View Full Version : Any info on converting ReplayTV files for ZVUE use?


TumulorumFossor
08-08-06, 01:54 AM
Hi, all!

Was at Wal-Mart this weekend and they had the ZVUE 200A on clearance for $40 (including a 128mb charger card and AC adapter). I figured, what the heck. It's actually pretty neat, with storage determined STRICTLY by the size of the SD card you choose to load into it. It handles WMA files, too. It comes with 'proprietary' conversion software called ZOrg, that scans a location on one's PC for convertable files. After selecting them, it 'converts' them to a usable format, and one then puts them on the Zvue (via USB).

Problem is, when I run ZOrg, on a window titled "zflicks 1.4 [based on VirtualDub 1.5.4 by Avery Lee]" the program shows a bar-of-progress titled, "Parsing interleaved MPEG-2 file." followed by a window, saying an error occured during processing.

I'm thinking I have to convert the ReplayTV MPEG2 file into something more universally accepted, THEN convert it AGAIN with ZOrg, to whatever parameters it defaults to to maximize the use of the ZVUE device. But I suspect there might already be an automated "VirtualDub" or "zflicks" utility that can manipulate ReplayTV files, and if I can simply find out the output parameters for "ZOrg", then I could simply use a ReplayTV oriented VirtualDub/zflicks and direct it to output into ZVUE format, and voila!

Any ideas?

BTW, if you come across the ZVUE at Wal-Mart, here's the website for info:

http://www.zvue.com/support/support.php

-TF

Update:
By the website http://www.zvue.com/support/support.php?thispage=memory.html which illustrates how much space on an SD card one could expect a movie to take, it seems like the ZVUE is designed to play video either in:
(A) 30fps; 160x240; 3.75 MB/min mode, OR:
(B) 15fps; 160x120; 1.87 MB/min mode.

Regarding the odd resolutions, my understanding is that the ZVUE pixels are twice as wide as high (or is it twice as high as wide?). In any event, this is what they list as the preferred video modes.

icecow
08-08-06, 02:46 AM
thanks! Perfect for the treehouse.

icecow
08-08-06, 02:58 AM
Seriously, if you threw a 4 gig mmc card ($85ish) you'd have about 20 hours of video. Could take advantage of a massive batch conversion. Since it doesn't use use lithum-ion batteries (which die no mater what in about 3 years) you don't have to surrender it in 3 years. Could find it 10 years from now and it might be sorta cool.

Seems great to shut up a small kid on car trips.

two headphone jacks is interesting

over all, of course it's not that good.

here's a review:
http://www.thinkcomputers.org/index.php?x=reviews&id=380

rlichtefeld
08-08-06, 09:56 AM
Wrecks has a thread over on the DVArchive forum that can convert a ReplayTV mpg
to just about anthing:

http://dvarchive.org/frums/viewtopic.php?t=2501&sid=b562eb76c07637ae381d35397d85cb00

Rob

gibbo
08-08-06, 10:39 AM
Try PocketDivx

http://divx.ppccool.com/langue.php?lang=EN

Although it has many presets for common devices you should be able to define some custom settings

I use it to convert Replay files for my portable devices.

TumulorumFossor
08-08-06, 01:58 PM
Thanks for the info!

icecow - yeah, I know it is not that powerful...
... but for $40 new, including the 128mb card, how bad could it be? At a minimum, it works as a portable card reader. I had a rarely used 2gb card, and now, it actually becomes viable. There's the battery flexibility, and it plays a lot of formats, so it seems to a degree flexible.

At $100, that's another story.

But for $40, I'm pretty happy with it so far.

I'll be even more happy once I demonstrate its ReplayTVility. Is that a word? Well, it should be.

I'll keep you posted in case anyone wants to give it a shot while on clearance.

-TF

tipstir
02-24-07, 01:35 AM
ZVUE 250 uses Lithon ION Rechargeable Battery built-in..
http://www.krunker.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/WindowsLiveWriter/ZVUE250nowshippingandavailablforpurchase_1055C/ZVUE_250_straight_thumb.jpg
2.5 inch active matrix backlit screen
Supports 30 fps video playback
SD slot (ships with 128MB SD card)
Two earphone jacks for sharing with a friend
More compact design than the previous ZVUE model
Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
six hour battery life on a single charge
AC adapter to charge the device
USB port
Supports MP3, WMV, WMA with DRM, OGG, MP2
Supports JPG, BMP
Supports AVI, ASF, XviD, MPEG-4, WMV with DRM
Measures 4.33- x 2.91- inches x 0.8-inches
Weighs 5.2 ounces.


ZVUE 260 uses the sames but base more on IPOD look and features..
http://www.krunker.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/WindowsLiveWriter/ZVUEintroducesZVUE260PersonalMediaPlayer_11255/ZVUE%20260%20Frontview_thumb.jpg

The device measures 4.16 x 2.4 x 0.5 inches and weighs a mere 3.93 oz. Spec wise, the device has the following:

2.5 inch TFT backlit screen
Video playback at 320 x 240 with 30fps
Integrated speaker
Integrated SD slot
Rechargeable lithium ion battery
Compatible with Windows Media Player 10, WMV, WMA + DRM, and many other file formats