greeder
join:2008-04-25
Beaverton, OR
| reply to DracoFelis
Re: [How to] Any WinAmp users?
I got tired of paying $50.00 per month for the privilege of watching TV. So I have disconnected the CATV. I was hoping to build a "Set top box" to tune in the TVoIP streams and display them on the TV. So one of my primary concerns is ease of use for my family. I was hoping to avoid loading a half dozen programs to watch TVoIP. 
In the case of WinAmp; Since I am using it for my MP3s and to manage my iPod, it was natural to extend it's use to video. I guess that's not the way to go.
I am familier with the open source Media Player Classic. I used it a lot under Win98. I never could get it to work with video, tho. Thanks for the pointer to FFDshow. |
DracoFelis
Premium
join:2003-06-15
| said by greeder  :So one of my primary concerns is ease of use for my family. I was hoping to avoid loading a half dozen programs to watch TVoIP. Understood. The trouble is that different services seem to want to do things differently.
Which is why I think one option to consider (that still works with multiple programs) is to setup a folder with TVoIP links in it. That way the family should (in theory) just be able to click on the link to the TVoIP software they currently want to use (and that link will launch the proper TVoIP software for that service). For example, I have a "NetFlix streaming" link that automatically connects me to NetFlix (and logs in), so I can watch streaming stuff from NetFlix. Likewise I have two HULU browser links (one to the HULU alphabetical list of TV shows, and a 2nd link for the HULU movies). Likewise, you could easily have a "WinAmp TV" link that brings up WinAmp (and shows you the WinAmp available TV stations).
While I admit that having a folder full of TVoIP shortcuts/links isn't as "friendly" as a single integrated program, it at least puts all the different TVoIP programs in one place (for the family to click on). So it is one option to try to make multiple TVoIP programs "more friendly".
said by greeder :I am familier with the open source Media Player Classic. I used it a lot under Win98. I never could get it to work with video, tho. Thanks for the pointer to FFDshow. Media Player Classic (at least the latest one) does an extremely good job with video. However, by itself MPC only handles a handful of video formats. So the "trick" to get it to work (on a large variety of formats) is in the CODECs you have installed (ideally "Direct Show" CODECs, but the later MPC can also be configured to use QuickTime and RealPlayer CODECs).
That's why FFDSHOW is so key. FFDSHOW is a single "Direct Show" CODEC, that can be configured to handle a huge number of video formats (as well as also giving additional advanced audio/video cleanup options). So if you configure Media Player Classic to use FFDSHOW as it's primary CODEC, and configure FFDSHOW to try to display most video/audio types, than you have a single player that can decode/display most video and audio formats, uses less CPU than many players, and (as an added bonus) has (due to the FFDSHOW CODEC) advanced "filters" for cleaning up the video/audio while you are watching it. |
