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Makayama Software's DVD2PPC

By: Scott Logsdon | Date: 8-Jan-04 | Comments

WHAT'S HOT

   The ability to convert DVD’s into a multimedia file that you can take with you is not new to DVD to PocketPC - others have been doing this already with a variety of separate programs and utilities. But what this software gives you is a one-step process.

   DVDtoPocketPC is a desktop product. The concept is simple. Put the DVD in your DVD drive on your computer, maybe change a few settings to your liking and click the ACTION button to begin the process. Let your computer sit for a couple of hours (or more depending upon the speed of your desktop), or let it work overnight and when DVDtoPocketPC is finished working the Windows Media Player compatible .wmv is placed on your desktop.

   Pretty clean. But just how well can it work?

SETUP

  Setup was extremely easy: just double-click the executable and DVD2PPC is installed on your desktop system. Windows Media file encoder is also installed.

PROGRAM FEATURES

    DVD2PPC is a desktop program that offers a one-step process for ripping your DVD and encoding it into a single Media Player format file that is small enough to transfer to a 128MB multimedia card (on the low-quality setting) or a 256MB card (on the hi-quality setting).

Not bad

DVD2PPC's main screen

Pick the file with the longest run time

Not bad

Legal question after you click OPEN

Click ACTION and extraction begins

Not bad

Preview Screen during the finishing process (new to version 1.1.5)

    The first DVD I tried worked great. I was looking to try a DVD with a little bit of action so I could test out the encoding just a little bit, but also one that would come in handy on a trip. My choice? Elmo’s Christmas Special. (Hey, I travel with little ones...)

    The results were quite promising. The sound was great and easily enjoyable on the PocketPC. The video was a little blurry when I watched it on my laptop, but when I transferred it to my iPAQ 4150 and watched it on Pocket Media Player, it was great.

    Then I thought I would try a DVD that was more recent to see if I could find one that wouldn’t work. So I popped in Lord of the Rings: Two Towers. DVD2PPC encoded about 10 seconds and then quit. Not too promising. So, I next tried Raiders of the Lost Ark. That didn’t work, either. Well, that was strange but both DVD’s came out in the last year. So, I tried Elmo's Christmas Special again and it didn’t work either. Well, that was a little troubling. I checked out DVDtoPocketPC’s FAQ on its website and it suggested that I reset the software. Ok. So, I tried that. Now, all my DVD’s were working again -- even the new ones. Now, anytime I go to encode a new DVD, I always go through the reset process.

Not bad

During Reset, press default at this screen...

...and at this one.

    How was the quality? I found that the encoded files were extremely watchable. I had no problems with the sound. Some of the action sequences were a little more blurry, however I really could not tell it from watching the file on my PocketPC, which is, of course, the whole point. As you can see from some of the screenshots of action sequences, you can see the pixelation. But I found this to not be really all that noticeable on a small screen. I was very pleased with the size of the file, the sound, and the video when I watched on my PocketPC.

Not bad

Not bad

From Finding Nemo

  After pressing the action button, a 2-1/2 hour movie took about 6-1/2 hours to encode on my Pentium 4 mobile, 1.4GHz laptop. Shorter time periods have been recorded by others who have faster processors.

IN THE BOX


    Microsoft’s Media Encoder is required for DVD2PPC to work, and comes with the software. It does the bulk of the encoding work in the background.

Still sequence

Same characters, action sequence

    DVD2PPC is great at what it does. It is simple and straightforward and delivers what it promises: watch your DVD’s on your PocketPC using a 128 or 256MB media card. It is a first generation software and probably the only 1-step process specifically targeted for PocketPC’s. This is a good thing and a bad thing. It’s a bad thing because it is first generation software. It is a good thing because DVD2PPC's developer, Ashimoto Makayama is extremely responsive. This is the first time that I have been so impressed with a developer’s technical support that I have listed it under the features of a software.

    Be sure to read the legal requirements for this software. It is not for everyone in every place using any DVD. DVDtoPocketPC’s website states that "For legal reasons this software may not be used by citizens of the U.S.A., Norway and Malaysia to convert copyprotected DVDs."

Another "action" sequence

Portrait Mode

    Also, because the software is so targeted, there is no option to automatically (one-step) convert those VCD’s that you may have. However, this is quite easy to do using the Microsoft Encoding Software that comes installed with DVD2PPC. At the end of the “Convert File” wizard uncheck “Begin converting when I click Finish”. Then click on “Propertes”, go to the "Compression" Tab, click the "Edit" button. Then, under the "General" tab, click "Import" and import Ashimoto’s “Pocket DVD Low”. By the way, you could use this procedure to convert any accepted video file to Ashimoto’s standard. His low standard encodes at 181kbps.

From Two Towers

Subtitles are clear

HELP SUPPORT

   Again, DVD2PPS's developer offers incredibly responsive support, as I've already stated. You can check out their support FAQ here. I can attest and others have noted that Ashimoto responds quickly to email inquiries.

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