Viewing AVI video file on Smartphones - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

TQ345 · 2012-03-25, 11:13 AM

I'm looking for some advice:

I'm thinking of upgrading to a Smartphone. One of the big reasons would be the ability to watch videos on the screen. I have a large selection of AVI files on my computer, so any new phone would have to be AVI compatible.

Also, it would need to have good storage space for those files, or at least the option to add a reasonably high capacity memory card.

Good phonecall quality is of course essential.
A good camera and decent mp3 audio would be a plus.

I'm not into social networking or texting, and likely wouldn't rely on it heavily for Internet access.

Also, I'm a longtime Rogers Wireless customer, and don't want to change, as I can likely use my loyalty to get a good deal on a phone and plan.

So if anyone can direct me to a Rogers Smartphone that meets my needs it would be appreciated.

Also, because I've always used my cell phone as just a cell phone, what am I looking for in a plan as far as data usage, 3G, 4G, etc. (I'm pretty clueless as to the cost or the amount of bandwidth I would need)

So, as I said, any advice would be welcome.

Cheers,

TQ

recneps77 · 2012-03-25, 04:30 PM

Most phones only have hardware decode for h264, while AVI files tend to be xvid.
That being said, third party apps can decode using CPU. Nearly all but the lowest end smart phones should have no problem decoding in CPU mode.

If you go with an android phone, I recommend Dice Player - it will play many file types, selecting hardware decoding if your phone supports it, else software. It also allows playback of network-shares, a very handy feature.

If you're going to be watching videos, a larger screen is a good idea. Look at models like the galaxy nexus or those with a 4"+ screen.
If you only use the phone on wifi, you wouldn't need a data plan. Though rogers may force you to get one regardless.

thebone · 2012-03-27, 06:44 PM

For what its worth I have a Bberry torch and it plays avi

Digital_Frank · 2012-03-27, 10:09 PM

There are many different compression codecs available for avi format video. Which are you using? I would use Handbrake to transcode to mp4.

Blackberry's suck at video, so I would look at Android or iPhone. (with the better choice iPhone)

Wayne · 2012-03-28, 03:46 PM

You can also stream videos - if you get an iPhone the AirVideo is a great app to use as it can stream pretty much all type of video files. You may not want to do this if you are not on wifi as you can use up lots of data quickly. But if you are on wifi then I see no reason not to stream, assuming that your home internet has a decent upload speed.

Most AVIs are about 800MB for a 90 minute movie so that is about 500MB per hour which is a little over 1 Mbps. AirVideo will transcode but that will likely cause a bit of a quality loss and you will likely saturate your upload link if your upload speed is 1Mbps.

Veee · 2012-03-28, 06:04 PM

I doubt the OP's main use for the phone would be watching movies at home. I'm sure he has a TV for that. He probably want's to watch his videos when he's away which is why he wants a phone with removable storage.

If his main reason for getting a smartphone is to watch videos then I would suggest one with a big screen - which means an Android phone. There's a few out there with removable storage and screens over 4-inches. There's even the Galaxy Note with a 5.3-inch screen.

MX is good video player for Android.

Wayne · 2012-03-28, 06:07 PM

Streaming doesn't mean at home. I have streamed videos to hotels in California from my home in Toronto.

Veee · 2012-03-28, 06:45 PM

I'm not saying it's not a nice option to have but I wouldn't want to rely on it for obvious reasons.

asif9t9 · 2012-03-28, 08:50 PM

Much of the video I watch at home now is on my tablet or phone, rather than my big tv. I'll save big movies for the tv system, but for running through tv series, nothing beats the portability of watching all over the house.

TQ345 · 2012-03-29, 09:52 AM

Thanks for all the replies. It seems like Android may be the way to go.
I like the looks of the Motorola Razr as long as I can get an app to run my
AVI files. (Any Razr users out there with thoughts?)

I likely wouldn't use it much for streaming (unless I was in a free wifi hot spot) as the data charges could be ruinous.
I'm really just looking for a phone with a nice big screen to watch some AVI files while killing time.

Thanks again for your help.

TQ

sk1d · 2012-04-05, 05:30 PM

What you want is a processor with NEON.
This allows the processor to decode pretty much any video codec natively. If you find a phone you like, make note of the processor and then go check to see if it supports NEON.

Also, gsmarena.com will state in the phone specs if it supports divx/xvid/avi/mkv.

RustyHD · 2012-04-10, 09:36 PM

I use Apple stuff with ios5. There is a free app on the app store called Flex Viewer. This plays avi files perfectly as well as many other video formats. It works so well I don't understand why it's free. So if you're considering iDevice this would be a must have.

2012-03-25, 11:13 AM	#1
TQ345 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mississauga Posts: 29	Viewing AVI video file on Smartphones I'm looking for some advice: I'm thinking of upgrading to a Smartphone. One of the big reasons would be the ability to watch videos on the screen. I have a large selection of AVI files on my computer, so any new phone would have to be AVI compatible. Also, it would need to have good storage space for those files, or at least the option to add a reasonably high capacity memory card. Good phonecall quality is of course essential. A good camera and decent mp3 audio would be a plus. I'm not into social networking or texting, and likely wouldn't rely on it heavily for Internet access. Also, I'm a longtime Rogers Wireless customer, and don't want to change, as I can likely use my loyalty to get a good deal on a phone and plan. So if anyone can direct me to a Rogers Smartphone that meets my needs it would be appreciated. Also, because I've always used my cell phone as just a cell phone, what am I looking for in a plan as far as data usage, 3G, 4G, etc. (I'm pretty clueless as to the cost or the amount of bandwidth I would need) So, as I said, any advice would be welcome. Cheers, TQ

2012-03-27, 10:09 PM	#4
Digital_Frank Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: North of the Lake Posts: 123	There are many different compression codecs available for avi format video. Which are you using? I would use Handbrake to transcode to mp4. Blackberry's suck at video, so I would look at Android or iPhone. (with the better choice iPhone) __________________ Smart shoppers always read the fine print.

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2012-03-25, 04:30 PM	#2
recneps77 Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Whitby Posts: 2,815	Most phones only have hardware decode for h264, while AVI files tend to be xvid. That being said, third party apps can decode using CPU. Nearly all but the lowest end smart phones should have no problem decoding in CPU mode. If you go with an android phone, I recommend Dice Player - it will play many file types, selecting hardware decoding if your phone supports it, else software. It also allows playback of network-shares, a very handy feature. If you're going to be watching videos, a larger screen is a good idea. Look at models like the galaxy nexus or those with a 4"+ screen. If you only use the phone on wifi, you wouldn't need a data plan. Though rogers may force you to get one regardless.

2012-03-27, 06:44 PM	#3
thebone Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 182	For what its worth I have a Bberry torch and it plays avi

2012-03-28, 03:46 PM	#5
Wayne Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Scarboro Posts: 5,568	You can also stream videos - if you get an iPhone the AirVideo is a great app to use as it can stream pretty much all type of video files. You may not want to do this if you are not on wifi as you can use up lots of data quickly. But if you are on wifi then I see no reason not to stream, assuming that your home internet has a decent upload speed. Most AVIs are about 800MB for a 90 minute movie so that is about 500MB per hour which is a little over 1 Mbps. AirVideo will transcode but that will likely cause a bit of a quality loss and you will likely saturate your upload link if your upload speed is 1Mbps.

2012-03-28, 06:04 PM	#6
Veee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Ottawa Posts: 525	I doubt the OP's main use for the phone would be watching movies at home. I'm sure he has a TV for that. He probably want's to watch his videos when he's away which is why he wants a phone with removable storage. If his main reason for getting a smartphone is to watch videos then I would suggest one with a big screen - which means an Android phone. There's a few out there with removable storage and screens over 4-inches. There's even the Galaxy Note with a 5.3-inch screen. MX is good video player for Android.

2012-03-28, 06:07 PM	#7
Wayne Veteran Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Scarboro Posts: 5,568	Streaming doesn't mean at home. I have streamed videos to hotels in California from my home in Toronto.

2012-03-28, 06:45 PM	#8
Veee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Ottawa Posts: 525	I'm not saying it's not a nice option to have but I wouldn't want to rely on it for obvious reasons.

2012-03-28, 08:50 PM	#9
asif9t9 Veteran Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Oakville, Cogeco Posts: 2,981	Much of the video I watch at home now is on my tablet or phone, rather than my big tv. I'll save big movies for the tv system, but for running through tv series, nothing beats the portability of watching all over the house.

2012-03-29, 09:52 AM	#10
TQ345 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mississauga Posts: 29	Thanks for all the replies. It seems like Android may be the way to go. I like the looks of the Motorola Razr as long as I can get an app to run my AVI files. (Any Razr users out there with thoughts?) I likely wouldn't use it much for streaming (unless I was in a free wifi hot spot) as the data charges could be ruinous. I'm really just looking for a phone with a nice big screen to watch some AVI files while killing time. Thanks again for your help. TQ

2012-04-05, 05:30 PM	#11
sk1d Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winterpeg Posts: 224	What you want is a processor with NEON. This allows the processor to decode pretty much any video codec natively. If you find a phone you like, make note of the processor and then go check to see if it supports NEON. Also, gsmarena.com will state in the phone specs if it supports divx/xvid/avi/mkv.

2012-04-10, 09:36 PM	#12
RustyHD Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 170	I use Apple stuff with ios5. There is a free app on the app store called Flex Viewer. This plays avi files perfectly as well as many other video formats. It works so well I don't understand why it's free. So if you're considering iDevice this would be a must have.