my co-worker just purchased.

Man the graphics speed, smoothness, and overall replay was exceptionally good! I really like the graphics on this machine. I once again played my 2215 side by side with the Dell Axim X-30. However this time around the X-30 out performed my 2215.

Well since I used the words "exceptionally good" I want to indicate that there was some exception to the performance that I did not like about the X-30. First of all the screen brightness at max wasn't better than my 2215 at 3/4 max. Also the screen size seemed small. I did like the blue hue that appeared better than the yellowing of the 2215. The screen also seemed quite small (is that redundant to mention it twice?).

It appears as though the Spb Benchmark comparisons between Hx4705 and Axim X-30 at the bottom of the page on the hyperlink below are on point. Once again this could be a cause for concern with the HX......If you depend on movie playback.

Benchmark comparison information and review

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