What's the BEST video player?

robbski · 03-22-05, 06:43 PM

I've had my X50v for a couple weeks now. I've got the trial version of Betaplayer but just discovered that it will not play MPEG2 files that are created when I transfer video from my video camera to my Dell Dimension 8400 desktop. I also need to be able to convert .mov files generated from my Kodak Digital camera to a format that will play on my Axim. I actually have a trial version of software from Aone Software that will convert .mov to mpeg but it will only do 50% of the file until I purchace the software.

Any suggestions/comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! ---Ski

victorypoint · 03-22-05, 08:52 PM

For the PPC platform it's recommended you stay with a video codec that performs well at lower bitrates and with smaller processors such as MPEG-1, MPEG-4, and WMV. There currently is no PPC player for DV-25 and MPEG-2 files. MOV files have limited support with some players. MOV and AVI are "containers" - they can contain one of many different video and audio codecs.

-AJ

03-22-05, 11:14 PM

MPEG-2 is useless for PPCs. Average bitrate is incredibly high. It's not made for PPCs at all.

BetaPlayer isn't trialware. It's freeware. Go with what Victorypoint suggested, but I'd stick with just MPEG-4. It's the latest and most advanced under the DivX codec. MPEG-1 is too bloated and outdated. WMV is not the best b/c it's from Microsoft honestly.

Don't Panic! · 03-22-05, 11:23 PM

I don't usually get into these but here's a list in descending order of importance;

BetaPlayer
WMP10 for Mobile Devices
PocketTV

HTH

victorypoint · 03-23-05, 01:57 AM

Originally Posted by DanmanX

MPEG-2 is useless for PPCs. Average bitrate is incredibly high. It's not made for PPCs at all.

BetaPlayer isn't trialware. It's freeware. Go with what Victorypoint suggested, but I'd stick with just MPEG-4. It's the latest and most advanced under the DivX codec. MPEG-1 is too bloated and outdated. WMV is not the best b/c it's from Microsoft honestly.

Just to qualify DanmanX's comments, there is ancient MPEG-4 (MS MPEG4-v1, MS MPEG4-v2), old MPEG-4 (MS MPEG4-v3, DivX3), and not so old ISO MPEG-4 ASP (DivX5, XviD) codecs. Then there's the new standardized H.264 AVC and Open Source x264 codecs (also known as MPEG-4 Part 10) and Microsoft's WMV9 (although not technically H.264 compliant but equivalent to MPEG-4 AVC). H.264 and WMV9 are technically the best available and are chosen for the upcoming blu-ray and HD-DVD standard. We'll start to see WMV9 (VC-1) in standalone hardware DVD decoders soon.

And to qualify HTH's comments, you can't really list players in order of importance since each has unique compatabilities and strengths. Betaplayer doesn't play WMV, MS MPEG4-v1 and MS MPEG4-v2. WMP10 Mobile doesn't play non-Microsoft MPEG-4 codecs (although I'm not positive on this one). It really depends on which video format you want to play.

Then there's the emerging Nero ShowTime Mobile (currently in beta) which looks very very promising.

-AJ

Don't Panic! · 03-23-05, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by victorypoint

And to qualify HTH's comments, you can't really list players in order of importance since each has unique compatabilities and strengths. -AJ

I just did.

Too bad we frown upon having multiple identities here. HTH would be a killer username! :approve:

victorypoint · 03-23-05, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Don't Panic!

I just did.

Yes, you certainly did... perhaps a bit too literally.

Originally Posted by Don't Panic!

Too bad we frown upon having multiple identities here. HTH would be a killer username! :approve:

Sorry, got confused with all the information in your sig and screwed up your name. My bad. What is HTH anyway?

-AJ

Don't Panic! · 03-23-05, 11:50 AM

HTH = Hope this Helps.

No biggie, I'm just testing out the new smilies. :)

If I was upset I probably would have used

but them there's fighting words don't you know? ;)

Here's a good place to get some info on the posting abbreviations I use. And this opus encompasses my philosophy on discussion boards.

crash613 · 03-23-05, 12:13 PM

the only abbv. i need it TGIF!! (which it is for me... i work a 4 and 2 schedule)

Don't Panic! · 03-23-05, 01:18 PM

That's also covered in the link .

How about trying PQV. It costs but it's a great image editor as well as a digital camera movie playback program.

victorypoint · 03-23-05, 01:20 PM

-AJ

robbski · 03-23-05, 11:12 PM

Damn! You guys got my head spinning with all this talk about codecs, versions, etc., etc.... I guess my "problem" right now the ability to take video from my Panasonic Video camera and move it to my Desktop computer in a form that I'll be able view on my Axim X50v. Maybe MPEG-2 isn't the only choice, but I think it was the best in terms of file size. 2nd "problem" is the ability to convert .mov files to a file format that can be viewed on the Axim. Like I said, I've got the trial software from Aone Software. It seems to work. Is there anything better? I just hate buying downloaded software. I'd rather have a hard copy in case of problems down the road. Thanks again for the help. More comments/suggestions appreciated.
----Robb

victorypoint · 03-23-05, 11:34 PM

Robb, my recommendation is download the free Microsoft Windows Media Encoder here. Use it to convert your DV camcorder videos to WMV9 format using the PocketPC profile. View them on your Axim using the built-in WMP10. Others may tell you to download freeware to convert to DivX or Xvid format. That is fine if you want to use Betaplayer. You may need additional freeware to convert your MOV files but you will need Apple Quicktime installed on your encoding PC.

-AJ

robbski · 03-24-05, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by victorypoint

Robb, my recommendation is download the free Microsoft Windows Media Encoder here. You may need additional freeware to convert your MOV files but you will need Apple Quicktime installed on your encoding PC.

-AJ

Thanks for your help AJ. Encoding PC? Meaning? I cannot have Quicktime installed on my Axim. Correct? Thanks again! ---Robb

robbski · 03-24-05, 09:03 PM

BTW, what do you mean by "using the Pocket PC profile"?