Database Users

Can't watch Avatar on the HD2

Hi Folks-
I know there are several threads on video encoding, but I think I am asking something new. I am using the retail version of Winx DVD Ripper which does a nice job overcoming encryption from my store bought DVDs so I can rip to my computer and then transfer to my HD2. Problem is I have workable mp4 files on my computer that I can watch after the process, but I am having mixed success watching them on the HD2.
Just recently, I ripped a nice mp4 version of Avatar that played fine on my computer, but when I transferred it to the phone, it would show the circle for the video player for half a second and then go back to my file explorer. This also happened with Black Hawk Down. I've had success with other movies such as Iron Man, etc. Am I running into some form of copy protection? If so, I'm annoyed as these are 100% retail DVDs I have purchased.
Specific settings for Winx include 800x480 resolution, sound to at least 160, using high resolution mode, even safe mode the second time I ripped Avatar to see if that would help.
Any ideas would be most appreciated, thanks!

Try the HTC Video Encoder. I've encoded 1080p .mkv files with no playback issues on my HD2. It's free, so can't hurt to give it a shot.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=467112

i view my movies using a divx player with no problems at all.
Mike

Try TCPMP player , install it then open the program and hit file than open and select the movie! let me know if this works.

xeebot said:
Try the HTC Video Encoder. I've encoded 1080p .mkv files with no playback issues on my HD2. It's free, so can't hurt to give it a shot.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=467112
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its just called video encoding GUI (saying htc implies they made it, when they didn't). But yes, I can highly recommend using it.
Also using tcpmp doesn't allow for full hardware acceleration.

ibeQuint said:
Its just called video encoding GUI (saying htc implies they made it, when they didn't). But yes, I can highly recommend using it.
Also using tcpmp doesn't allow for full hardware acceleration.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know what player do you recommend?

core player and tcmp player work all the time.. Dix player"sometimes work" but has small keys and audio issues but at least you can adjust sound and timeframe in fullscreen.

I will try the other encoding program. I downloaded pocket divx player and I couldn't figure out how to open up a new file and I tried to follow the directions in the program. Is it possible that I am having a hard time with my mp4 files because I transferred them not via Activesync but by the other option that pops up when you first connect your phone to a computer? Will post in a bit when I try the new encoder.
Edit: Tried the new encoder, but all sorts of error messages when I showed them the contents of my Avatar DVD. I have 33 files on the actual DVD, which ones am I trying to encode?

Don't use the video encoding GUI as it is awfully slow and doesn't even give you a great image quality due to the settings being made suitable for a Touch HD.
Just head over to doom9 and download MeGui. A bit harder to use, but at least you'll be able to encode them in under an hour with great IQ.
Just did an encode of my Avatar Blu-Ray(45Gb) that took a little under an hour and ended up with a 3Gb file with a bitrate of 2453Kbps and max at 10Mbps. Split it into two files of 1500Mb and the HD2 played them like a champ without a stutter in sight.
I also recommend you download eac3to(for audio ripping) and yamb(mp4 splitting).

Will try meGUI, guess people are thinking it has to do with the encoding huh? Even if it works ok on my computer but not HD2?

did you try the tcpmp player?

tgerbracht said:
Will try meGUI, guess people are thinking it has to do with the encoding huh? Even if it works ok on my computer but not HD2?
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Click to collapse
Yes. Just because it plays on the computer doesn't mean it'll play on the phone. Your computer's hardware is substantially "faster" than the HD2's. Optimizing the video through encoding is usually the answer.

Toss3 said:
Don't use the video encoding GUI as it is awfully slow and doesn't even give you a great image quality due to the settings being made suitable for a Touch HD.
Just head over to doom9 and download MeGui. A bit harder to use, but at least you'll be able to encode them in under an hour with great IQ.
Just did an encode of my Avatar Blu-Ray(45Gb) that took a little under an hour and ended up with a 3Gb file with a bitrate of 2453Kbps and max at 10Mbps. Split it into two files of 1500Mb and the HD2 played them like a champ without a stutter in sight.
I also recommend you download eac3to(for audio ripping) and yamb(mp4 splitting).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oof, this program does look confusing. I'm going to go through the help files and try to get a grasp of it all, but if you have some preset settings or a streamlined bit of advice, I'm all for it. So far I'm trying one-click method and I've been able to show it where the .vob files are and create a directory to place the file and working directory. There is a hick-up with something about the chapter titles and it looks like it needs a file but it shows nothing when I explore my DVD drive. The Megui wiki isn't very clear here...though the program looks promising!

try using dvdfab, select iphone/ipod encoding and after transfer your encoded avatar to your sd card.. i did it like that.

juwan de leon said:
try using dvdfab, select iphone/ipod encoding and after transfer your encoded avatar to your sd card.. i did it like that.
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Click to collapse
Will try this-along with tcmp and will report back.

xeebot said:
Try the HTC Video Encoder. I've encoded 1080p .mkv files with no playback issues on my HD2. It's free, so can't hurt to give it a shot.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=467112
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow.... cool app! Thanks for the link!!!

juwan de leon said:
try using dvdfab, select iphone/ipod encoding and after transfer your encoded avatar to your sd card.. i did it like that.
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Click to collapse
THANKS! The ---only--- DVD encoder that just worked!
Edit:
Tried Handbrake (couldn't reliably read DVD to burn), Winx DVD Ripper (couldnt play on HD2), couldnt figure out meGUI and the other encoder linked here, and I didn't have to use any other player other than the nice HTC one. Thanks again.

tgerbracht said:
Hi Folks-
I know there are several threads on video encoding, but I think I am asking something new. I am using the retail version of Winx DVD Ripper which does a nice job overcoming encryption from my store bought DVDs so I can rip to my computer and then transfer to my HD2. Problem is I have workable mp4 files on my computer that I can watch after the process, but I am having mixed success watching them on the HD2.
Just recently, I ripped a nice mp4 version of Avatar that played fine on my computer, but when I transferred it to the phone, it would show the circle for the video player for half a second and then go back to my file explorer. This also happened with Black Hawk Down. I've had success with other movies such as Iron Man, etc. Am I running into some form of copy protection? If so, I'm annoyed as these are 100% retail DVDs I have purchased.
Specific settings for Winx include 800x480 resolution, sound to at least 160, using high resolution mode, even safe mode the second time I ripped Avatar to see if that would help.
Any ideas would be most appreciated, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A lot of standalone players worldwide need a firmware update to make it work because Avatar BD uses a new encryption scheme called BD+ 5. I recommend u a blu ray ripper named PavTube. I think the Pavtube Blu-Ray Ripper Software is currently the best ripping software and surprisingly it can rip both DVDs & Blu-Ray Discs without the need of having a different Undo-Protection program. I have tried many brands of ripping software with poor results. PavTube Blue-Ray Ripper is a real "Swiss Knife". Download a demo version and you will find it is definitly worth buying.Experience Blu Ray Avatar in the center of your Home Theater System

Support for ISO files

I have own about 400 DVDs, all of which are available as ISO files through a playback device called a Network Media Tank, which pulls them off a Network Attached Storage box. Both of these devices are visible through AllShare, but since my discs are stored as ISO files virtually none of the media is actually available.
Does anyone know if the media formats can be easily expanded?
Is there perhaps some type of aftermarket ISO support available already and I've just overlooked it?

ISO is not a media format its a copy of the entire DVD's file structure and associated files, and storing 4.5gb full definition videos on the phone is a serious waste of space. You need to extract the video portion from the ISO image and convert that to an appropriate size for the phone.

KerryG said:
ISO is not a media format its a copy of the entire DVD's file structure and associated files, and storing 4.5gb full definition videos on the phone is a serious waste of space. You need to extract the video portion from the ISO image and convert that to an appropriate size for the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be fair, he is streaming from a server and this is a common way to do it for htpcs and media tank devices. Some people like the menus and such. To convert them to something the vibrant can play, makemkv would be a good choice as it's fast and doesn't transcode the video. There's also handbrake if you want to shrink them.
I don't know of a way to play the isos through the streaming app that comes with the phone. Some media servers can transcode on the fly for devices. That might be an option.

The Vibrant wont play ISOs. I would say use handbrake to convert the movies you want into something that will play on your phone.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

If you are streaming from a home server why would you be viewing a movie on the tiny screen when you have bigger ones in your house?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

androidmonkey said:
If you are streaming from a home server why would you be viewing a movie on the tiny screen when you have bigger ones in your house?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe he is away from home but still wants to be able to watch his movies?

KerryG said:
ISO is not a media format its a copy of the entire DVD's file structure and associated files, and storing 4.5gb full definition videos on the phone is a serious waste of space. You need to extract the video portion from the ISO image and convert that to an appropriate size for the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I'm well aware of the internal structure of ISO files. I actually rip the original DVD, then reauthor to a new ISO containing only the main movie file, 5.1 audio, and the chapter markers (and sometimes the English subtitles for foreign flicks). Bundling them back into an ISO is the only way the NMT will recognize chapters.
I suppose I should have clarified that I don't consider the menus or extras to be very important in most cases. I can always grab the original disc if I really care to see any of that. (Though I realize that anyone looking for ISO support would also probably expect that -- even though most of the streaming media players out there don't support it, the NMT product line being one notable exception.)
I'm not looking for a way to convert this content to something else. Well, not unless somebody knows of a single HD+5.1 format that maintains chapter skips? I never really thought to search around on that basis. Although I cringe at the thought of having to re-rip and re-code that many flicks...
androidmonkey said:
If you are streaming from a home server why would you be viewing a movie on the tiny screen when you have bigger ones in your house?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The house has 9 zones wired back to a centralized AV closet for full audio/video distribution and control, but I don't have a matrix switcher and really don't feel like blowing $4000+ for something that can handle 9x9, so whatever HD/surround is being viewed in one location is what is sent to all locations.
I figured this way my wife or I could wire up our phones using the forthcoming USB/HDMI cable to the HDTV in our offices or out in the garage or whatever, and stream something separate from whatever is being distributed to the rest of the house.

Do you have a somewhat powerful computer you can use for this? There are some uPNP compatible media servers that can transcode the videos on the fly as they stream to the device. I know PlayON does it for online streams. That might be the best option for you. It doesn't need to be really powerful, any 2Ghz or so Intel box should be able to handle it. I can't remember the names as I've never had a use for them, but this phone might make me reconsider.
I use MKV files for my rips on my HTPC setup, but that's more for multi subtitle/audio track support. I don't really do chapter skips, I just tell it I want 20min or whatever. I don't know if the phone reads MKV either, I haven't messed with it's media player capabilities much beyond the included Avatar movie.

MV10 said:
I have own about 400 DVDs, all of which are available as ISO files through a playback device called a Network Media Tank, which pulls them off a Network Attached Storage box. Both of these devices are visible through AllShare, but since my discs are stored as ISO files virtually none of the media is actually available.
Does anyone know if the media formats can be easily expanded?
Is there perhaps some type of aftermarket ISO support available already and I've just overlooked it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As posted above there are apps that will transcode movies on the fly for you. I have used Orb to stream to a phone before, and it worked reasonably well.

You have 9 zones and everything that is played in one location plays in all? Doesn't sound like zones to me. Sounds like what I play everybody is stuck watching. I mean no offense by saying that since I really don't know your setup and I'm sure if I do understand what your saying its your preference as well.
In my setup, which I know is off topic I have a media server and every PC in my house can watch different things all at the same time. Just for reference that's 6 different locations varying from HD to SD content.
You could use HandBrake or DvdFAB or other various applications to extract the ISO into a usable format for your phone. I was gungho to play video on my phone when I got it and honestly I've yet to really use it for what it was originally intended. LOL

I suppose you're right, they aren't "zones" but there are only two people in my house so it hasn't been a big deal. I suppose if I put PCs in every room I could easily do this but the last thing I need is even more computers. In fact I'm pretty happy that most of my computers have finally been jammed into a closet where I don't have to see them.
But the setup in my house is irrelevant.
I converted a flick to MKV last night and it turns out the phone can't take that stream anyway.

Use tversity I just stream everything from one computer to everything. Ps3 or Xbox or a phone. You can run as many streams as your computer and connection can take. It trans codes on a fly and never had any probs with it.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda premium

Avatar movie included with Vibrant

Apologies if this has previously been covered at length... My Vibrant came with Avatar pre-installed. Can anyone tell me how to view this file on my laptop or television?

Just drag it off the 2gb external sd card onto your computer.

I did that and I got a .dcf file which I can't figure out how to play.

Buy a tv out cable that goes from a 3.5mm jack to RCA
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

The file is DRM protected and will only play on that device...
Also if you connect the phone to the tv via the cable, when you try to play it, it will display that this media is not supported in TV out mode... easier to visit the redbox for $1 and get the movie to watch on your TV.

ahhh. yes, that would be one good way. Then what? just switch the TV to "video" and see whatever's displaying on the screen of my phone?

trunkstar1 said:
I did that and I got a .dcf file which I can't figure out how to play.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In that case it's a DigitalRightsManagement Content Format file, getting it to play on your computer is going to be a pain in the ass if you figure out if not impossible. You're better off going with bstromberg's solution or torrenting it as you already legally own it, having a copy of it for backup purposes isn't considered stealing.

jeremiah_mn said:
The file is DRM protected and will only play on that device...
Also if you connect the phone to the tv via the cable, when you try to play it, it will display that this media is not supported in TV out mode... easier to visit the redbox for $1 and get the movie to watch on your TV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
boo, so there's no real workaround or hack... it's true though, movies are cheap. I just got excited after watching the first 8 minutes of the movie on my phone.

Transfer. avi or mp4 to A500 wont work??

Hi i have a couple movies on my computer I am trying to tranfer to my device via the usb cable and am having no luck whatsoever. It tells me the file type is not supported and may not be able to play on my device. It only gives me tge option to cancel or skip it. I have tried converting and still no luck. I did however test throwing a mp3 song on it and copied fine. Any ideas?? Or alternative ways? Id really like to be able to use my hdmi cable to my hdtv. Thanks

If you check the threads you will find countless ways to transfer nearly every kind of video format to your tab. To mention just two progs (1) Handbrake - This will keep you busy for some considerable time working on all the possible combinations - and (2) Catalyst 4.
If you check "WereCatf's" tutorial on Handbrake (TOP of this forum) you can't go far wrong.
If you just want to keep it down and dirty and very simple just convert all your movies to mp4 format and then pick a player - possibly MoboPlayer or MX Video Player or whatever takes your fancy.

You may still get that error after conversion. The easiest way to do it if it still won't let you transfer via usb is to pull the micro sdcard out of you a500 and load it directly to your card from the computer.

Easier to just ignore the error.

I get that same error with whatever files I'm trying to transfer and even if they work just fine on the tablet. I just ignore the error and transfer anyways.

Use qq player from the market is free
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

Yea, just ignore the error and transfer anyway. I don't pay attention to it.
Sent from my A500 using xda premium

kevinjones84 said:
Use qq player from the market is free
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use reading comprehension from the brains is free

WereCatf said:
Use reading comprehension from the brains is free
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your mean streak is showing once again
Remember, sometimes, posts get transmitted, well, whenever the transmit gods allow.... Not everybody has a T9 backbone like me. Sometimes, it takes awhile.
Oh... the woes of 50gb access.... I suffer in the slowness...
---------- Post added at 10:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:55 PM ----------
kevinjones84 said:
Use qq player from the market is free
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So is MX Player, and it offers more codec support.

You can't always ignore the error message, sometimes it only gives you the option to cancel or skip.

Thanks everybody for your insight however yes it was not giving me the option to copy over to my Tablet. I solved this issue by going to the Acer support page and installing the new drivers! Very easy and now I can transfer effortlessly. My only issue now is the movies are very random with which player they will perform best on. Some play with no audio but perfect picture on B Player and choppy with sound on Mobo. Or vice-versa. I don't see how just changing the players around can change things but it does so I just keep a couple different players and it is a crap shoot what one will play it properly.

[Q] Please help with getting Blu-ray movies on my N10?

All,
I have tried all forms of searching, software, & methods to get this to work - short of purchasing software. Everything I search leads me to software to buy; & the methods I have come across on XDA & Google searching aren't working for me. I've tried Handbrake & MakeMKV. Here's some specifics:
I have the Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Download of the movie TED. I've tried to get the WMA & iTunes copy of the digital download onto my N10, but it won't copy over from my laptop. It says it's not supported. That's ok because I'm sure a ripped Blu-ray is better for our awesome screens anyway. First, I've tried to use Handbrake w/ the AppleTV3 settings (as suggested in another thread on here) & also Android High. All I got was the video of the Universal screen saver. So, I tried MakeMKV. It ripped the disc & I was confronted with a bunch of mkv files, 10 to be exact. They were of various sizes & lengths. I'm guessing the two large files are the actual movie. I then tried to use Handbrake to convert them to mp4 & still no good. I'm so frustrated.
What am I doing wrong? Am I on the right track? I've seen other results, but I'm tired of downloading all of these freeware/shareware programs (lord knows what they're installing in the background, lol!) If anyone could give me a step-by-step guide of what they do to get their Blu-rays on their N10, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks in advance!

No need to convert the mkv's, they will play just fine as-is. :good:
Bsplayer is currently the best media player for the n10. Just make sure you have the latest version, and turn on the 'experimental 4.1 hw decoder' in the settings.

Random sidenote about mkv's, I would suggest not encoding them to Hi10P; haven't found a player yet that was able to decode them with hardware (the players I used could play the videos with software though, but at 1080p, caused dropped frames).

stiggy2012 said:
No need to convert the mkv's, they will play just fine as-is. :good:
Bsplayer is currently the best media player for the n10. Just make sure you have the latest version, and turn on the 'experimental 4.1 hw decoder' in the settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to make sure I'm understanding correctly; I just use MakeMKV & all is well? Aren't there different types of .mkv's, like mkv-avc & such? Also, like I said, I used MakeMKV & I got TEN different files of varying size & play time. Why so many different files for one Blu-ray? I played all of them & they are just different clips of video from the movie, two of them being the full version (the rated & unrated versions). Great, right!? They are almost 25GB! o.0! If all I need is to just pick one & put it on my N10, how do I make it smaller?
Thanks for the help, I appreciate the quick response!

espionage724 said:
Random sidenote about mkv's, I would suggest not encoding them to Hi10P; haven't found a player yet that was able to decode them with hardware (the players I used could play the videos with software though, but at 1080p, caused dropped frames).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, for being such a n00b at all this media stuff, but the most I've ever done is simple ripping of CD/DVD/Blu-ray. Would I encode them after using MakeMKV to rip the Blu-ray? How would I encode them? What would you recommend?
Thanks for the help!

dscatto said:
Sorry, for being such a n00b at all this media stuff, but the most I've ever done is simple ripping of CD/DVD/Blu-ray. Would I encode them after using MakeMKV to rip the Blu-ray? How would I encode them? What would you recommend?
Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my case I usually rip the blu-ray to a de-securitied iso using DVD-FABHD (Beta Qt versions) and then load that in Handbrake to make a full res mp4 reencode. Naturally there will be some quality loss, but I never see it.
The 2 options to play the 25GB full size files would be to connect a USB-OTG cable with external storage (thumb drive or full size) or to play it over the network. (Need a decent connection to your WIFI router)
May be other options.

MrGrimace said:
In my case I usually rip the blu-ray to a de-securitied iso using DVD-FABHD (Beta Qt versions) and then load that in Handbrake to make a full res mp4 reencode. Naturally there will be some quality loss, but I never see it.
The 2 options to play the 25GB full size files would be to connect a USB-OTG cable with external storage (thumb drive or full size) or to play it over the network. (Need a decent connection to your WIFI router)
May be other options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks bud! I'll give DVD-FABHD software a try. What settings do you use in Handbrake?
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk HD