Divx/dvd Player

[tigerbeer]

I have a couple of these USB/DVD mpeg4/DIVX players of which i plug in my USB flash sticks of movies downloaded. I realise that most of these movies come with DIVX codecs encoded content of about 1,200 plus kbp/s Video and 48k hertz 128kbps Audio MP3. Problem is that some of these movies cannot be played on these cheopo players. the bitrate's too fast for the machine i assume.

solve the problem by converting these movies to lower bitrates but at times, the converter kinds of screws up the whole movie. it becomes really frustrating and a waste of time during and after conversion.

can anyone recommend one of these players that plays almost all AVI's downloaded from the internet? Something perhaps around 3k baht and lower if possible? the cheopo ones such as Focus, ELZE can be bought below 1k baht but not usable at times.

TB..

[dave_boo]

Another thing to consider is that perhaps some of those files are actually xVid. I used to use xVid, until x.264 came into its own, simply because it can offer as good or better files that encoded faster on a multi-core machine. And unfortunately xVid is supported by very few players.

Otherwise, I have no recommendations except maybe to commision an old computer as a media player. Underclocked with a light load it should be very quiet. Biggest cost would be a proper media OS, and if you're not up to getting MythTV running, the Windows Media Center is (for a Microsoft product!) pretty nice.

[lor]

Better than Microsoft Media centre is XBMC. The windows version can be downloaded from the XBMC homepage and works great especialy when you turn on the Library Mode.

Chris

[LivinLOS]

can anyone recommend one of these players that plays almost all AVI's downloaded from the internet? Something perhaps around 3k baht and lower if possible? the cheopo ones such as Focus, ELZE can be bought below 1k baht but not usable at times.

Your not going to get a 'plays it all' player at that price..

AVI can handle hidef and the processing power required to playback these kind of high bitrate AVI's are out of the price point your talking..

About the cheapest 'plays all' players are the popcorn media hour..

Better than Microsoft Media centre is XBMC. The windows version can be downloaded from the XBMC homepage and works great especialy when you turn on the Library Mode.

Chris

Again not got the grunt for hidef tho (or has that changed) ??

I still keep a dedicated HTPC plugged into my system simply because it does play everything you throw at it..

[tigerbeer]

actually i should also mentioned that i am not looking to play HiDef. I only have a regular 29" CRT. Just the regular avi's using Xvid, Divx. So yes I think it can be bought at the price mentioned. Just looking for a recommendation from anyone who has never needed to convert whats downloaded from the internet.

[dave_boo]

actually i should also mentioned that i am not looking to play HiDef. I only have a regular 29" CRT. Just the regular avi's using Xvid, Divx. So yes I think it can be bought at the price mentioned. Just looking for a recommendation from anyone who has never needed to convert whats downloaded from the internet.

Most of us would recommend rolling your own. I can't comment on stand-alones with the exception of having bought a jvc all in one unit that said it played those files for the mother in law. Won't play xvid.

[LivinLOS]

actually i should also mentioned that i am not looking to play HiDef. I only have a regular 29" CRT. Just the regular avi's using Xvid, Divx. So yes I think it can be bought at the price mentioned. Just looking for a recommendation from anyone who has never needed to convert whats downloaded from the internet.

The thing is, no one can say what you download... While my post may have sounded like a Hidef rant, in the download world theres no clear line in the sand.

PAL is low def at 576 but 16:9 1024x576 high bitrate is almost as demanding as a 2.35:1 film encoded on 1280x576.. Theres no fixed bitrate or compression in the encoded file world that does the 'plays for sure' side.. Each player has different abilities, as hardware decoders improve the price point of decoding these drops and they get built in, but no cheap players just play everything and theres no such thing as a regular AVI or DIVX, the filetype is everything from low def of the worst online stream order right up to 1080p.

Also bear in mind if you have a 5.1 encoded soundtrack that also has effects.. They can be everything from WMA / MP3 / Dolby digital etc etc... Tho I will agree that Dolby has cheap chips that do the gruntwork in this one much more than video encodes.

Personally I would love a small, silent, non boot time box that played h264 / MKV / TS / DIVX and AVI up to 1080p with 5.1 output.. Needs no storage just the ability to work over a network and have a nice looking UI.. 8 - 10k each and I would put them all over the house instead of the media center systems I am using.

[tigerbeer]

LivinLos,

you are right. there are no players that would definitely play them all. its just me looking to see whats cheap and at least plays "most of them" usual stuff. Some Nano brand that my bro in law bought about a month ago seems to play what I can't play with the players at home. perhaps their chips are worth looking at. a little more testing on my downloads and the players ability and i might stick with the Nano brand.

the machine that has what you are looking for, can it not have it all on the Popcorn Hour? Looks like a fantastic machine for about 10k with torrent download ability.

[Jumbo chilli]

I know it is a bit off topic, but I couldn't resist.

Well, can anyone kindly tell me where I can get one of those "POPCORN HOUR" thingy, please.(in Thailand)

Thanks

[Tywais]

I know it is a bit off topic, but I couldn't resist.

Well, can anyone kindly tell me where I can get one of those "POPCORN HOUR" thingy, please.(in Thailand)

Thanks

Here is the website > Popcorn Hour Thailand

[katana]

You could convert them with FAVC:

http://www.digital-digest.com/articles/FAV...uide_page1.html