Using Windows Media Player 9 Series for Pocket PC
Published: November 13, 2003
By Galan Bridgman, Windows XP Expert Zone Community Columnist
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Digital media buffs like me are excited about the release of Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PC, primarily because it comes with the long-awaited Windows Media Player 9 Series for Pocket PC. This is an important milestone in the history of the Pocket PC, as it marks the first time the media player has the same level of codec support as exists on the Windows PC platform.
Windows Media 9 Series is the champion of modern compression technologies. The compression rates and quality are so good the movie industry is using Windows Media 9 Series as a format for testing new content delivery mechanisms.
In this column, I'll cover the Windows Media Player 9 Series for Pocket PC, focusing on how to create great video for it. And I'll explain how to create a Photo Story movie for your Pocket PC.
How to Get the New Software
Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PC is available now on most recent Pocket PC devices. It's also available as an upgrade on some older Pocket PC devices. If you purchased your Pocket PC after May 23, 2003, you may be entitled to a free upgrade.
Check the availability of an upgrade from the manufacturer of your model on the Microsoft upgrade information page. If an upgrade isn't listed there, try the manufacturer directly. For example, HP offers the Microsoft Pocket PC 2003 upgrade for the iPAQ Pocket PC. Windows Media Player 9 Series for Pocket PC is only available on devices that come pre-installed with the new operating system or ones that can receive a full system upgrade.
Make Movies that Play Well
I tested the new player using older videos previously encoded for my Pocket PC 2002 device. The smoothness and performance were noticeably better than with the older player. Great! I love it when a software update solves an old problem.
The next step was trying out a video encoded in the new Windows Media 9 Series format. Microsoft has provided new Movie Setting profiles that give you the option to encode a video in Movie Maker 2 optimized for Windows Media Player 9 Series for Pocket PC devices running Windows Mobile Software 2003. This will give you the optimal video playback experience on a Pocket PC.
The new Movie Setting profiles are available on the Windows XP Winter Fun Pack downloads page. Save the .prx files in the folder: drivename:\Program Files\Movie Maker\Shared\Profiles
The new profiles will appear as Video for Pocket PC 2003 (348 Kbps at 24 fps) or Video for Pocket PC 2003 (348 Kbps at 30 fps) in the Capture Wizard or the Save Movie Wizard of Movie Maker 2.
To save a movie, open your video in Movie Maker 2
1. | In the Movie Tasks pane, under Finish Movie, click Save to my computer. |
2. | Type a name for your movie, and choose a place to save your movie in a folder that is automatically synchronized with your Pocket PC using ActiveSync. Then click Next. |
3. | On the Movie Setting page, click Show more choices, and then choose one of the Video for Pocket PC 2003 movie settings in the Other settings list. |
4. | After the movie is saved, click Finish. |
5. | With your Pocket PC connected to your computer, run ActiveSync. |
These new profiles use the Windows Media Video 9 codec and Windows Media Audio 9 codec and optimize video for playback on a Pocket PC 2003 device using Windows Media Player 9 Series for Pocket PC.
Be aware that if you choose one of these settings, the video can be played only on Pocket PC 2003. Earlier versions of Pocket PC do not support Windows Media Video 9 playback. If you want to play the video on earlier Pocket PCs, choose one of the three other Video for Pocket PC options in the Movie Setting step of the wizard.
As nice as it is to have the new profiles, I still sometimes like to create custom profiles of my own using the Windows Profile Editor that comes with Windows Media Encoder 9. For example, I find that a frame rate of 15 fps rather than 20 fps is perfectly acceptable on a Pocket PC device, and it results in smaller files that often play a little smoother. Also, I find that 208 x 160 is a great size for Pocket PC movies, because this is the size that fits perfectly into the player window in its standard mode. Feel free to experiment with creating your own profiles. When you have a finished .prx file, save it in the same location described above and it will be visible to Movie Maker 2.
If you attempt to play back a 320 x 240 movie and it doesn't rotate and play full screen, then you need to adjust a setting. On your Pocket PC device:
1. | Tap Start, and then tap Windows Media Player. |
2. | On the Tools menu, tap Settings, and then tap Audio & Video. |
3. | In the Play video in full screen list, change Never to Only when oversized. |
Other Useful Features
In addition to the improvements described in this column, you'll also appreciate the multiple bit rate support, variable bit rate support, better IPv6 support, improved streaming from a wired or Wi-Fi connection, individual volume controls between the player and the system, and better MP3 support. See Windows Media Player 9 Series for Pocket PC for more information.
Note: The Pocket PC player does not support some of the more advanced features of the PC version, such as the Windows Media Audio Professional codec with multi-channel support and lossless audio. These features would have little to no value on a Pocket PC device of today.
All in all, the player component alone represents a very welcome addition to the Pocket PC operating system.
Verdict on Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PC
Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PC contains many refinements that should be welcome to any Pocket PC user. Here's a quick look at some of the new features other than the Media Player that come in Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PC:
| • | Zero Configuration Wireless—detects available networks, just like Windows XP. |
| • | Bluetooth Support—links your Pocket PC with other Bluetooth-enabled devices. |
| • | New Connection Manager—redesigned for easier connection to your corporate network or to the Internet. Adds support for multiple VPNs, 802.1x, IPSec L2TP VPN, 128-bit SSL and 128-bit CAPI encryption. |
| • | Enhanced Messaging Support—with auto-suggest, auto-correct, and signature support. |
| • | Enhanced Keyboard Support—for new devices with integrated or snap-on keyboards. |
| • | Enhanced Contacts—improved search capability lets you find contacts more easily. |
| • | Enhanced Calendar—offers multi-day views with weekends and holidays in different colors with vCals now supported. |
| • | 'Pictures' Image Viewer application—similar digital photo support in Windows XP. |
| • | Improved Pocket Internet Explorer Performance—support for a larger number of Web standards. |
There's nothing radical in this list, but it's nothing to jeer at either. Some of the improvements are simply standard expectations from users now accustomed to Windows XP. The next version of the operating system will probably contain more bells and whistles to support the hardware improvements coming in the next year.
Galan Bridgman is a developer, architect, and enthusiast for digital media technologies. He co-developed QuickTime for Windows for Apple Computer. At Starlight Networks he developed innovative client and backend technologies using ActiveMovie® and NetShow® Server, the precursors to Windows Media Technology. He is a full-time consultant, and is currently developing a next-generation, fully-automated radio station using Microsoft Windows Media 9 Series technologies. After hours he enjoys showing others how to make the most of Microsoft's latest Windows Media applications. Check Galan's Web site for more information about him.
