Post by drcard on Jan 24, 2016 9:16:19 GMT -5
Hi all,
Situation:
You have a tablet and you enjoy using it, but you will soon learn many of the things you want to do using the tablet requires an Internet connection. Why? Because any process that you desire to do that requires large storage space or moderate CPU usage cannot be done on the tablet due to the tablet’s small storage space and very small CPU. The Internet connection is required to connect to a web site that offers these services to store or perform these processes on their servers and stream the results to you. The small storage space and small CPU is why tablets cost less than PCs. Thus to really “use” (such as watch a movie or work on a Word document) a tablet you will have to subscribe to cloud services. Over time this cost adds up and even if the cost is not considered, the service will have limitations (watch only the movies they offer). I did not like this being tied to cloud services that meant no Wi-Fi connection…no use of the tablet, and no watching my own videos on the tablet even if I had a Wi-Fi connection. Below is how I resolved this problem for a Kindle Fire HD, but with a slight adjustment can work for many other tablets and smart phones out there.
Problem:
In order to get the tablet to play my own videos, there are two problems to face:
1) Increase the storage space of the tablet so there will be enough storage space for the large video files.
and
2) The video files must be in the correct format that is used by the player already installed on the tablet.
Solution:
Increase the storage space of the tablet
Some tablets can increase their storage space by inserting a larger capacity smart card (like the ones used for cameras and video recorders). Even with a larger capacity smart card, there will be limits in how large of capacity smart card the tablet CPU will accept. The Kindle I have does not have this option, so there is no way to add storage space to the tablet itself. A similar situation for a PC could easily be resolved by adding on an external HD. I found that solution for tablets (and smart phones) exists with a slight modification….an external HD for a tablet (and smart phones). The slight modification is downloading and installing on the tablet an APP (jargon for applications installed on a tablet or smart phone) that allows the tablet to access the data on the external HD. The link below is to such drives offered by Kingston. These external HDs are Wi-Fi connected to the tablet thru the APP installed on the tablet (APP is a free download from Kingston – which has Kindle, Android, and Apple apps), battery operated, USB connection to load data onto the HD from a PC, and about the size of one half of a deck of cards. They come in 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB sizes. I got the 64GB size for about $75.
Kingston Wi-Drives
Since the Kindle came with only about 2.5GB of usable storage space, the 64GB Wi Drive solved my storage problem.
Getting my videos to play on the tablet
The video “players” that come installed on tablets and smart phones are different for each device and are very limited in which video files they can play. Thus, any video that you wish to play on that device must be in the format that video player can play. The video files that you have will not be in that format. The solution is both simple and complicated….convert the video file to the format that the video player on the tablet or smart phone can play. The simple part is converting the video file from one type to another, but the complicated part is also converting the resolution (screen size) to match the device you have. There are numerous video conversion programs available and some are free. Some are designed specifically from one file type and resolution to your specific needs for your device. Problem with these programs is they won’t work for conversions for other devices. There are programs that convert many different video file formats to formats that play on many different devices. I chose DVD Catalyst4. Using DVD Catalyst is very easy as you select the output conversion format by selecting your device from the list of devices available in the programs. You don’t have to know the file type and resolution for your device’s player, just the name of the device you have. It will even convert commercial DVDs so they will play on your device. Unfortunately, as I was writing this and going to post the website to the makers of DVD Catalyst4; I discovered that the makers no longer offer DVD Catalyst4. I did find that several sites offer DVD Catalyst4 for free downloads, but don’t know if these downloads are shareware or full versions. Shareware just tests to let you see that it works, but will only convert 25 % of the file. I purchased the full version for $10, but if the makers no longer offer it you may not be able to get a full working version. There are other programs that do what DVD Catalyst4 does, but I have not tried them to make any recommendation. The solution is still to obtain software that will convert your videos to a format that the device’s player can play. OR There are downloadable apps that are video players that can play your video files on your device without converting the file first.
The end result is that I can watch my own videos (bought or made) on my tablet anywhere I go. I even extended my viewing time by purchasing a battery pack power supply (about the size of a deck of cards) to run my tablet and Wi Drive beyond the run time of their batteries – about 10 – 12 hours of continued use.
My hope is that others will see how easy it is to get your devices to do what you want it to do rather than the device telling you what you can and cannot do.
Situation:
You have a tablet and you enjoy using it, but you will soon learn many of the things you want to do using the tablet requires an Internet connection. Why? Because any process that you desire to do that requires large storage space or moderate CPU usage cannot be done on the tablet due to the tablet’s small storage space and very small CPU. The Internet connection is required to connect to a web site that offers these services to store or perform these processes on their servers and stream the results to you. The small storage space and small CPU is why tablets cost less than PCs. Thus to really “use” (such as watch a movie or work on a Word document) a tablet you will have to subscribe to cloud services. Over time this cost adds up and even if the cost is not considered, the service will have limitations (watch only the movies they offer). I did not like this being tied to cloud services that meant no Wi-Fi connection…no use of the tablet, and no watching my own videos on the tablet even if I had a Wi-Fi connection. Below is how I resolved this problem for a Kindle Fire HD, but with a slight adjustment can work for many other tablets and smart phones out there.
Problem:
In order to get the tablet to play my own videos, there are two problems to face:
1) Increase the storage space of the tablet so there will be enough storage space for the large video files.
and
2) The video files must be in the correct format that is used by the player already installed on the tablet.
Solution:
Increase the storage space of the tablet
Some tablets can increase their storage space by inserting a larger capacity smart card (like the ones used for cameras and video recorders). Even with a larger capacity smart card, there will be limits in how large of capacity smart card the tablet CPU will accept. The Kindle I have does not have this option, so there is no way to add storage space to the tablet itself. A similar situation for a PC could easily be resolved by adding on an external HD. I found that solution for tablets (and smart phones) exists with a slight modification….an external HD for a tablet (and smart phones). The slight modification is downloading and installing on the tablet an APP (jargon for applications installed on a tablet or smart phone) that allows the tablet to access the data on the external HD. The link below is to such drives offered by Kingston. These external HDs are Wi-Fi connected to the tablet thru the APP installed on the tablet (APP is a free download from Kingston – which has Kindle, Android, and Apple apps), battery operated, USB connection to load data onto the HD from a PC, and about the size of one half of a deck of cards. They come in 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB sizes. I got the 64GB size for about $75.
Kingston Wi-Drives
Since the Kindle came with only about 2.5GB of usable storage space, the 64GB Wi Drive solved my storage problem.
Getting my videos to play on the tablet
The video “players” that come installed on tablets and smart phones are different for each device and are very limited in which video files they can play. Thus, any video that you wish to play on that device must be in the format that video player can play. The video files that you have will not be in that format. The solution is both simple and complicated….convert the video file to the format that the video player on the tablet or smart phone can play. The simple part is converting the video file from one type to another, but the complicated part is also converting the resolution (screen size) to match the device you have. There are numerous video conversion programs available and some are free. Some are designed specifically from one file type and resolution to your specific needs for your device. Problem with these programs is they won’t work for conversions for other devices. There are programs that convert many different video file formats to formats that play on many different devices. I chose DVD Catalyst4. Using DVD Catalyst is very easy as you select the output conversion format by selecting your device from the list of devices available in the programs. You don’t have to know the file type and resolution for your device’s player, just the name of the device you have. It will even convert commercial DVDs so they will play on your device. Unfortunately, as I was writing this and going to post the website to the makers of DVD Catalyst4; I discovered that the makers no longer offer DVD Catalyst4. I did find that several sites offer DVD Catalyst4 for free downloads, but don’t know if these downloads are shareware or full versions. Shareware just tests to let you see that it works, but will only convert 25 % of the file. I purchased the full version for $10, but if the makers no longer offer it you may not be able to get a full working version. There are other programs that do what DVD Catalyst4 does, but I have not tried them to make any recommendation. The solution is still to obtain software that will convert your videos to a format that the device’s player can play. OR There are downloadable apps that are video players that can play your video files on your device without converting the file first.
The end result is that I can watch my own videos (bought or made) on my tablet anywhere I go. I even extended my viewing time by purchasing a battery pack power supply (about the size of a deck of cards) to run my tablet and Wi Drive beyond the run time of their batteries – about 10 – 12 hours of continued use.
My hope is that others will see how easy it is to get your devices to do what you want it to do rather than the device telling you what you can and cannot do.
