TCPMP Download Question

[slowmo]

When I go to http//tcpmp.corecodec.org/download , I am confused by my options. Obviously, I want to download the most recent PPC version. When I click on the option, I find five different downloads, some of which are obviously not what I want, i.e. smartphone. Then I see plugins, and I wonder if I have to have any of those. I know many of you use TCPMP, so what would you suggest for someone that only wants to view movies from some of my DVDs? Also, I realize that I may have to buy a ripper program, but are there any freeware rippers that are any good?

[Mahstah]

All you need is the latest Windows Mobile version.

http://corecodec.org/frs/download.ph....cabs.0.71.zip

Unzip and copy tcpmp.arm_ce3.cab to your device and run the cab file from your Axim.

The plugins are for less common video/audio formats that you likely won't need.

For DVD ripping, a very popular program is DVD to Pocket PC. I've used it with good results.

[slowmo]

Ok, I managed to download the right version of TCPMP, and put a vid clip I had taken with my digicam on the CF card to make sure it worked. It did. Yay! However, I have not had the same luck with the ripper. I downloaded a free ripper, DVD Rip N Burn, that actually ripped a test DVD I had bought at the pawn shop for a test subject. The finished .mpeg1 file was 1,041,538 kb! I thought the idea was to compress it! So now I guess I have a useless ripper/burner, as I am not going to try to put that on a SD card, or a CF, for that matter.

Actually, I got in too much of a hurry. I think I downloaded the wrong ripper software. I need a DVD to Pocket PC ripper, don't I? Would this make the difference in the final size of the file?

BTW, I solved part of my syncing problem today, although I may have to start over anyway. I found Outlook on the Dell Companion CD, and installed it, along with the 02 patch, which is of course, incompatible with my Norton Antivirus, so I have to uninstall/reinstall, the question is which one? Norton or Outlook? I think I am going to do a system restore back to last week and start over. Besides, when I right click, my computer tries to dialup to my internet connection, so I changed a setting somewhere.

Hope your day was more profitable than mine!

[Mahstah]

The size of the ripped video is a function of the compression algorithm used and the lossiness created in the resultant video of your ripper software.

Your DVD Rip N Burn did indeed compress your DVD from ~8 GB to ~1 GB, 12.5% the original size. DVD to Pocket PC puts a "full length feature film on a 128 MB card", but you should expect the quality of the video to degrade with the size. Make your rips as large as possible with compression settings to get the best video quality. It is the yin and the yang of video compression.

For your Norton problem, I suggest ditching Norton for AVG. It's smaller, faster, more compatible, less complicated, updates daily, and totally FREE! If you paid for Norton, it makes the decision more difficult but you will save money on tech support in the future...

Since you asked, today happened to be extremely profitable for me. Tax season is upon us!!!