Michael, My theory is that H.264 takes up more battery power for a given quality level. I know that up until recently, Pocket PCs have had difficulty playing high-bitrate H.264. And even the iPod maximum bitrate playback is lower for H.264 than it is for 3ivx, for example. With 30G or 60G iPod, battery is more of a concern than disk space. No one has taken up my suggestion to actually run a comparison on this ( http://groups.google.com/group/videoblogging/browse_thread/thread/570 863cedd357f06/d4293c55fd4b0534? lnk=st&q=h.264+battery+ecomputerd&rnum=1&hl=en#d4293c55fd4b0534 )
Based on my observations that H.264 takes up more CPU than 3ivx, my presumption is that it also takes more battery power. Unfortunately, no one has ever confirmed (to my knowledge) whether iPod can decode mp3 audio on a 3ivx-encoded video, so at this point my recommendation has been 3ivx/AAC (even thought AAC if decoded legally requires licensing payments by the author of the player to the licensing agency). I've written briefly about that here: http://feederreader.pocketcasting.com/viewtopic.php?p=1417#1417 On desktops and in living rooms, where the decoding machine is plugged into the wall, I suspect H.264 widescreen at 720p or 1080i will be completely appropriate. I'm not sure of the minimum machine required to decode H.264 at that resolution. I'd love to see if a 2GHz MCE HTPC or an Apple Mini can decode a full-resolution HDTV- quality H.264 bitstream. Greg Smith Author, FeederReader - The Pocket PC videoblog client. No desktop required. --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Michael Verdi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > So I'm thinking about iPod compatibility and the easiest way to make a good > iPod compatible video using H.264 seems to be to export as an .MP4. You have > control over the bit rate, single or dual pass, audio settings, etc. The > files seem to fast start for me on Mac and PC. Now the .MP4 can't do all the > cool QuickTime things like HREF tracks, text tracks, etc. but you can always > use QuickTime Pro to save as an .mov and add those things if you want. Is > there something I'm missing? Are there widespread server mime type problems > with .mp4? Steve Watkins will probably want to scream because he's been > saying this for about a year but, Steve, I'd appreciate your thoughts on > this subject again. > So who out there has been doing this? What's your experience been? I've > noticed that Bill Streeter sometimes uses it but not always - what's up with > that Bill? > Thanks, > Verdi > > PS - It appears that Apple has fixed the export to iPod thing if you access > it in iMovie from the Share menu. If you access it from File > Export in > iMovie or QuickTime Pro you still get that dammed 320 X 213 video! > > PPS - Yes, this is research for the book & Freevlog 3 - just so you know. > > -- > Me: http://michaelverdi.com > R&D: http://evilvlog.com > Learn to videoblog: http://freevlog.org > Learn to videoblog in person: http://node101.org > Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/videoblogging/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
