3G2 format converting

[Lord_GalAthon]

I'm not sure where to post this question so I'll go for the newb forum, safe in the knowledge that it will be moved wherever appropriate.

So I got a Treo 650 and it's got a video recorder on it. I was hoping for some nice decent codec but it's hard coded to 3G2 format which is Quicktime.

Now I've encountered several problems with this format.

Firstly the playback quality is absolutely laughable. When played on a PC within Quicktime, the video plays like the old 56kbs dial up type bandwidth, only blockier. To quote an example: I recorded my 6 year old daughter's ballet recital on it earlier today. The unit itself is decent in terms of endurance. For instance I recorded a total of 45 minutes and only lost about 20% battery, which is largely due to the no moving (read mechanical) parts within it.

However when viewed, the video only prevents us from recognizing our own daughter amongst the little ballerinas...

The memory required for 45 minutes of video is also incredibly small, 50,244,993 bytes which is roughly 49.7MB.

The trouble occurs a bit later. When you play the files back they're blocky and choppy, CLICK HERE (http://www.gtss.info/coco.3g2) for a 926Kb example of my mom's parrot.

However I've thrown these at every converter I had to try and get them to a more common format, one that my relatives overseas wouldn't need to install the whole iTunes bundle to watch, one like divx or mpg. They all failed miserably with explosive errors and unrecognizable formats and what not. Even Divx create 6.1 which claims, input any file, output divx.

So in essence my question is simple: Does anyone know of a way to convert 3G2 video files to .avi or .mpg?

Thanks in advance and sorry for the small review and long post.

[Kurtnoise]

So in essence my question is simple: Does anyone know of a way to convert 3G2 video files to .avi or .mpg?
With Yamb...;) Go to Extract, open you file and check Extract Visual Track ID xxx to an AVI file with the appropriate id.

[setarip_old]

1) Be advised, the converted video will likely be as poor or poorer than the captured original .3G2 version (It's still true that, "You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear" - And, "You can't make gold from lead" - And, of course "GIGO")

2) Based on the relatively small filesize and battery consumption, although I'm not personally familiar with your "Treo 650", I'm guessing that you selected "low quality" recording - and that there is probably a "high quality" alternative available...

[CWR03]

setarip_old, it's basically a phone/palm pilot. Why anyone would expect any real video quality from a device with 128MB of storage is as laughable as the results you achieved.

If you purchase the full version of QuickTime you can export video to virtually any format.

[setarip_old]

@CWR03

Your post is confusing. Are you addressing me or the thread starter - or both, without separating theparts of your post intended for each?

[ammck55]

@setarip_old--I don't see any confusion. CWR03 explained to you what a "Treo 650" is and expressed his opinion on the quality of capture with this device given its inherent limitations, which was initially described as "laughable" by the original poster.

Next, he inserted a line break (like this one) and offered the advice to acquire and convert the file with Quicktime Pro. Both you and Lord_GalAthon can use this advice, if you care to.

To learn more about the Treo 650, you might want to download the user's manual and read up; this would clarify whether or not your assumption on its software options was correct. Keep your comments on target.

@Lord_GalAthon-Let us know how you get on with this, I'm considering one of the Treo products in the coming year and would be interested in the results of your encoding tests. Actually, I'm more interested in accessing my mail accounts via a handheld, but it's always nice to be aware of one's options. :)

ammck55

[CWR03]

Yeah, sorry setarip_old, I didn't specify to whom I was referring.

My Motorola e815 can also record and play back 3G2 videos - I recently converted an .AVI with QuickTime's 3G2 default settings and it played back perfectly on the phone, and had similar success converting a video from the phone to uncompressed .AVI, although both looked like crap.

With the full version of QuickTime I was also able to play the 3G2 video unaltered right out of the phone. I don't know if the unregistered version can play them, but at least iTunes is free (until you download something).

[setarip_old]

@CWR03

Thanks for clarifying ;>}

[Lord_GalAthon]

No, unfortunately, there are no quality settings. Only some effects like sepia and B&W, also the resolution can be changed from 320x320 to 160x160 which is no good either.

The compression is laughable, and I wonder if any third party camera software will be available since the CCD is a .3Mpixels and I think, I think that means 640x480. If someone comes up with software to encode in straight mpeg, even if the files are larger, it would be nice.

The Treo itself is a fine handheld, it can playback divx 6.1 natively with TCPMP, i've tested it yesterday, only problem is that the handheld settings in the divx converter make the file a ridiculously low resolution which on even the Treo's native 320x480 screen comes out blocky. I have to find better settings within divx converter for a small file (under 250Mb) and somewhat higher resolution, like 320x480 or so. No need for anything higher for a palm. My T3 was perfect with unlogic movie converter but I'm now getting an audio encoder missing error which I'll need to look into.

BTW accessing my e-mail account is easily setup and done with the Treo, provided there is some wireless 1x signal (TELUS). I recommend the unlimited data option package as otherwise the costs might grow high. I've set it up to automatically check my e-mail every half hour and the battery only drops about 35-40% by the end of the day. So far I've only found the following drawbacks:

1-Camera and video recorder are low quality but that might be a software issue.
2-The damn unit is beautiful and sleek but it's also slick and slippery, rubber side grips wouldn't have killed anyone. Also there are buttons literally everywhere so it's hard to hold it and not press anything.
3-The built in speaker and microphone blow chunks.
4-They've lowered the onboard memory to 24Mb. I was used to 64Mb on my T3 and had to get additional memory cards, like 256Mb or 512Mb SDs.

Otherwise I've been having lots of fun with it.

HERE IS A VIDEO (http://www.gtss.info/GVsnow.3g2) of my wife in her truck, taking off for work in almost 2 feet of snow this morning. I was hoping for her to slip and slide but she made it look effortless. Damn...

[bond]

the video bitrate is 23kbps, its obvious that the quality is total crap (the video stream is mpeg-4 sp)
audio is qcelp

you should be able to remux the video stream to .avi or .mp4 with mp4box.
of course reencoding the video stream will not make the quality better

btw .3g2 is not quicktime. quicktime is only one player handling .3g2

[Lord_GalAthon]

So I should be able to play it with another player than Quicktime? I don't know why they call it Quicktime, it takes forever to load that software is sooooo heavy...