Converting DVDs to WMVs

This blog exist mostly as a resource. I don't expect there to be a big community built up around folks who bought a clearanced media player.

I thought I'd give a quick overview of how I convert movies from DVD to my NPower Fusion Media Player. Now, while some people like prepackaged conversion utilities I've not had much luck with them. The quality is just not high enough for my liking. The tools I use are free and produce such a high quality result that you can read the words on signs in the final video, something I was unable to do when I tried to all-in-one packages.

• First you have to decode your DVD to a file on your hard drive. I use DVD Decrypter (from Doom9.org, a great source for DVD and general video editing.)
  
• I use AutoGK to convert the DVD information to an AVI. While AutoGK is technically out of date it still does the trick and does it with a single button.
• Alternatively you can do it yourself with the Gordian Knot rippack (again, from Doom9) and do it yourself.
• Don't make your video any bigger than 700mb since we've still got to down convert it after this.
• Then I use Windows Media Encoder to convert the AVI to a WMV as described in an earlier post.
• Then I split the resulting file into 5 minute segments with ASFbin as described in the same earlier post.

Now this may seem like a round about method, and maybe that's just because I like roundabout methods, but I think this method does a better job than anything you could pay for, and the difference in quality is noticeable.

I still use mine every day. When I'm not watching old movies or TV shows or listening to MP3s or AudoBooks I mostly play Bomberman or Arkanoid. Little tip for Arkanoid, be sure to go to the menu and exit out before you switch off the machine and it will save your current level so you can start there. I'm currently on level 71. The get tought after level 66.

Great Games for your NPower Fusion Media Player 2

Here's a new batch of games tested that work great on a NPower Fusion Media Player

Atari Legends 1 - Haven't found part 2, but you've got to play Combat.

Lego Racers - haven't played this one much, but it looks good so far.

Arkanoid - As long as you remember to exit at the main menu when you finish playing it will let you start on the level you quit on. I got up to level 77 before I had to reformat my device to find you all some more games.

Great Games for NPower Fusion Media Player 1

I've found a few games that work great on the NPower Fusion Media Player. Unzip and put both the jar and the jad files in the Java directory on your NPower Fusion while it's plugged in, as per the instruction in the manual:

Bomberman Deluxe - Awesome how well this game works. I don't play anything else at the moment. It saves your progress and everything. It's like it was made for this device.

Sonic the Hedgehog 1 - There are a few issues with the NPower screen being a resolution it wasn't made for specifically, as well as up being jump and a button used to look up. But it does work. The issues with the screen resolution make the first world unbeatable. I recommend you skip this one.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 - Runs like molasses on the NPower, so I don't know if it has the same problem as the above.

That's the first batch. I have many more coming soon!

As I find more that work great I'll post them.

Formatting movies for your npower fusion digital media player

If you want to watch videos on your npower fusion digital media player the manual is very specific that they need to be a certain size (320x240) no more than 512Kbps, and wmv format. What they don't specify is how to do that. If you don't own a video conversion software, don't worry. Free programs exist that make everything the expensive video conversion software does possible.

The first thing you're going to want is Microsoft's Windows Media Encoder. This utility makes it easy to set up optimal settings to get the maximum from your wmv files. However the encoder is only good for one file at a time, which can be trouble when you're trying to convert the entire season of a show like Firefly or The Office.

For converting more files at once you'll need the Windows Media Encoder SDK (available at the same place). Generally speaking this is not for public use, but it does contain a batch encoder. You'll need to open up your hard drive and manually look for batchencoder.exe. This program isn't complete in any way, but it does effectively do what we're looking for. You may want to make a shortcut somewhere so you can find this program later. Batchencoder.exe wants a profile. Here's one that I've set up that'll do the trick. Save it in My Documents for easy access.

But then there's another problem. Fast Forwarding on the npower fusion doesn't cooperate for me. It seems that after Fast Forwarding 5 minutes the thing breaks. So my solution was to break the videos up into 5 minute segements. And for that I found ASFBin (thanks to the folks at the doom9.org forums). Okay, bear with me because I can't host the files myself, so you'll need to do this manually.

1. Download ASFBin and unzip it c:\asfbin
2. Open up c:\asfbin
3. Replace the segments.lst file in c:\asfbin with this segments.lst file.
4. Download Splitfile.bat and save it anywhere you want. (use c:\asfbin if you can't think of anywhere else.)
   

Now all you need to do to split a file up is drag the wmv into splitfile.bat and watch as your program is broken up into 5 minute segments. (5:02 technically, but a little overlap avoids gaps right in the middle of someone's clever dialog.) Remember when you sync that you do not need to sync the original file.

At this point all you have to do is open up Windows Media Player, click the sync tab, and drag and drop all the movie files you want to watch later and click the sync button. Movie's on the go.

Let's load some games...

So the first thing I wanted to do after a synchronized some music on it was to put some games on it. Why not? The thing looks like a little Gameboy. And the manual says that it can run java programs, provided they use a specific set of libraries.

Unfortunately it's impossible to find anywhere that states what libraries were used to make their software and so you're going to be left with quite a bit of trial and error. And when you error you're going to have to reformat your unit. And when you reformat it you're going to lose the games that came with the system. Yes, that silly little solitaire peg game and poor arkanoid clone will likely be lost. Good riddance I say. Because once you start finding what cool games are out there you won't miss them.

Here's the bad news. As a game system the NPower Fusion Media Player is a bit lacking. Lemme list the cons of the system:

• Left often registers as up+left. (This may just be my unit)
• There's no number pad, and some java games expect it. (They're written for phones)
• There's no online, and some games want to download their content.
• The buttons could be mapped anywhere.
• Many programs don't know what to do with 320x240 resolution.

Those little things aside, there are still many games that the NPower Fusion can play.

You'll need both a JAR (Java ARchive) file and a JAD (Java Application Description) file and place both files on your unit's internal memory as prescribed by your manual. Then the first time you start up your games menu you'll see the games get installed, and once that process is done you can try them out.

Okay, here's my first big tip. If you find a game that offers a JAR download but not a JAD you can use JADMaker. Simply unzip the archive and drag the JAR file into the executable. The program does everything right, placing a new JAD file in the same directory JAR ready for upload.

If you find that the game either doesn't work or the quirks of the system (like left = up+left) keep the game from really being playable you can uninstall the games you've put on following the instructions in your manual. However, I've run into problems with this that I'll describe in a later post. So let me wrap up this post with a few links:

• JADMaker - Again, an excellent program in case all you can get is the JAR file.
• GetJAR - Stick with the generic games and you'll be okay.
• Mobile9 - Most of these games actually work, quirks aside, tho the sites descriptions lack somewhat.
• ClubMo - Loaded with ads, but they actually look like they do write ups on their games.

Introduction

Recently a cool piece of electronics went on blitz clearance. The Naked Brothers Band Npower Fusion Digital Media Player was available on clearance for $19.99 at Target. Normally when something is on clearance it's because it is sub-standard but this particular piece of technology's only sin was being associated with a sub-standard Nick show that no one has ever heard about. And being pink. But those superficial follies aside under the hood this is a pretty impressive piece of technology, a steal for the (clearance) price.

What the unit has is MP3 audio support, WMV (video) support, Java Game support, and 1 gig, yes you heard me, 1 gig of internal memory and an SD slot for expanded capacity up to 2 more gig at a time. It uses a similar Java interface that many modern cellphones have, sans the www accessibility. And it's light. When I picked the thing up I thought I was going to break it.

Seeing as the unit was on clearance there's very little "official" support for the thing, save a few SD cards loaded with Nick cartoons which also were on clearance a while back. Being a little proprietary there's very little and unpopular there's very little unofficial support either. And a Google search turned up more questions than answers so I've been left, largely, to discover my own solutions. Being tech savvy this hasn't been a problem, in fact I've had quite a bit of success. I wanted to share that success with others who have found themselves in possession of one of these excellent pieces of technology, and to get suggestions from the same.

So I made this blog.

I'll update in spurts when I can, and when I've pretty much dumped as much information as I have I'll leave this blog here for reference purposes. Chances are there's no huge NPower Fusion Media Player user base, but I've spent quite a bit of time making this work, so it seems silly to me not to share it for others.

But if you swing by and find this stuff useful leave a comment.

These suggestions will probably work other Media Players, especially the ones by Memorex. These suggestions may also work with the Disney Max-Max Media Players too, but I need someone to confirm that (or offer to buy me one).