Video formats and conversions?

[Rhysd2]

Hello all

I've ascertained from the forums on here that my nexus wont support AVI but will do things like mp4 and h264 etc. I have some episodes of a tv show I want to stick on my phone to watch at lunch but all the blighters are avi!

Not having much experience before I was wondering the following:

1. whats the best format to convert them too and why?
2. is there a good free program to use that will convert them at a decent quality for the nexus.
3. with this program what settings are best to adopt?

thanks

 

[MartinS]

Apparently Doubletwist automatically ports video and music over to the right file type for your device.

The Nexus One and Android as a whole are fully supported.
I haven't got as far as trying anything on my N1 yet but the interface is OK on my laptop.

Sync Android, PSP, BlackBerry, Pre: doubleTwist with Amazon MP3

Sorry I can't answer technically about file types and which are best. It's not something I've been into before having just used a DVD ripper to copy DVD's to iPod format for my iPod Touch.

 

[MartinS]

OK so I've downloaded Doubletwist, started it and it has picked up all of the media on my machine.

I've selected a video which is stored as an MP4. From purchased DVD using boilsoft DVD ripper to convert for iPod Touch. I've synced only this file with my Nexus One. The file appears on SDCard\Video as an MP4 file.

Verdict, not too bad playback playback compared to iPod Touch. There are black bars either side of the display which is square rather than 16:9. This maybe because of the resolution of the iPod?

I'll have a play with the settings on the DVD ripper when I have time to see which seems to be best.

EDIT: Found this, may be useful:

http://www.my-video-converter.com/convert_and_play_videos_to_google_nexus_one_phone/

 

[Rhysd2]

thanks Martin

Im trying handbrake right now which a friend recommended.... however I get the funny feeling that because of the nexus one screen we may end up with black bars regardless.

 

[Air Force One]

I use DVD shrink to rip my episodes and movies and Handbrake to convert.

I'm sure there are ways to eliminate the black bars but I don't know how. I don't want to though because I prefer movies, etc.., to be in their original aspect ratio, black bars and all. The PQ is better that way anyway. To achieve no black bars you basically have to zoom in on the image, which kills the picture quality. It also eliminates part of the film as it was intended to be viewed by the director.

Black bars are a good thing! Anything but OAR is a travesty to film!!!

 

[Rhysd2]

OK now I feel a right dipstick. I copied the resulting m4v to my phone but dont seem to have an app that is a media player. any recommendations?

 

[Nowakezone]

Just rename it to mp4 from m4v.

 

[Air Force One]

OK now I feel a right dipstick. I copied the resulting m4v to my phone but dont seem to have an app that is a media player. any recommendations?

Assuming you did everything correctly, you should find it in your gallery in a new folder. Just click on gallery and take a look around and see if you find it, and then click on it and it should just start playing.

Hope I'm understanding you correctly.

 

[Rhysd2]

Ah galleries is the player!! Fantastic thanks

 

[Air Force One]

Ah galleries is the player!! Fantastic thanks

Okay cool, we're talking about the same issue. Yeah I had trouble finding the videos at first too. Didn't make sense to me that it was in the gallery, but I eventually found it. I came from a BB which had a dedicated video folder for launching the videos and player.

Glad I could help...enjoy the videos, they look fantastic on the Nexus.

 

[Rhysd2]

Thanks. Loading up the Boston legal episodess for the lunch times at work. Gawd this screens pretty

 

[Air Force One]

Thanks. Loading up the Boston legal episodess for the lunch times at work. Gawd this screens pretty

I love putting Seinfeld episodes on mine. Also MASH episodes and a few movies. I, Robot I have on there now, and Pink Floyd's Pulse DVD(live from Earl's Court) is next.

and yeah the screen is gorgeous. I LOVE! the deep inky blacks!!!!!!!!!! It makes the colors just pop and the whole image VERY contrasty.

 

[lutherinlondon]

Just downloaded DoubleTwist myself.... will give it a go later today.... I'm expecting good results