I always receive questions regarding whether it’s possible to play Adobe/Macromedia Flash Video (FLV) files on the Pocket PC. Therefore, I’ve investigated the question of playing these files.
What are Flash videos?
To put it simply, there are two kinds of Flash-based videos: traditional Flash videos (also having the .swf extension) and enhanced videos having the .flv extension. The former isn’t really suited for Web-based distribution (it, for example, doesn’t support server-supported location change without fetching the entire clip first). The latter is almost exclusively used by large media distribution sites like Google Video or YouTube because of its technical superiority.
The Pocket PC and Flash videos
While .swf video files are played by almost all Pocket PC-based SWF players as can also be see for example in the article Playing Flash Content on the Pocket PC, playing the latter files on the Pocket PC is a lot more problematic.
Much as some people say the latest (version 7) Macromedia Player for Pocket PC, this will not help with the majority of the “production” Flash videos out there. Most of the videos (for example, the Google Video ones; the YouTube videos are said to be Flash 8+-only) are playable neither from remote locations nor from the local file system.
Note that NetFront 3.2/3.3 isn’t able to play these videos either as can be seen in this screenshot. Renaming them to SWF doesn’t help either – as is the case with the Adobe plug-in and PIE/IEM.
(For testing purposes, I’ve visited the Google Video archives (for example, this Shakira - Hips Don't Lie spoof video).)
Convert to be able to play!
You can, however, convert these files to a format digestible by , say, TCPMP, the best Pocket PC-based multimedia player. To do this, download for example Total Video Converter. Download, install and start it; drop the input FLV file in the “Task list” list (it’s in the upper left region), choose MPEG4 Video in the Mobile group and click the Convert Now button; the conversion will start. The output file will be created in the C:\Program Files\Total Video Converter\Converted directory. Note that you’ll also need the AAC codec for the sound of these files to be played; please read this thread on getting and installing it. If you don't want to install it, go for another output format.
Alternatively, you may want to use the free (!) Mencoder as is described here.
Note that some people also recommend the free Super by eRightSoft. Some other people, however, say it's causing synchronization problems.
Finally, you may also want to give a try to the commercial Replay Converter by applian technologies. The homepage of the developer is also worth checking out because they are also offering Replay A/V, which can also help in downloading FLV files (in addition to, say, YouTube, Google Video etc. videos) directly off the Web, in case you don't want to manually look for videos in the browser cache.
Also note that you’ll want to read Playing Flash Content on the Pocket PC on the secrets of acquiring FLV files if they are residing on a Web server like Google Video (if you don't want to go for the above-linked Replay A/V).
Also note that the quality of the resulting video file will be really inferior to that of the source.
Other discussions of this question
AximSite
FlashForum.de
Recommended generic article on Flash & PPC
Playing Flash Content on the Pocket PC
UPDATE (10/24/2006): there is a brand new, free service here allowing for online FLI -> MP4 / 3GP conversions, which, then, can be played with both TCPMP and CorePlayer. Please also see the comments section in here for more info.
I also recommend the following discussions of this article: AximSite; PPCT. I've also elaborated on whether alternate Pocket PC browsers are able to play YouTube videos here. A worthy PPCT discussion of the latter article can be found here.
UPDATE (12/16/2006): if you want to save / convert YouTube / Google Video videos on the PC as easily as possible, make sure you give the free (!) vDownloader a try (current version: 0.3 alpha). Also make sure you read the comments under my blog post here. There is an interesting article here on the manual conversion; you may also want to check it out for a tutorial. Finally, I also recommend this PPCT news item for an Orb-based solution.
you can play flv also with ppc version of vlc without conversion.
But it is a very buggy application and there is no developer at the moment for the pocket pc port. It even has problems with the flv container. if you copy the flv video stream (again without any conversion) in an avi container, the latest nigthly build (from february 2006) of vlc for pocket pc plays it flawlessly.
Maybe someone here gets attracted to compile the latest build of vlc for ppc and work on it a little.
How exactly do you stream a video file into another container.
I really hope someone would pick up the thread on the developement of VLC for PocketPC. It's a great player. And now TCPMP is no longer under development, VLC would make a nice alternative. (not that TCPMP doesn't get me by).
You can download Adobe Flash 7 for PPC which has worked with the latest youtube videos here. A bit jerky, but not bad.
Device: HTC TyTN
keethar said:
How exactly do you stream a video file into another container.
I really hope someone would pick up the thread on the developement of VLC for PocketPC. It's a great player. And now TCPMP is no longer under development, VLC would make a nice alternative. (not that TCPMP doesn't get me by).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now a more than a year has passed since the last nightly build...
Hope some developper picks it up...
UPDATE (04/02/2007):
the brand new, 8.65 version of the great Windows Mobile Web browser Opera Mobile is able to directly play back YouTube videos (if you do install the standard, free (!) Macromedia (Adobe) Flash 7 plug-in in addition to Opera Mobile). See "YouTube support?" row in the comparison chart of my forthcoming Windows Mobile Web Browsing Bible for some real screenshots. Also note that I've posted screenshots of the latest alternative Web browsers (including, unfortunately, even PIE in WM6) NOT being compatible with YouTube. Do check the screenshots out - and remember: I'll publish the Windows Mobile Web Browsing Bible really soon!
Another great piece of news: YouTube Mobile is slated to launch in May / June as is stated at engadget. Also see this PPCT thread.
There is another online converter service to convert videos online without having to have access to a desktop computer (which is a very bad problem with the ORB-based approach), making watching YouTube videos comparatively easy (albeit not as good as with Opera Mobile 8.65 or the forthcoming, above-mentioned YouTube Mobile). Also see this thread for a complete explanation of the process.
I had a really good read on this, very detail, and very useful information.
Thanks.
You're welcome
BTW, here are the YouTube tests: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=301009
thanks for info, great article and updates.
Young
A new article on playing back YouTube:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1298093
A new article on the latest Opera Mobile / NetFront versions:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=310637
Do check them out. They also contain extensive MS Smartphone-related info; something I’ll even more generally address in a later Smartphone Web Browsing Bible.
Hi,
I need to develop Videostreaming on my G1. Like Youtube or TED.
Is there an Option to setup on the Youtube Technology for example or is there access to the TED Technology.
I dont like to develop the wheel twice. So any Option that allows me most easily to create my UI with the Link, clicking on it and open the video is welcomed.
If I have to develop all from the ground, than same sample sources would be welcome.
Thanks and greetings
Chris
LUKLUK player also does streaming video...
thanks, but i need a solution without that a user has to install a third party application.
i found out to play now .3gp over streaming with the api video demo, but .mp4 still not working. also when .mp4 with the standart Android Movies Player works.
So I also thought just to call a link (the video) and open automaticly the android movies player.. How to do this?
It looks also TED works like this, because looks for me they are using the same Standart Player.
Thanks
Chris
I wish mxplayer has the option for users to bookmark the video like the mvideo player. It will be very convenient for user to go back to certain time spot in the video to replay. It just likes creating chapters for video clip.
It would be a good feature!
Though, MX already remembers last playback position when you return to an unfinished video.
I think it's not answer!.
The questions is about many bookmarks on single video file!.
I am in the same situation like kbwme2006.
Please add a bookmarks/sections on playing a single video who have got a many topics/division/teology parts in one file.
It will be perfect for technician video like TOTURIALs to be add bookmark like simle points.
Of course it will be perfect to can by buttons PREV/NEXT go beetween this bookmars/sections on single film.
This situation is in pot player at PC.
BR temp user.
In my opinion many bookmarks will be perfect. I use PotPlayer too.
It's look like: i (dot) imgur (dot) com / YvKatF2 (dot) png
Shift+Pg[Up/Down] step between those bookmars at the same one video.
The bookmars are saved into separate file next to original played file.
temp159 said:
I think it's not answer!.
The questions is about many bookmarks on single video file!.
I am in the same situation like kbwme2006.
Please add a bookmarks/sections on playing a single video who have got a many topics/division/teology parts in one file.
It will be perfect for technician video like TOTURIALs to be add bookmark like simle points.
Of course it will be perfect to can by buttons PREV/NEXT go beetween this bookmars/sections on single film.
This situation is in pot player at PC.
BR temp user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think what you are referring to are mkv chapter markers. Mkv videos can have chapter indicators, but MX currently doesn't support interpretation of chapter markers in Mkvs.
CDB-Man said:
I think what you are referring to are mkv chapter markers. Mkv videos can have chapter indicators, but MX currently doesn't support interpretation of chapter markers in Mkvs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey bro. Bookmarking means keeping records of streaming links for future uses , the same way browser do. I also use lot of tv channel's link for watching them. MX player handle better than the official tv app. So keeping the record ( like a video list) of links in MX Player will be easy for me. I dont need to manually copy from file manager then paste in MX player. Please inform Developer about this feature.
I want to setup bookmarks and have a-b playback and repeat just like androids Act 1 video player has had for years. It's a real shame this simple request has never been implemented as I've been requesting it for years.
Hi xperts,
I have watchSeries app in my Note 3 to watch TV series and movies . when i click on any stream link (i.e. Videoweed , novamov, nowvideo etc) that link open in browser and it does not ask to select any player like MX playe,r BS player . It does not work properly ( full screen) sometime in any browser even i have installed flash player and tried multiple browsers ( Dolphine, photon, chrome, opera)
I have tried HUBI but that also does not support all type of links ( vshare, movreel etc ).
Is there any way that i can open video stream links directly in player instead of copy-paste URL from browser bar to players screen.?
VGET is the best option but that has also limitation. It is slow,does not detect lots of embed links . whatseries, videomix and other app does treat it as browser
There should be some plugin for browsers, which detect video stream in link in browser and when we click to play then it should ask to open video in Player instead of running in browser.
any full-proof suggestion would be appreciated .
Have you looked in the settings at the Default Applications and see if that's causing your problem?
Thanks
Thanks for reply. default setting is cleared.
Actaually I am looking something like VGET app. which can be treated as browser and can open video files in Players ( MX player or other )
bcoz Dholphin, Boat and other browsers are not good.
I am creating an application on Android Google TV. And I want to Play HD channels and HD movies in that Application. The app is mostly finished the only part which is left that I want to embed MX player in that application. I have gone through lot of various methods to make that happen but all in vain. And if I try to download the MX player it gives me the APK file.
I am in a dead corner now, Any help regarding how to embed the MX player in latest google TV's application or getting the hands on the open source code library for playing UDP and multicast links would be dearly appreciated.