Dom the Pom

Sussed it. For some perverse reason, I have to right click, open in Explorer, and play from there (Real Player).

Thanks again for everyone's help.

Sherry2k

Hiya - my first post!!! Demonoid is down just now as they've been shut down by some kinda official group re. anti-piracy. I reckon they'll be back soon though. Word is they're relocating to another country - or at least the main server is. Try www.Mininova.org. Demonoid is my favourite but when I'm watching American Shows and can't wait till next week, I download them here at Mininova. In fact in some cases I'm way ahead of UK TV....... naughty I know! Try and download AVI files as they're less complicated to watch if you're watching them on your computer. If you're putting them onto disc, it has to be converted to dvd format. I'm no expert but that's what I do. Save them to your external hard drive and just watch them on the PC at your leisure.


Still in UK - just got paperwork through re. moving (feel sick!) lol

All the best.

bigAPE

People stopped copying the AVI files onto CD-R/RW a couple of years back because it was just such a pain in the arse.

There are several cheap (<£100) DVD players on the market that offer DivX/XVid compatibility and also have a USB socket on the front. I know that LG and Philips have one. The Philips DVP-5960 offers two USB sockets (front and back), excellent compatibility with all DivX standards and even an HDMI output for the latest HD LCD/Plasma TV's which does a not half bad attempt at upscaling your DVD's to HD.

The fastest way to watch these sort of downloaded programmes (not that I would do this of course, because it might be construed as an admission of guilt in downloading illegal copyright material) is to download the DivX encoded AVI file, copy it to a USB stick and stick it in the USB socket on the front of the TV, then just play the file from there.

There are USB sticks up to 16GB available now and if you're really lucky you might find a player with the holy, a powered USB socket, so that you can attach a small portable HD (like the 320GB WD Passport) to the player and turn it into a Video Jukebox!

Not that I have ever done anything like this of course.

northernbird

I have the LG and it is so damn easy just chucking a USB stick in the front. Best thing I ever bought.

bigAPE

Mmmm... I must try this Bot Torrent thing out one day

I have heard that the LG has some trouble with .STR Subtitle files and AAC encoded DivX ?

Jessy69

People stopped burning disks a couple of years back get a xbox360 and stream directly from PC.

Sherry2k

I had a divx player - I'm looking at it now, ready for the bin. It was pants and only worked a few times.

Red_V_Roger

I got a divx player off ebay for less that AUD $60 and stuck an old second hand IDE drive in it - its brillant. Connect the USB to the PC, transfer the file then connect the S-Video lead to the TV.

The leads that it can with must be worth $60.

worzel

If I was to do such a thing I would copy them to DVD (not CD) as DivX files which only takes a minute (which is hardly significant when a 6 episode series of a sitcom takes 3 hours to download on 1.5GB broadband). That way you can get much more on a disc than CD and have a copy of the files saved for future use and conveniently by the TV.

Our DVD player does have a USB socket but I couldn't get DivX files to play off it, only off a DVD (it is a Phillips). I should try again.

The next issue someone downloading so much stuff would have is that it would rapidly fill up their hard drive in which case this person would have to choose between deleting some (and hence not having as may to upload and keep their ratio up) and buying an extra hard drive. Someone would then be considering the merits of internal and external hard drives. Speed of transfer, security of back ups would be factors I imagine?

bigAPE

The Xbox360 can only recently (thanks to the Fall 2007 Dashboard update) playback DivX/XVid files, and there are some restrictions (lack of AAC audio playback, etc). There is some contention about the ability to playback DivX from the USB port as well. If you can confirm that it works I think quite a few people would be very happy because the 360's USB 2.0 array is powered and this means that External USB powered HD's are a possibility

You have a 1,536Mbps internet connection !? I thought I was rocking with 30Mb (1Mb up) Cable @ ~2.7MB/ps download with a 60GB limit

Yeah, try again. If it's a Philips with a USB socket that supports DivX then it should be fine. The firmware is fairly decent, but check the net as there are homebrew projects out there that offer better firmware for that series of players. Also, it can be a little icky about some brands of cheap flash memory.

Personally, I would (if I did that sort of thing) buy cheap portable external USB drives to operate as Backup devices. As mentioned I am a fan of the WD Passport drives which start around 60GB @ ~$95, 80GB @ ~$105, 120GB @ ~$130, 160GB @ ~$150 and 250GB @ ~$230. There is even a 320GB version out now.. all the size of a old audio cassette case!

Al

silver

I haven't tried playing DIVX files of an external hard drive, but have off of a DVD and streamed wirelessly from a PC and works ok with the latest firmware. Playback is much better than $60 palsonic thing I got from Harris Scarfe. I was looking at buying a linksys NSLU2 with a few extra packages should be able to download bit torrents and stream to the XBOX360 without needing the PC switched on at all.

bigAPE

Sure, but what I'm referring to is direct playback on the XBox from USB stick, or HD, connected via the 360's USB sockets.

If you get a chance to have a go I would be very interested in the result

BTW - Do we happen to chat on "another forum" per chance ?

silver

We do...

Sorry did realise what you were talking about... just hadn't tried it quite that form...

I was pleased by the playback quality of the 360 and its ability to be tollerant of non fully divx compliant files..

Streaming wirelessly to the xbox is definately my prefered solution...

I will try it with my external hdd (although its a powered one) and let you know.

worzel

Ooops. What is a letter between friends. I meant 1.5MB not GB of course. Only marginally faster than watching paint dry but our exchange is full and it is going to be a long wait before the government and Telsta (or OPEL) get their fingers out.

silver

Checked it out tonight. USB Key does work, cbia to move my external HD and try that as well but would assume as long as its formatted fat32 then it would work. I have no idea if xbox360 supports external disks formatted NTFS wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't but google would be the best bet to check that.

Hope that helps