I have some RM files that I want to view on my Axim. I got the newest version of the RealPlayer for PPC but when I try to view my files I only get sound and no video (I may get a picture but thats about it - no video). The files run fine on my computer. I've tried other RM files but I encounter the same problem. The files are all 300kbps and are around 5-8MB big.

How can I solve this so I can view video RM files? Do I have to convert the RM files to a different format?

Real media has its own format?

It sure does. either .rm or .ram

What God has brought together, let man not part. Matt 19:6

 

I recall reading somewhere in this forum (sorry, can't locate the appropriate thread) that the PPC RealPlayer cannot handle files encoded at 300kpbs. This may be the source of your problem

Palmax PD500C >> Axim 400MHz
2 x Lexar 256 SD; 1 x Integral 64 CF
Krusell case with slide swivel clip
Lowe Pro D-Res 120 pouch

Darn. I tried converting but the file sizes blow up to 6-10 times their original size.

I just posted a message about a week ago about this. Everytime I tried playing 300Kbps .rm files, the audio would play fine but the video would only start a couple of minutes later but be very laggy. It might be because I'm using a PXA250 300MHz with an old 4x Lexar CF card, who knows. In the meantime I've searched hi and lo for ways to convert .rm files to divx files. I've found three solutions listed in order of preference:

http://www.eo-video.com/
http://www.boilsoft.com/
http://www.divx-digest.com/articles/rm2avi.html

EO-video is neat because you can que multiple files to run, and has video and audio compression options. Unfortunately it is only a 30 day trial and $35 to buy. Boilsoft's RM convertor only converts one file at a time with only video compression options. It is also a trial and $20 to buy. I messed around with TINRA a little, but was unsuccessful. It basically converts .rm files into huge uncompressed .avi files. I've been messing with EO-video a lot this past week and have found that using the divx codec with 1-pass quality based, 100% quantizer, and appropriate values for the rest of the options (320x240, bicubic, 15fps) with the MPEG codec (22050Hz, 4 kBytes/s for mono) works pretty well. To get the best result I use VirtualDub (http://www.virtualdub.org/) on this file afterwards (2-pass, 1st pass, 2-pass 2nd pass, screen rotation) and you end up with a file that is even smaller than the original .RM file. I'm not an expert with any of this software (fibrizo's guide helped out a lot with Virtualdub), so if anybody has any better suggestions lemme know. I wish EO-video could do screen rotation and do batch encoding for 2-pass stuff so that everything could be done in one sweep, but oh well. I'll probably end up buying EO-video since I watch a lot of anime. Man, I need to suck it up and buy a 1GB CF card too.... Hope this helps.

Thanks! That EO-Video software worked great!! You were right that it keeps the encoded file size really small.

Real Player for pocket pc
http://www.real.com/realmobile/download.html

I've been thinking about installing RealPlayer on my X5 so I can listen to BBC radio stations. On my PC, I use Real Alternative as Real Media's own player takes over your machine like a virus!

Does anyone know if the Pocket PC version is just as intrusive?