Greetings all! I've been using an Android smartphone for several months and have been watching the tablet scene develop with interest. I'm considering a Honycomb tablet with a docking station as a partial replacement for a laptop. So, I'm wondering, with the introduction of Android tablets featuring keyboards/docking stations that have USB ports (I'm thinking specifically of the Asus Transformer here), does Honeycomb currently support the use of USB-connected external DVD or Blu Ray drives? Is this something we may see in the future? Thanks for your input.
I'm wondering the exact same. That is the only thing that is preventing me from selling my laptop. Everything else can be done on the tablet.
Why aren't you ripping to DIVX or a similar format, and then streaming over the network, or using a usb memory stick?
RufusThorne said:
Why aren't you ripping to DIVX or a similar format, and then streaming over the network, or using a usb memory stick?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me, it's mostly the time constraints of ripping and legal stuff that prevents the DivX route. Streaming is possible, but not for hard copy media.
Hello, Rufus:
I am new to the XFormer so I am not familiar with the formats it supports (I'm hoping mine will arrive tomorrow!) for videos - could you please elaborate more on DIVX - is it as simple as ripping from the DVD to a folder in DIVX format, then moving that folder to an HDD?
Thanks in advance,
Sparky
SemTechie said:
Greetings all! I've been using an Android smartphone for several months and have been watching the tablet scene develop with interest. I'm considering a Honycomb tablet with a docking station as a partial replacement for a laptop. So, I'm wondering, with the introduction of Android tablets featuring keyboards/docking stations that have USB ports (I'm thinking specifically of the Asus Transformer here), does Honeycomb currently support the use of USB-connected external DVD or Blu Ray drives? Is this something we may see in the future? Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm interested in this as well. I'd like family members to be able to view BD on their transformer. They aren't capable of ripping BDs themselves.
I'm really looking at the Transformer as an alternative to a netbook. I love the fact that it supports USB peripherals.
But I'm going to just assume that it won't natively support an external USB DVD drive. Does anyone know whether that would be something to possibly look forward to? I'd assume it would mean writing drivers (not to mention a DVD app or something) and I wonder whether they could be written to support generic DVD players. Any input from devs looking for ideas?
that would sure make the transformer useful for long trips...
not really sure whether this goes in apps or general...
*Cough...
Sent from my EVO using XDA App
bonikowsky said:
*Cough...
Sent from my EVO using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd imagine there's relatively little demand for (and hence, relatively little chance of) this, although I could be wrong -- I know VLC is being ported to Android and supports DVD playback already on PC, but who knows if that functionality will be included, and at the very least a USB driver would likely be needed since DVD players don't generally support Mass Storage Class.
There are numerous apps out there which will let you format-shift your personal DVDs to let you put them on a memory card or USB stick for viewing without needing to carry extra hardware with you.
It's outside the remit of this forum, but if you PM me, I can recommend one such program for you that's very good and user-friendly, if it's legal in your area. (In many places it falls within fair use rights and is legal, but only you know for where you live).
knoxploration said:
I'd imagine there's relatively little demand for (and hence, relatively little chance of) this, although I could be wrong -- I know VLC is being ported to Android and supports DVD playback already on PC, but who knows if that functionality will be included, and at the very least a USB driver would likely be needed since DVD players don't generally support Mass Storage Class.
There are numerous apps out there which will let you format-shift your personal DVDs to let you put them on a memory card or USB stick for viewing without needing to carry extra hardware with you.
It's outside the remit of this forum, but if you PM me, I can recommend one such program for you that's very good and user-friendly, if it's legal in your area. (In many places it falls within fair use rights and is legal, but only you know for where you live).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah i got you. I've got any number of options on my pc already. i've got all my own movies in iso format there.
thing is, I'm getting the Transformer to replace (as much as possible) the computer. It can't handle lots of video converting anymore. (usually overheats and crashes way before a movie's done lol)
if I could use the transformer to do the converting that would work too, but I've never heard of any way to do that directly from android.
I'm looking for a dvd burer that will work with the Asus Transformer. So far no luck finding one because none will work with android. Anybody had better luck? Is there a dvd driver for android?
No, ASUS tablet not support dvd driver
Daniel123de said:
No, ASUS tablet not support dvd driver
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since the driver is a module in the kernel all we need is a kernel developer to take an interest in this and you will have native support. Then someone needs to recompile cdrecord for the tegra2 processor. This can be done and I am sure in time it will be done. Basically any peripheral that works on a linux desktop system can work on the transformer if someone codes the driver and any helper programs for it.
Old school
I really do not understand why messing with DVD's from Android. Flash cards are the way and they are cheap enough these days. The mSD card slot is there for a reason...
Kernel hackers on XDA
I may have a lucrative project for you. My company is looking for someone to help us hack the kernel for an off brand tablet chip. We are in the market for a low cost tablet solution but need it to support USB host and 3g which the low end tablet chipsets do not currently support.
We are discussing put together a fairly large bounty for this project but in the meantime I would love to get XDA's thoughts on what a project like this would take as far as time and what the probability of success.
Please feel free to respond or pm me for further details.
We would need to know specs. Device. OS. Any available source code. Stuff like that before we could even guess at an ETA
Sent from my Droid2Global using Tapatalk
atc3030 said:
We would need to know specs. Device. OS. Any available source code. Stuff like that before we could even guess at an ETA
Sent from my Droid2Global using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So that is part of the problem. There are multiple options for each.
The basics are we are looking at a Android 3.2 or 4.0 tablet with a rockchip or boxchip processor and at least one usb/micro usb port.
In the meantime we have been looking at using a Archos G9 tablet but have been unable to figure out how to get the device to print and charge from the single micro usb port. It appears the micro usb port cannot charge from host mode (unless there is some sort of internal setting we are missing). Instead we have looked at switching the usb mode via software. The problem is although the device is rooted we do not appear to have the ability to change files in the sys folder.
It is my understanding that were we able to change files in the sys folder we would be able to change the usb mode by:
# echo b_peripheral > /sys/devices/platform/musb_hdrc/mode
# echo a_host > /sys/devices/platform/musb_hdrc/mode
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I recommend using a a500 tablet. It has USB host. You can get them cheap on eBay.
mattrb said:
I recommend using a a500 tablet. It has USB host. You can get them cheap on eBay.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately I also need 3g and I haven't found the a501s for anywhere near as low a prices as the Archos w/3g.
I've seen a Portable USB Blu-ray players posted on Amazon.com from Panasonic ($55-60) and Samsung ($85). But some require an AC adapter and others require 2 USB ports to power them.
Has anyone tried one with the Infinity? Can you please tell me your experience?
Here are some links to relevant discussion:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1033887
Another XDA thread about Android and External DVD/Blu-Ray Players
http://www.transformerforums.com/fo...54-tf201-dock-usb-external-bluray-drives.html
Basically says that Android lacks UDF 2.5 filesystem support as well as an OEM to build Android drivers for their Blu-ray player.
http://www.transformerforums.com/fo...ns/9784-usb-port-play-external-dvd-drive.html
Here is a drama and information filled thread that covers a lot of related topics. The basic result is that they don't expect Blu-ray support on the Transformer line, ever, as digital content is what is being pushed now. Google especially has a Play Store designed to get you to buy movies and shows in digital format and not on BD or DVD.
http://www.transformerforums.com/forum/asus-video/3377-play-bluray-external-usb-bluray-drive.html
Another thread with basically the same info. Not much to read.
I'll update this thread with more information as I research this topic.
The basic issue that I'm trying to address is the following:
I'm trying to replace my mother in law's old Acer laptop with an Infinity. I've been able to resolve my questions about printer and printing support from the Infinity. I've also resolved just about every other question that would stand in the way of doing this. The last remaining issue is that she owns a number of DVDs (and very few BDs) and she enjoys watching them when she travels. She does have a portable DVD player, but it is a shame to watch that poor quality screen when you have a 1280 Super IPS+ screen sitting next to it.
So I'm kind of on the fence right now. There are certainly some thoughts that I should just make things easy and return the Infinity and get her another laptop. But Windows has already caused her endless troubles over the last 4 years and I would really like to avoid repeating that. I'm not really looking forward to sitting down and ripping all of her existing DVDs, but I guess that it could be done over the period of some weeks. Hrm...
Splaktar said:
I've seen a Portable USB Blue-ray players posted on Amazon.com from Panasonic ($55-60) and Samsung ($85). But some require an AC adapter and others require 2 USB ports to power them.
Has anyone tried one with the Infinity? Can you please tell me your experience?
I'll update this thread with more information as I research this topic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your issue is not getting the hardware to work, with the right drivers you might very well get to use the drive as a data drive, but there is no software apps for android to decrypt commercial blue ray movies. If you want to have it as a drive then you may eventually get drivers in a custom ROM to make this work, but in the near future you're not gonna get commercial blue ray movies on your tab. Your best bet is to rip the movie on a computer move it to your tab or play it off the network.
Also keep in mind that Blu-rays come in 2 major flavors right now, some use h.264 video and some use vc1 video, the infinity can easily play back full spec h.264, but I have had no luck getting it to play back vc1.
Updated the OP with links to related discussions and a blurb about why I'm looking into this. I have to make a decision in the next couple weeks about keeping the Infinity or returning it and going with a traditional laptop.
Guess what - I was just able to connect my portable USB DVD burner to my TF700, mount a DVD and actually read it!! I remember trying this with the TF101 and would not work but it's working on TF700! Here's how (have to be rooted, I believe):
1. Connect the USB DVD device (I'm using a Toshiba "Portable Super Multi Drive").
2. Insert a DVD
3. Create a directory to mount the DVD to:
# mkdir /mnt/cdrom
4. Mount the DVD:
# mount -t iso9660 /dev/block/sr0 /mnt/cdrom
5. That's it! If you do a "ls -l /mnt/cd", you'll see your CD/DVD files! You can now see the DVD files via ES FIle Explorer, etc too!
So, I can now read DVD's with my TF700 - something that was always lacking with my Transformer!
What would really be cool is to be able to write DVD's now!
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
jtrosky said:
Guess what - I was just able to connect my portable USB DVD burner to my TF700, mount a DVD and actually read it!! I remember trying this with the TF101 and would not work but it's working on TF700! Here's how (have to be rooted, I believe):
1. Connect the USB DVD device (I'm using a Toshiba "Portable Super Multi Drive").
2. Insert a DVD
3. Create a directory to mount the DVD to:
# mkdir /mnt/cdrom
4. Mount the DVD:
# mount -t iso9660 /dev/block/sr0 /mnt/cdrom
5. That's it! If you do a "ls -l /mnt/cd", you'll see your CD/DVD files! You can now see the DVD files via ES FIle Explorer, etc too!
So, I can now read DVD's with my TF700 - something that was always lacking with my Transformer!
What would really be cool is to be able to write DVD's now!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome! But can you actually play a DVD movie via any of the available media players?
Splaktar said:
Awesome! But can you actually play a DVD movie via any of the available media players?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will give it a shot (need to find a DVD - haven't used one in years - stream EVERYTHING now!). I highly doubt it will work via video DVD"s though as they are encrypted, etc...
I'll report back.
But, being able to read data CD's/DVD's fixed that one last thing that you could still do on a laptop, but not on a Transformer (read optical media)...
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2
[email protected] >>>
In short > since its for OLD FOLKS > who often get easily frustrated @ things not workin right from first try ,,,,
IMHO... and having helped number of folks in that generation(s) .... i would buy her a LAPTOP ... you can get one with BD player easy for less than "infinity+DOCK" now
SOLVED !!
Ausmike said:
[email protected] >>>
In short > since its for OLD FOLKS > who often get easily frustrated @ things not workin right from first try ,,,,
IMHO... and having helped number of folks in that generation(s) .... i would buy her a LAPTOP ... you can get one with BD player easy for less than "infinity+DOCK" now
SOLVED !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the thing. Her old laptop hasn't 'just worked'. The webcam drivers have to be reinstalled every 2 months. The firewall and virus scan pop ups are needed but cause great confusion. Automatic backups have been problematic. The battery doesn't last long enough. The laptop is too heavy. It gets too hot. Her fingers get tired and sore using a keyboard and mouse.
So really an ultrabook with an external bd player might be the best solution if money wasn't an issue. But that is currently $350 more and doesn't have a touch interface or the ability to remove the keyboard.
Well if dvd and bluray playback is required, i think your best bet may be to wait for the surface tabs and hope microsoft includes bluray/dvd decryption. Their intel based model will surely work but will also be ultrabook expensive.
Right now ripping and or streaming are your only real options.
Splaktar said:
The basic issue that I'm trying to address is the following:
I'm trying to replace my mother in law's old Acer laptop with an Infinity. I've been able to resolve my questions about printer and printing support from the Infinity. I've also resolved just about every other question that would stand in the way of doing this. The last remaining issue is that she owns a number of DVDs (and very few BDs) and she enjoys watching them when she travels. She does have a portable DVD player, but it is a shame to watch that poor quality screen when you have a 1280 Super IPS+ screen sitting next to it.
So I'm kind of on the fence right now. There are certainly some thoughts that I should just make things easy and return the Infinity and get her another laptop. But Windows has already caused her endless troubles over the last 4 years and I would really like to avoid repeating that. I'm not really looking forward to sitting down and ripping all of her existing DVDs, but I guess that it could be done over the period of some weeks. Hrm...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would recommend you help her convert her movie collection to a digital portable format. It's a little time consuming at first, but once you are used to doing it you can do it overnight and not really notice the time it takes.
There are sooo many tools out there for converting videos. I love free ones (Handbrake, MediaCoder, DVDShrink, DVDFab HD Free) but they take a lot more work to learn how to use properly, in my opinion. There are easier to use tools like the DVDFab suite which will rip (copy) and convert all in one. Many of the free ones require you to use two or three programs to achieve your goal. One of my favorite compression programs is TMPGEnc, but it isn't free and it doesn't "rip" (copy) discs by itself either so you still need something to copy. It is very powerful and works very well.
What ever you pic, plan on taking some time to learn how to use it right, find guides on how to use it and experiment. Once you settle on what works for you and her, you can usually streamline it and make it easier.
Thanks guys, seems like a lot of work just to watch a video. Like mentioned I stream everything as well. I guess this would be good for road trips and hooking the tf700 to a dash. Thanks!
Thanks for the compilation. Any new / recent news / updates?
johnlgalt said:
Thanks for the compilation. Any new / recent news / updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been keeping my eyes open for news about this or new BD players designed for Android. So far nothing new but I haven't done any more in depth research. Probably soon...
Yeah, in another thread jrotsky said that ISO9660 support in 10.4.4.16 seems to have disappeared....if that is the case then that seems more like a reversion to me....
Splaktar said:
I've seen a Portable USB Blu-ray players posted on Amazon.com from Panasonic ($55-60) and Samsung ($85). But some require an AC adapter and others require 2 USB ports to power them.
Has anyone tried one with the Infinity? Can you please tell me your experience?
Here are some links to relevant discussion:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1033887
Another XDA thread about Android and External DVD/Blu-Ray Players
http://www.transformerforums.com/fo...54-tf201-dock-usb-external-bluray-drives.html
Basically says that Android lacks UDF 2.5 filesystem support as well as an OEM to build Android drivers for their Blu-ray player.
http://www.transformerforums.com/fo...ns/9784-usb-port-play-external-dvd-drive.html
Here is a drama and information filled thread that covers a lot of related topics. The basic result is that they don't expect Blu-ray support on the Transformer line, ever, as digital content is what is being pushed now. Google especially has a Play Store designed to get you to buy movies and shows in digital format and not on BD or DVD.
http://www.transformerforums.com/forum/asus-video/3377-play-bluray-external-usb-bluray-drive.html
Another thread with basically the same info. Not much to read.
I'll update this thread with more information as I research this topic.
The basic issue that I'm trying to address is the following:
I'm trying to replace my mother in law's old Acer laptop with an Infinity. I've been able to resolve my questions about printer and printing support from the Infinity. I've also resolved just about every other question that would stand in the way of doing this. The last remaining issue is that she owns a number of DVDs (and very few BDs) and she enjoys watching them when she travels. She does have a portable DVD player, but it is a shame to watch that poor quality screen when you have a 1280 Super IPS+ screen sitting next to it.
So I'm kind of on the fence right now. There are certainly some thoughts that I should just make things easy and return the Infinity and get her another laptop. But Windows has already caused her endless troubles over the last 4 years and I would really like to avoid repeating that. I'm not really looking forward to sitting down and ripping all of her existing DVDs, but I guess that it could be done over the period of some weeks. Hrm...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not use handbrake and rip all her content to dropbox or drive, then let her stream them? Problem solved
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
dasunsrule32 said:
Why not use handbrake and rip all her content to dropbox or drive, then let her stream them? Problem solved
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mostly just because she gets new content every week or so. That would mean that I'd be spending a lot of my time ripping discs. It's obviously an option, but I'm not sure how effective it will be.
I did keep the TF700 and am still planning on giving it to her, but I still might end up just keeping it for myself and giving her a new laptop instead. One issue with just streaming everything from the Play Store or Amazon, etc is that she lives in Peru most of the year and many of those streaming services are not allowed/supported there. I've also heard stories of people traveling from the US to Europe and being unable to access their purchased video content from the Play Store due to the country that they were in.
I'm not sure if Drive/Dropbox/Box have any of those issues with access/support internationally or not.
i brought one but it had two usb ports and didnt read on my tablet