How I should encode my video to use it on future AVC players?

[AlexeyS]

I mean:
what codec?
what container (MP4 or AVI)?
what audio (MP3, AAC, AACplus, AC3)?
what apect ratio (I want to encode non-square pixel DVDs and some HDV video without resizing)?

[bond]

hi, this has been answered already and the answer is "its not possible now"

[kothrush]

hi, this has been answered already and the answer is "its not possible now"

"Its not possible now" might not be true anymore. I think it is very easy to make the prediction looking at current market. Look at iPod Video. It does not do HD AVC. But, it is the first hardware player (or was it PSP , either way one of the first one) to support H.264 of any kind. It currently only does H.264 Base profile , 320 x 240 with 2.1 AAC in mp4/mov.

So looking at that , it is very easy to see that future iPod ( and for that matter Creative, Rio , Archos, etc. players too for competition) will support ATLEAST H.264 Main profile+AAC Audio+bigger size in mov/mp4. Once those manufacturers push H.264, you will hopefully see more and more stand alone players playing those.

Now it will be really great to have player which support H.264 High Profile+5.1 AAC+ . Now, that I dont know when/how will happen. It probably will happen sometimes next year, but you never know. So if you want to really future proof NOW then just make your H.264 file playable in Quicktime ( or in other words H.264 Main or base Profile + AAC + mp4/mov container) and you are good to good with current and future portable players from Apple, Creative, Rio etc. etc.

[Sharktooth]

still it is impossible to know... no one still knows what players will support.
yours is only a guess.