Archos Gmini 400

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

I can't answer the question of whether it CAN play the media without
preprocessing (my gut says no because rtv uses an odd codec), but I
would like to add that there are severe DOWNSIDES to using unprocessed
video if the hardware would let you.

Namely, size. The ReplayTV files are huge. 500 megs for a half hour,
that's some serious bittage. Using MPEG4 codecs like DivX (or whatever
equivalent the Archos supports), you should be able to squish that down
to 1/10th the size without impacting quality noticably. Even more if
you optimize it for the small screen on the Archos. You probably don't
need full TV resolution on it.

Perhaps this is a good opportunity for an automated show
grabber/converter script?

Archived from groups: alt.video.ptv.replaytv (More info?)

Chairboy wrote:

> I can't answer the question of whether it CAN play the media without
> preprocessing (my gut says no because rtv uses an odd codec), but I
> would like to add that there are severe DOWNSIDES to using unprocessed
> video if the hardware would let you.
>
> Namely, size. The ReplayTV files are huge. 500 megs for a half hour,
> that's some serious bittage. Using MPEG4 codecs like DivX (or whatever
> equivalent the Archos supports), you should be able to squish that down
> to 1/10th the size without impacting quality noticably. Even more if
> you optimize it for the small screen on the Archos. You probably don't
> need full TV resolution on it.
>
> Perhaps this is a good opportunity for an automated show
> grabber/converter script?
>

Interesting side note:

I use POWER DVD to play RTV files... I've found that when things get
strange, I can note the time code, stop, re-start, quick slide to the
same time code and it plays normally,,, Usually for the rest of the file

Well... I also have an ATI TV-WONDER card for the shows that conflict on
the RTV (I mean, once you go digital.... You stay DIGITAL!!!) and it
comes complete with it's own player.

Which has exactly the same problem, I mean exactly (and the same
solution I might add) AIT's will almost play RTV files (It will play
but will crash on exit, strange, Power DVD plays ATI files too, I like
the icons for ATI, Very nice)