Mobile Replaytv

[diverjones]

Now this is just too good. Just got my new cell phone today, the Verizon LG VX-9800 and the short of it is that it is a mobile multimedia powerhouse. I can download shows from replay to my computer (which is the longest time frame involved) and once there, use a free program on the net called 3gp to convert it to that format and save it to the removeable mini SD card. Once there, I can play any video recording I want.

The 2.5 inch screen is BIG for a cell phone and the colors, resolution, and entire viewing experience could not be more enjoyable. Glad I did not purchase a dedicated mobile video solution now, since that is something else I would have had to carry instead of my cell phone. Granted, I can not put as many videos on the card as one could a hard drive, however, its a 1 GB card, and I can also use my phone for mp3s. Until something comes up that makes me change my mind, this is a great solution.

[Creech]

That's the way I feel about my Treo 650 except I'm ussing FFMPGX for the conversion.

[antnjen]

I have to believe battery life is going to be an issue. That is one reason to have a separate mobile media device.

Maybe I'm wrong, but will it drain anymore power displaying video than it would sitting around waiting for a phone call? I would think it drains more since, at the very least, you would be driving sound with the video.

- A

[iommi]

Have you tried orb on it? Works great on a WM 5.0 phone.

[Creech]

[QUOTE=antnjen]I have to believe battery life is going to be an issue. That is one reason to have a separate mobile media device.

Maybe I'm wrong, but will it drain anymore power displaying video than it would sitting around waiting for a phone call? I would think it drains more since, at the very least, you would be driving sound with the video.

- A[/QUOTE]

You are correct, it will.

[Ed Rempalski]

With display on it will suck batteries for sure.

Better solution for mobile phone Replay video is SlingBox Mobile Client, then you have access to all Replay content, and live TV without any transcoding to storage cards.

But you still need power on the road to keep it all going.

[diverjones]

[QUOTE=Ed Rempalski]With display on it will suck batteries for sure.

Better solution for mobile phone Replay video is SlingBox Mobile Client, then you have access to all Replay content, and live TV without any transcoding to storage cards.

But you still need power on the road to keep it all going.[/QUOTE]

Yes, Ed that would be rather nice, but it took Verizon 15 years and three different names to actually offer a phone that was not boring and dull by comparison. They are tight with that network, and doubt they would EVER let one download that app if it would take away from sales of their new VCast video "CLIP" downloads. 1) I can not get VCast in my area, and 2) Do not want it. Does not interest me to download 2 min clips of ANYTHING to watch or listen to.

It was a big step for Verizon to 1) offer this great phone and 2) actually allow the photos and video it takes to actually be saved on the card so the user did not have to use the service, air time, and extra .25 cent charge to "email" them to one's self just to get it off the phone. Small steps in the right direction, who knows.

As far as the battery, yes, Video will eat up the battery quicker. Question should be put in correct perspective. That is, as far as OTHER mobile video devices, does my cell phone solution use more battery power and require more frequent chargings than any other mobile video solution. Answer is, I do not know, but doubt it. Battery may be a little smaller, but even the Archos has to have a small battery, so time will tell on that issue as well.

Dennis

[antnjen]

[QUOTE=diverjones]As far as the battery, yes, Video will eat up the battery quicker. Question should be put in correct perspective. That is, as far as OTHER mobile video devices, does my cell phone solution use more battery power and require more frequent chargings than any other mobile video solution. Answer is, I do not know, but doubt it. Battery may be a little smaller, but even the Archos has to have a small battery, so time will tell on that issue as well.[/QUOTE]


But, if the Archos battery dies, you can still make phone calls.

I can just see it now, "Honey, I have to hang up. I want to make sure I have enough battery life to watch South Park."

It all depends on how you'll use it. For me, yeah, video on the phone is kind of cool. But, it just doesn't have any practical value for me when you consider the alternatives.

- A

[icecow]

If you 'know what's good for you' :O you'll read and study the following two or three times to get it in your long term memory; You'll be using Lithium ion (Li-ion) long in to the future.

All of this info was got from Wiki. I copied and pasted the best parts which ended up being about 25% of the whole wiki entry. For some reason I can't access wiki right now so I was going off a google cache (so no link). Just wiki lithium ion.



/wiki start
"The Li-ion battery does not lose quality when recharging during laptop use; it is capable of easily regulating back and forth movement of energy from powercell to powercell.

A unique drawback of the Li-ion battery is that its life cycle is dependent upon aging from time of manufacturing (shelf life) regardless of whether it was charged, and not on the number of charge/discharge cycles. This drawback is not widely publicized."


"Li-ion batteries do not suffer from the memory effect, they are not as durable as NiMH or NiCd designs and can be extremely dangerous if mistreated. At a 100% charge level, a typical Li-ion laptop battery that's full most of the time at 25 degrees Celsius, will irreversibly lose approximately 20% capacity per year. This capacity loss begins from the time it was manufactured, and occurs even when the battery is unused."


"Every deep discharge cycle decreases its capacity, and the degradation is sloped such that 100 cycles leave the battery with about 75% to 85% of the original. When used in laptop computers or cellular phones, this rate of deterioration means that after three to five years the battery will have capacities that are too low to be usable."


"One great advantage of Li-ion batteries is their low self-discharge rate of only approximately 5% per month, compared with over 30% per month and 20% per month in nickel metal hydride batteries and nickel cadmium batteries, respectively.

Another great advantage is the fact that, unlike other types of rechargeable batteries, the lifespan of a Li-ion battery remains relatively unaffected if they remain "plugged in" after they have been fully charged."


"In the past Lithium-ion batteries could not be fast-charged and typically needed at least two hours to fully charge. Current generation cells can be fully charged in 45 minutes or less; some reach 90% in as little as 10 minutes."


"Unlike NiCad batteries or NiMH batteries, lithium-ion batteries should be charged early and often. However, if they are not used for a longer time, they should be brought to a charge level of around 40%. Never use the battery care functions some cellular phones provide for nickel based batteries. (This will deep cycle the batteries.) "


"Buy Li-ion batteries only when needed. Look at the manufacturing date. That is when the aging process commenced.
When using a notebook computer running from fixed line power over extended periods, it is advisable to remove the battery and store it in a cool place.
However, many laptop manufacturers recommend against removing the battery from a laptop while it is plugged in, as this can damage a laptop designed to operate with the battery installed"

"Note that it is very important not to store your battery at full charge. A Li-ion battery stored at 40% charge will last many times longer than one stored at 100% charge, particularly at higher temperatures."

"If a Li-ion battery is stored with too low a charge, you run the risk of allowing the charge to drop below the battery's low-voltage threshold, and ending up with an unrecoverably dead battery. Once the charge has dropped to this level, recharging it can be dangerous. An internal safety circuit will therefore open to prevent charging, and the battery will be (for all practical purposes) dead."


/wiki end




me;

IMO, it's important to have a charging strategy if we're going to start watching TV on phones. The main thing to know is cellphone batteries can be plugged in and unplugged from a charger freely. Also, charging the batteries to the fullest is slightly bad for the battery; deep-discharging (taking them to an low level) is very bad for these batteries. So, basicly, the a lazy charging style is about the best thing for these batteries unlike ni-cad which should be deep-discharged.

A charging stratigy could include having a car charger. I recommend www.igo.com car chargers because you can buy a tip for each device you own (pda, cellphone, mp3 player) and only have one charger plugged into your lighter.

There is now on the market phone chargers/powersupplies that are powered from a AA battery and plug in to a cellphone's power adapter port. I believe you can plug this product into your phone and tuck the tethered duo into your pocket and the cell phone will recharge awhile you walk around freely. If you want to make high use of video, this means you can watch your shows without the phone being tethered to your phone, then tether it to your phone and put the tethered duo in your pocket.

***The information I have read suggests the AA-based power supply will also charge the phone, but it's hard to tell. You know how product discriptions are now adays. If anyone knows this not to be true or has bought one and had a chance to tested them out, please speak up and inform me/us.

And once again, if you are hardcore you can buy an Energizer 15 min nickle metal hydride charger to charge AA and AAA batteries. Then you can put them in the AA-based phone charger. I use one for all of my AA and AAA batteries for the bulk of my AA/AAA energy needs. And I still buy big 24 packs of AA alkline batteries and have them around in case everything is dead and for things like remote controls. But I move through alkalines very slowly because of the energizer charger.

[diverjones]

[QUOTE=antnjen]But, if the Archos battery dies, you can still make phone calls.

I can just see it now, "Honey, I have to hang up. I want to make sure I have enough battery life to watch South Park."

It all depends on how you'll use it. For me, yeah, video on the phone is kind of cool. But, it just doesn't have any practical value for me when you consider the alternatives.

- A[/QUOTE]

.....and that is the very reason we have so many varieties and choices in our devices today. To appeal to the different personalities, and lifestyles. Depends on just what our priorities are. Me? I carry my cellphone everywhere I go. I have a 450 minute plan with unlimited nights and weekends etc. The most minutes I have used on my plan in the last two years (in anyone given month) is right at 60 minutes.................go figure. I bet I can alway save enough battery for one call, and THAT is until I get back to my car and even that problem is solved pretty quickly. Its the ability to do the things I want to do on the go that excites me, more than actually using it. I have had a camera phone for two years now. I have actually had the need to utilize that camera on only three or four occasions, and I even had enough battery power left to make those two or three photos I needed to make.

If you are a usage addict of any device, then I can see where you are coming from. But for me, just being able to combine those devices into one that I can carry is the ticket for me.

D

[Ed Rempalski]

Diver, most of the Slingbox Mobile beta team used Verizon phones and streamed away happily without issue. I would say as long as you have a robust data plan, that you wouldn't have an issue with Verizon.

Cow, excellent and accurate info on Lithiums, that shelf life thing and long term storage are something few people know about, and kind of a bummer compared to nicads which can last a decade or more if treated well. But their power to weight is awesome and just over shadows the down side.