DVDIdle - Extend life of DVD-ROM 2-8 times !

[fengtao]

http://www.dvdidle.com/download.htm

DVDIdle is the unique easy-to-use tool that extends life of DVD-ROM
2-8 times.

By using Smart Read-Ahead technology, it saves the titles of DVD to
the cache on hard drive, and lets DVD-ROM resting aside.

For example, a 6X-speed DVD-ROM works only 15 minutes for a 90 minutes
DVD title.

Other features include auto-detect DVD-ROM, run and close at dvd
player startup and exit automatically.

[Emp3r0r]

Wouldn't it be better if it started up and stopped less and just played the movie at a constant 1X speed... that's my main complaint about my old dvd-rom. It get's stupid during playback of dvd's sometimes and I get a hic-cup in my viewing.

[fengtao]

DVDIdle do can work for you with even 1X speed DVD-ROM.

Your 1X speed DVD-ROM will always be working when you watching DVD just like before, but DVDIdle will make the playback more smooth because Smart Read-Ahead cache is constant.

But this is in theory, could you please test it for me?:)


Best Regards,
Fengtao

[ppera2]

Copy whole DVD to HD and watch from there. It takes usually 6-15 min total work of DVD player. (And some place on HD of course ;) )

[Ookami]

Great, post a link about your shareware program and then ask the users to test for you?! Are you serious?

BTW, there are already programs like CD bremse who can slow your DVD drive down... So no hic up when using CD bremse...

And the only thing that is probably really damaging your drive if you encode directly with Flask, DVD2MPG Squeezer etc. New programs like DVDx have a cache feature, so you can even encode from the drive directly without fear of damage.

And that watching DVD can damage your drive is funny. How about not using it? :D

[fengtao]

To ppera2:
You have a good idea. DVDIdle is born from this. But how about waiting 15 min when you want to watch DVD now? And you must have a 4G - 8G free hard disk space :-(

To Ookami:
DVDIdle is not CD bremse.
DVDIdle does not slow your DVD drive down.
DVDIdle use the fast ability of DVD-ROM to cache the titles of DVD to HD cache, so DVD player can playback from cache, not from DVD-ROM.
Normally, When we watch DVD, the DVD-ROM will work through the playback. But using cache, it will work a little time, just the time you copy to HD.

[Ookami]

@Emp3r0r

Have you tried CD bremse?

@fengtao

I understand the concept behind your program (I was not refering to it when mentioning CD bremse). But, IMNSHO, your program is not needed.

If you have a normal DVD, what's the use of it? It is, probably, useful when you have a very scratched DVD that will drive ( :D ) your drive crazy... In this case you can use the ppera2 method, the DVD backup method etc. I don't see the point in buying some software that caches the data, but that's only my opinion.

I also think that you can work on your PC without Windows Commander =:-D .

So, my thoughts have not changed since my last posting :) .

So, good luck with your software and happy developing...

Cheers,

Ookie.

[Zhnujm]

does it only work with dvd-video ? im searching for such a program for avi files.
i tried yours but it seems to have no effect on avi files.

[fengtao]

To Zhnujm:
The version you want is in developing, and will be available in next week, please pay attention.

Best Regards,
Fengtao

[macdaddy]

Wouldn't it be better if it started up and stopped less and just played the movie at a constant 1X speed... that's my main complaint about my old dvd-rom. It get's stupid during playback of dvd's sometimes and I get a hic-cup in my viewing.

That's reason number two to watch from the harddrive (preserving your DVD-ROM drive's life being reason #1)...

btw-I rip CDs once, too...

Have you tried CD bremse?

What's that?

[ppera2]

@fengtao

I tried your program, and it doesn't work at all. Actually it frozes both WinDVD and PowerDVD (latest versions). Couple try - all same freeze.

[fengtao]

Please feel free to tell me what's your system configuration.

For example, the OS and the version of PowerDVD, WinDVD.

I test it in Win98/2000/XP, it all works well.

[Ookami]

Originally posted by macdaddy
>>Have you tried CD bremse?
What's that?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&q=cd+bremse+homepage

http://www.cd-bremse.de/cdbremse.htm

You can adjust the reading speed the spin down time of the CD ROM, DVD ROM etc.

[macdaddy]

Thank you.

[nikthebak]

Just my luck. I happen to have the only DVD-ROM (Pioneer DVD-106s) which CD-Bremse cannot slow down. I just HAVE to watch movies from HDD because that pesky Pioneer must be the noisiest thing in existence after Delta Power Turbine(tm) cooling fans :mad:.

[Emp3r0r]

Have you tried CD bremse?
Nope, because I don't think it works with mine. I have an older Pioneer 104? maybe. Not really a big deal anyway, I don't have much time to watch dvd's anyway, except I've been wanting to watch Kiss of the Dragon.... Jet Lee is a badass.

[fengtao]

Win98/ME + WinDVD bug fixed.
Win200/XP + PowerDVD XP bug fixed.

Best Regards,
Fengtao Software

[Airw0lf]

nikthebak - Dude, pioneer has a utility that I think does a similar thing for your drive. You'd be better off using that.

http://www.pioneeraus.com.au/multimedia/software/utility/dvdutils_103.zip

DVD Utility program for DVD-116, DVD-106S and DVD-A06S drives.
Windows 98, 98SE, Me, 2000 and XP
Provides the functions to:
1. Change the drive speed (including a quiet mode for DVD Movie viewing)
2. Set the drives Region Code
3. Upload new firmware versions from within Windows

[fengtao]

It does slow down the DVD-ROM's speed, but DVD-ROM still works all the time when you watching DVDs, never rests awhile.

DVDIdle lets DVD-ROM resting aside by using Smart Read-Ahead technology. You can try it and see the result.

[fengtao]

DVDIdle 1.20 Updated!

CinePlayer 4.0 is supported now.

Many new features are available in this version:
Region-Free: You will never have to worry about changing the region code and decreasing counters!
Macrovision-Free: Change video mode on TV output, Connect your DVD player to your VCR without the usual image distortion.
Operation-Free: All buttons and menus will be enabled in your player, which will allow you to:
skip or fast-forward FBI warnings and other intro's.
change soundtracks on the fly.
... and much more!

Win2000/XP + WinDVD 3.2 problem fixed.
Some other bugs are fixed. This version is more stable.[B]

[billharrison]

Is it just me, or has the toshiba DVD-ROM in my pc for over 3 years ripped and played HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of movies without the LEAST bit of trouble and is STILL working fine? Perhaps I got REALLY lucky, but I honestly don't see a need for this. If my DVD rom bit the dust today, I would not feel the least bit bad about it, It has MORE than served its TIME!

[fengtao]

Hi, billharrison,

If you are using DVDIdle, your DVD-ROM should work 10 years!

Let me explain it in theory: The DVD players such as PowerDVD or WinDVD always read DVD-ROM at about 2X speed, but there are many DVD-ROMs that can read at 6X-16X speed, so the energy of DVD-ROM is not released. When DVD-ROM being read at 2X speed, it works round and round as being read at 16X speed, and the motor and transmission belt are always consumed. DVDIdle reads DVDs at max speed that DVD-ROM can reach, and save the title to cache on hard drive. When cache being full, DVDIdle stops reading DVD-ROM and let it sleeping. So the life of DVD-ROM is extended.

BTW: The newest version DVDIdle support many cool features such as Region-Free and Macrovision-Free, it's worth tring.

[MaTTeR]

Originally posted by fengtao

BTW: The newest version DVDIdle support many cool features such as Region-Free and Macrovision-Free, it's worth tring.

Well I just tried the Macrovision free function and this is the first ever application that has worked for me. I've tried every (I do mean every:D ) solution on the net and this application works great for me.

WinXP
PIII 800
Samsung 16x DVD

Nice application if I do say so myself. Anyway to turn off the cache function though? I just need the Macrovision feature:)

[fengtao]

Hi, MaTTeR,

Thank you for choosing DVDIdle. If you want only Macrovision-Free, I will add an option in the future vesion DVDIdle which you can enable or disable Smart Read-ahead Cache. Please wait one or two weeks.

Best Regards,
Fengtao

[MaTTeR]

Many thanx Fengtao. You have no idea how much time I've spent trying to defeat Macrovision just to watch my DVD, few people in IRC could vouch for this:devil:

[ZeB]

Anyone who know a app who can slow down the read speed for a Pioneer 105S? I've tried both cd-bremse and nero drivespeed but none of them work :/ cd bremse only show 16X and drivespeed just ignore other settings then 16X.

[MaTTeR]

@ZeB

Didn't I just see a utility on Pioneer's web site the other day that allowed this? It was called DVDutils and was specific to Pioneer drives AFAIK.

[nikthebak]

Yes, DVDutils 1.03.

http://www.pioneer-eur.com/eur/download.jsp?dir=/files/support/utility&filename=dvdutils_103.zip

However, that little program supports only Pioneer models DVD-116, DVD-106S and DVD-A06S. And the "quiet mode" offered by this program sets DVD speed to ~4.7X, which still sounds way too loud for me.

[fengtao]

DVDIdle 1.30 Updated!

Enable/Disable Smart Read-ahead Cache setting added, so you can get Macrovision-Free feature separately.

Crash problem when changing settings under Win98/ME fixed.
Win2000/XP + WinDVD/PowerDVD off-cache problem fixed.
Many people report those problems, so it's highly recommended to upgrade to this version.

Best Regards,
Fengtao

[Ookami]

Fengtao, stop advertising your program! Your signature is enough! I said it nice once, I will not do it nicely anymore!

Thread closed.