Re: Why can't N900 play videos smoothly?
 

Mplayer turns with the same error.

Different files, the same problem.

Mplayer from command line can`t play file with low resolution I just converted. SiB on the other hand plays, but with the same issue I mentioned before.

Re: Why can't N900 play videos smoothly?
 

I just checked my dad`s n900. After few problems at start i set SiB with hard framedropping, and video was playing perfectly fine!!!

I also found my dad's n900 to be faster and more stable than mine, what is wrong?! Even opening menu was smooth. Coping files to his tablet from pc is 2 times faster than coping to mine...

I have no idea what is going on, but something is wrong for sure, perhaps it's fragmentation problem after all? I thought that this problem does not exist on linux...

Re: Why can't N900 play videos smoothly?
 

Good you have a second device at hand!

I bought a second hand N900 a while ago, that also suffered from playback trouble and a reflash did wonders. No idea what the owner before me had put on the device, but a reflash might solve your problems.

Re: Why can't N900 play videos smoothly?
 

That reflash you mentioned may be in order. Remember that you can use a linux boot disk to create an environment from which to flash, if you fear using Win7

Re: Why can't N900 play videos smoothly?
 

I choose to keep reflashing my n900 for the end for something like last chance.

I just updated my device with Nokia Software Update. It seems to solve my problem. I already checked two files, and everything is all right.

I decided to follow my steps to rebuild my n900 the way I like it, but now I will check my tablet after installing new software.

I now believe that I installed something that wos wrong for my tablet.

Thank you guys for all your patient and help. If I find app that causing the problem I will post it here.

Thanks again, have a nice day!

Re: Why can't N900 play videos smoothly?
 

To play videos that are not supported by the stock mediaplayer I use SiB or smplayer from a debian chroot image.

EDIT: I do always convert videos to gsmformat

Re: Why can't N900 play videos smoothly?
 

seriously i never faced this problem.. i have clocked my phone to 900mhz(500mhz-900mhz).. i have video (xvid) with bit rate of 18000kbps audio rate of 48khz and resolution of 840x480.. it plays smoothly.. no lags.. and i use openmediaplayer to play'em..

to others who complain about lags try installing extra codec+thumb0 in HAM

cheers..

EDIT: i have also installed 720p update files..

Re: Why can't N900 play videos smoothly?
 

I have one more question. Can someone tell me what program I should use to convert files for my n900? I found some movies that does not work well. I already tried app called "Handbrake", but it doesn`t work well. I need something that will convert files the way n900 will paly it smoothly. I don`t care abuout the qualitly. To be honest, I prefer something that will decrease the qualitly, but also will reduce file size.

Re: Why can't N900 play videos smoothly?
 

i use 4videosoft convertor.. its awesome.. u can specify the output file u need with bit rate audio rate resolution fps etc.. try that..

Re: Why can't N900 play videos smoothly?
 

When I used my Zaurus (small Linux PDA which you might not be familiar with from a few years ago), AVI used to be too taxing for the CPU even overclocked, so I used to convert the video to a low rate MPEG which was perfectly fine, and which could pack a full 2 hour movie in 250 MB or less.

Why don't you attach a small video file and I'll convert it, then post the command I used to convert?

A few things based on my experience:
1. Scaling usually can affect performance. This was very true in the Zaurus, but I'm not sure it is true of the N900, as it might scale in hardware. What this means is that usually I would convert the video to be in the native resolution of the screen, or an exact divisor of it (2 times smaller, for example). This also meant that for videos with different aspect ratio than the native one, I would add black bars on top and bottom. This is very easy to do in ffmpeg.

2. Like I said, in the Zaurus I used to convert to MPEG, but I think AVI will be perfectly fine for the N900. The key will be to keep the bitrates low, probably.

3. Transcoding is a pain, because it takes time and effort for every single video. If you could figure out what's wrong with your N900, and / or what videos you can play on it, it would be much better.