Snow Leopard

[Paul Richards]

The new kitten is purring quite nicely for me on my MacBook. Just
wondering how others are faring...


Paul Richards
Ambassador
Syracuse Macintosh Users Group
Syracuse, NY, USA
http://www.iSMUG.com

[Ben McGann]

Just a few minor problems. Two Third Party Kernel Extensions didn't
work, one from my unsupported Canon scanner and one from a Western
Digital HD enclosure I no longer have. SL broke all 32-bit Screen
Saver modules. My HP Deskjet 3940 didn't work out of the box. HP
hasn't upgraded the driver yet, but installing the 10.5 driver works.

------------------------------------------------------------
"That's not what a Mac does. I want Mac on the PC, I want Mac on the
PC!" - B. Gates, Gates p.54

email: ben.m...@gmail.com
web: http:/www.benmcgann-is-a-geek.com
Skype: boriscleto
AIM: bmc...@mac.com

Syracuse Macintosh Users Group
http://www.ismug.com

[Judith McConnell]

Before we went to Australia, I purchased a Photo Safe II. Every night I
would download my video and photos into it. Once I was home, I downloaded
the safe and its contents into my computer. Now here is my problem: The
photo images come out beautiful but unfortunately I can't seem to access my
movie files. It is very aggravating as I have video of firewalking in Fiji,
views of a volcano from a helicopter.etc.
Any suggestions?
Sue McConnell

[Paul Richards]

On Nov 8, 2009, at 8:19 PM, Judith McConnell wrote:

> I can't seem to access my
> movie files.

What format? Have you successfully viewed movies taken with the same
camera that have subsequently been transferred directly form the
camera to your computer?

[Judith McConnell]

Yes, that is what is so frustrating. I tried attaching it to this reply only
the file was too big to send even with compression. If I don't figure out
the problem, I'll bring it to our next meeting.
Thanks,
Sue

[Paul Richards]

On Nov 9, 2009, at 1:58 AM, Judith McConnell wrote:

> I tried attaching it to this reply only
> the file was too big to send even with compression.

Large files can be sent with a service such as YouSendIt. Files up to
100MB can be sent, and up to 100 downloads of the file, even with
their free "Lite" account. It's basically a web-based short-term FTP
service substitute that provides you with a link to your file that you
send to your intended recipients.

<http://www.yousendit.com>

There are a few other similar services out there, but this is the one
I have used from time to time.

[Ben McGann]

If Quicktime Player won't open them try VLC.

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

On Nov 8, 2009, at 8:19 PM, Judith McConnell wrote:

>

------------------------------------------------------------
Well, we'll not risk another frontal assault. That rabbit's dynamite.-
King Arthur Monty Python and the Holy Grail

[derekcurrie.deluxe]

On Dec 1, 2009, at 12/01,7:58 AM, Martijn van Ackooij wrote:

Use VLC and download latest codec packs

As an explanation:

I) QuickTime Components

Apple's QuickTime software is extensible via what are called QuickTime Components. You can search for them and download them from the usual sites such as VersionTracker.com and MacUpdate.com. Some of them require payment for download. Some of them are specific to certain hardware, such as camera brand. Some are specific to certain software, such as a video editing suite.

Here is a list of those I currently have installed in 10.6 Snow Leopard. This is not a complete list of those available:

AC3MovieImport.component

AppleMPEG2Codec.component  (Sold by and downloadable from Apple. Requires a fee due to licensing)

avc1Decoder.component

AviImporter-r7 (Intel).component

CamTwist.component

Canon components (5 total, came with my camera)

CFHDCompressor.component

CFHDDecompressor.component

DivX Decoder.component

DivX Encoder.component

EVO.component

FLACImport.component

Flip4Mac WMV components (3 total, installed as a free package from Flip4Mac)

FLV.component

Google Camera Adapter 0.component

Google Camera Adapter 1.component

jpdmDecoder.component

mp4vDecoder.component

mp4vEncoder.component

MTM.component

Perian.component

Save as AVI.component

TSCC.component

x264Codec.component

x264Encoder.component

XiphQT.component

XviD_Codec 1.0 alpha.component

xvidEncoder.component

* Of the above, those I personally consider critical for video playback are:

avc1Decoder.component

DivX Decoder.component

Flip4Mac components

mp4vDecoder.component

Perian.component

x264Codec.component

XiphQT.component

NOTE that there are many old and outdated components that have been joined together specifically into the Perian component and the XiphQT component. Be sure to read the documentation with each of these components to know what to remove from your system. The outdated components will cause conflict problems with Perian and Xiph.

II) Free player programs that specialize in more obscure video codecs

A) VLC - by far the best and most critical.

B) MPlayer - This player is somewhat equivalent to VLC with some alternative abilities. There are two very different development tracks for this program:

1) The Version 1.x track is still active. The current version is v1.0rc2. You can download it here:

http://www.haque.net/software/mplayer/mplayerosx/builds/

There is also MPlayer OSX Extended which adds new some new features. 

It is only compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 and 10.6. Note that it is

somewhat buggy to use.

2) The Version 2.x track was abandoned in 2005. It ended with version 2.0b9r5. It has some alternative features to the 1.x track but is not critical.

C) Movist - This is a very simple player that adds features and playing ability beyond QuickTime, adding in particular the playing features of ffmpegX, listed below.

D) RealPlayer - I very rarely use this any longer. But there remain sights with Real Media video out on the net.

E) MPEG Streamclip - This is a high end tool, but is able to play many videos that nothing else will. You need not delve into its details to simply use it as a player. I never leave home without it.

F) ffmpegX - This is a high end tool that most people will find difficult to set up and use. But it can be very useful. It provides a GUI for a few Open Source CLI video tools.

There are plenty of other players, but the above programs pretty much cover the gamut as alternatives and add-ons to QuickTime.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If anyone has further useful components and players, please post!

:-Derek

===================

Derek Currie

derek...@mac.com

===================

http://Mac-Security.blogspot.com

http://MacSmarticles.blogspot.com

[Judith McConnell]

I downloaded iSkysoft Video Converter and paid for it. It seems to work well. The MTS files are a compression file developed by Canon, my video recorder. They are supposed to be able to be read by the software provided by Canon. However, this was not the case. Probably some mistake of mine but the iSkysoft application is working well.

Sue McC