I have some recorded webcasts in WMV format. When I try to play these in WMP 8.5 on my X50, I get the following error: "Windows Media Player cannot play this file."

Is there a work-around for this? If I could even play just the audio, that would be better than nothing at all.

FWIW, I also have BetaPlayer installed, but it doesn't show the file in the list; it probably doesn't support WMV files.

Any ideas?

Is the bitrate and resolution compatible with ppc specs?

 

Good question. I'm not familiar with the PPC specs. According to File > Properties, the files are:

Audio bitrate: 104bps
Audio sample rate: 8 kHz
Video data rate: 88kbps
Resolution is: 704x528
Video sample rate: 24-bit

If the resolution is the problem, how can I get just the audio to play?

Where did you get them?
If they are DRM protected files then WMP8.5 is not going to play them.
Nothing will except the computer that's licensed to (unless you manage to break the DRM encryption).

Outside of a dog -- a book is a man's best friend.
Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.

I downloaded them from Microsoft's web site. Specifically, http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic/com...webcasts13to15, which leads you to http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/Ev...&Culture=en-US

They are freely-distributable, but you might need to enter your email address before you can download them.

??? That's a typo right? At a guess I would say the video you are tying to view is in WMV9 format which your media player does not support. Betaplayer will not help as it uses the WMP libraries, unless there is an upgrade for your PDA I think you're out of luck.

No typo. It's WMP 8.5. I'm not aware of an update. Dell supposedly made an update (WM2003?) available for a limited time, but has since withdrawn it. I've not been able to locate it anywhere.

Anyone know where I can obtain a newer version of WMP? Can I obtain the PPC update somewhere?

There are people offering it on eBay though I have no idea on the legality of obtaining it this way.

Any idea why Dell pulled the upgrade? Were there technical issues that I should be aware of before installing it? (assuming I had it)

Nobody but Dell knows for sure why the later WM2003 Upgrade CD was discontinued but I would guess a lack of sales and the imminent release of the X30 might have had something to do with it.

I do know for sure why the first WM2003 ROM (A04) upgrade was pulled, namely that it had serious bugs in it that caused some applications to run very poorly. This was fixed by issuing the A05 ROM which exists in two different versions, the one that came on CD allowed any X5 to be upgraded directly to A05 and another which was available on their website that only allowed users who already had the flawed WM2003 version to upgrade.

The upgrade procedure is 99.9% safe as a copy of your current ROM is copied to your PC before you actually flash the new one, this doesn't backup the data you have put on your X5 that must be done separately. If something does go wrong you can restore your original ROM via ActiveSync or if it goes very wrong via CF card.

If you do decide to go the eBay route then ask whether the CD is genuine as a lot of them clearly are not. Anyone offering the upgrade as a download should be avoided as they definitely do not have a legal right to do so.

I now have the CD. When I try to install the PPC2003 upgrade, however, it fails saying that ActiveSync is not installed. The accompanying notes indicate that ActiveSync 3.7 is required. I have AS 3.8 installed on my PC. AS 3.7 is included on the CD. Any suggestions on how to proceed? Should I uninstall AS 3.8 and re-install AS 3.7?

Since I've only ever flashed my Axim using ActiveSync 3.7.1 I would have to say yes use the version on the CD in preference to 3.8.