Portable distribution methods forum? at DVinfo.net

Paul Carlberg · February 13th, 2006, 05:07 PM

DV folks,

I am posting here because I don't know where else to post. In the DV forum, is there a catagory for the different types of end user distribution, for example
iPod, Sony PlayStation, or even cell phones? The reason I ask, is that I'm of the older generation yet I work with lots of Gen X & Y'ers who have video iPod's. From what I understand, the only method of getting video to these units is via Apple iTunes. Apparently if you have an iPod, and you wish to view full length TV shows/movies, you need to pay extra for "converter" software from Apple? Anyhow, some of my younger friends use freeware but this allows viewing of 4 minute clips (or less) only. Do these issues exist for other portable media? Just curious.

TIA, Paul C.

Chris Hurd · February 13th, 2006, 05:23 PM

Interesting concept. Normally I won't start a new board without plenty of pre-existing threads, but we could fold this into our DVD & Web Video Delivery forum (simply by re-naming that board). Who here is interested?

Dan Euritt · February 14th, 2006, 02:40 PM

hi paul, the apple video ipod spec is for the h.264 and mpeg4 codecs, it doesn't matter what encoder is used to create the file... i did it with the nero h.264 encoder, uploaded the file to my website, and someone out here downloaded it to an ipod, no problems... it was pretty recent, so you should be able to find the thread with a search.

maybe it was on the dvd/web video forum?

make it so, chris! you got my vote, fwiw, lol.

Paul Carlberg · February 14th, 2006, 06:04 PM

Chris,

You have my vote also!

Dan, yes I became aware that iPod's utilize mpeg4 codecs however apparently Apple has a vested interest in controlling some content and those co-workers of mine that have iPod's seem to believe that they "must" go through the iTunes web space to download content. I can't verify this. Anyhow, I should think that any mpeg4 rendered video would play and all you'd have to do is download it from any web page. Paul

Dan Euritt · February 15th, 2006, 12:12 PM

i left the ipod h.264 video clip up on my site, so if you can find the thread, you can have your friends download it themselves.

i believe that apple does have some digital rights management going on with the itunes content, which may be why they got the notion that the only place they could get content is on apple's website... the truth is that ipods should play any non-drm content that is within the video/audio spec, regardless of where you sourced the files.

Kris Holodak · March 8th, 2006, 12:15 PM

I'm the one who tested Dan's video, and it did get to my iPod through iTunes. I downloaded it to my hard drive, imported it to my iTunes library, and then synched my iPod.

However, if you want to view an iPod compaitble video outside of the iTunes/iPod combination they'll play in the latest version of QuickTime just fine.

John Britt · March 8th, 2006, 12:41 PM

Chris -- if you don't find a place for these kind of topics now, you'll definitely find yourself needing one eventually! :)

It is probably best served by the DVD and Web forum, since much of the content is available via the web.

More importantly, as we all know, is the fact that -- like HD -- this is a technology that networks, freelancers and amateurs will all be using more and more often.

Shooting and encoding for iPods, PSPs (my personal favorite) and other mobile devices is definitely a creature unto itself. Many of the rules of shooting/encoding for web delivery still apply, but the use of proprietary formats makes it a little more difficult. The iPod and the PSP both use the MPEG4 codec, but apply it in individual, proprietary ways. And while you do need iTunes to get data onto an iPod, you only need a USB cable to transfer files to the PSP.

As mentioned before, the free version of Quicktime will play m4v video files encoded for the iPod. I do not even own an iPod, but I have successfully bought and watched music videos and TV shows from Apple's iTunes store.

Personally, as I've mentioned before, the one thing that really excites me about the PSP is the factthat you can download content directly to the device, no PC or cables necessary. It has built-in 802.11b wifi and a built-in web browser. So any site with PSP-formatted video can be accessed directly from the PSP from any wifi hotspot, allowing you to download the videos and watch them (sort of) immediately. I've even encoded some of the videos on my own site to the PSP-spec mp4 format.

So, yes, you have my vote also :) (Even though it's been awhile since I was a regular here!)

Dionyssios Chalkias · March 9th, 2006, 10:24 AM

Chris,

I agree. I don't think there's a need for a separate forum. The DVD & Web Video Delivery forum renamed (to include HD-DVD and BluRay eventually) sounds fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Carlberg

iPod, Sony PlayStation... From what I understand, the only method of getting video to these units is via Apple iTunes

Paul,

FYI Sony Vegas 6.0d has the Sony AVC/AAC encoder with templates for PSP format output and the Mainconcept AVC/AAC encoder with a template for iPod output. I think other NLEs will follow (if they haven't already done so).

Kris Holodak · March 9th, 2006, 10:29 AM

Chris,

And I'll add my 2 cents for including mobile devices to the dvd and web forum. People are going to be talking about this more and more and it will be good to know where to look for those conversations.

Smile,
Kris

John Britt · March 9th, 2006, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dionyssios Chalkias

Chris,

I agree. I don't think there's a need for a separate forum. The DVD & Web Video Delivery forum renamed (to include HD-DVD and BluRay eventually) sounds fine.

Paul,

FYI Sony Vegas 6.0d has the Sony AVC/AAC encoder with templates for PSP format output and the Mainconcept AVC/AAC encoder with a template for iPod output. I think other NLEs will follow (if they haven't already done so).

Also, the latest Nero 6.x update, as well as 7, will convert to PSP-spec mp4. Dan, of course, also mentioned that it will encode for iPod as well.

There is also freeware, such as PSP Video 9 for the PSP, and Videora for the iPod, that you can use to encode your videos for these players. I believe both of these encoders are made/distributed by the same group.

Christopher Lefchik · March 9th, 2006, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Britt

There is also freeware, such as PSP Video 9 for the PSP, and Videora for the iPod, that you can use to encode your videos for these players. I believe both of these encoders are made/distributed by the same group.

Thanks for mentioning those programs. I hadn't known about them. For those interested, you can download them from the Videora Web site. They also have free converters there for the TiVo and XBox360.

John Britt · March 9th, 2006, 06:00 PM

Thanks for posting the links, Christopher! I was being lazy this afternoon and didn't bother to look them up myself. :)

By the way, I've used PSP Video 9 and liked it fine enough, but typically use Nero for PSP encoding. This is largely because when format shifting my personal DVDs, Nero natively recognizes whole movies and individual episodes (when it some to TV programs). PSP Video 9 does offer an wide variety of encoding options, though.

February 13th, 2006, 05:07 PM	#1
Paul Carlberg Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Aurora, Colorado Posts: 41	Portable distribution methods forum? DV folks, I am posting here because I don't know where else to post. In the DV forum, is there a catagory for the different types of end user distribution, for example iPod, Sony PlayStation, or even cell phones? The reason I ask, is that I'm of the older generation yet I work with lots of Gen X & Y'ers who have video iPod's. From what I understand, the only method of getting video to these units is via Apple iTunes. Apparently if you have an iPod, and you wish to view full length TV shows/movies, you need to pay extra for "converter" software from Apple? Anyhow, some of my younger friends use freeware but this allows viewing of 4 minute clips (or less) only. Do these issues exist for other portable media? Just curious. TIA, Paul C.

February 13th, 2006, 05:23 PM	#2
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Interesting concept. Normally I won't start a new board without plenty of pre-existing threads, but we could fold this into our DVD & Web Video Delivery forum (simply by re-naming that board). Who here is interested? __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 14th, 2006, 06:04 PM	#4
Paul Carlberg Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Aurora, Colorado Posts: 41	re: distrib methods Chris, You have my vote also! Dan, yes I became aware that iPod's utilize mpeg4 codecs however apparently Apple has a vested interest in controlling some content and those co-workers of mine that have iPod's seem to believe that they "must" go through the iTunes web space to download content. I can't verify this. Anyhow, I should think that any mpeg4 rendered video would play and all you'd have to do is download it from any web page. Paul

March 9th, 2006, 10:29 AM	#9
Kris Holodak Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 302	mobile devices area Chris, And I'll add my 2 cents for including mobile devices to the dvd and web forum. People are going to be talking about this more and more and it will be good to know where to look for those conversations. Smile, Kris

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February 14th, 2006, 02:40 PM	#3
Dan Euritt Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Carlsbad CA Posts: 1,132	hi paul, the apple video ipod spec is for the h.264 and mpeg4 codecs, it doesn't matter what encoder is used to create the file... i did it with the nero h.264 encoder, uploaded the file to my website, and someone out here downloaded it to an ipod, no problems... it was pretty recent, so you should be able to find the thread with a search. maybe it was on the dvd/web video forum? make it so, chris! you got my vote, fwiw, lol.

February 15th, 2006, 12:12 PM	#5
Dan Euritt Trustee Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Carlsbad CA Posts: 1,132	i left the ipod h.264 video clip up on my site, so if you can find the thread, you can have your friends download it themselves. i believe that apple does have some digital rights management going on with the itunes content, which may be why they got the notion that the only place they could get content is on apple's website... the truth is that ipods should play any non-drm content that is within the video/audio spec, regardless of where you sourced the files.

March 8th, 2006, 12:15 PM	#6
Kris Holodak Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 302	I'm the one who tested Dan's video, and it did get to my iPod through iTunes. I downloaded it to my hard drive, imported it to my iTunes library, and then synched my iPod. However, if you want to view an iPod compaitble video outside of the iTunes/iPod combination they'll play in the latest version of QuickTime just fine.

March 8th, 2006, 12:41 PM	#7
John Britt Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 621	Chris -- if you don't find a place for these kind of topics now, you'll definitely find yourself needing one eventually! :) It is probably best served by the DVD and Web forum, since much of the content is available via the web. More importantly, as we all know, is the fact that -- like HD -- this is a technology that networks, freelancers and amateurs will all be using more and more often. Shooting and encoding for iPods, PSPs (my personal favorite) and other mobile devices is definitely a creature unto itself. Many of the rules of shooting/encoding for web delivery still apply, but the use of proprietary formats makes it a little more difficult. The iPod and the PSP both use the MPEG4 codec, but apply it in individual, proprietary ways. And while you do need iTunes to get data onto an iPod, you only need a USB cable to transfer files to the PSP. As mentioned before, the free version of Quicktime will play m4v video files encoded for the iPod. I do not even own an iPod, but I have successfully bought and watched music videos and TV shows from Apple's iTunes store. Personally, as I've mentioned before, the one thing that really excites me about the PSP is the factthat you can download content directly to the device, no PC or cables necessary. It has built-in 802.11b wifi and a built-in web browser. So any site with PSP-formatted video can be accessed directly from the PSP from any wifi hotspot, allowing you to download the videos and watch them (sort of) immediately. I've even encoded some of the videos on my own site to the PSP-spec mp4 format. So, yes, you have my vote also :) (Even though it's been awhile since I was a regular here!)

March 9th, 2006, 06:00 PM	#12
John Britt Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 621	Thanks for posting the links, Christopher! I was being lazy this afternoon and didn't bother to look them up myself. :) By the way, I've used PSP Video 9 and liked it fine enough, but typically use Nero for PSP encoding. This is largely because when format shifting my personal DVDs, Nero natively recognizes whole movies and individual episodes (when it some to TV programs). PSP Video 9 does offer an wide variety of encoding options, though.