Do cellphones make good audio/video playback devices?

[yoda313]

So are cellphones getting good enough at being quality video and audio playback devices?

Are they too small to offer real quality?

Mine is too old and basic to have any of those features so I can't comment specifically. I still think they are probably too small and compact to be very good at either feature.

How about you?

[Soopafresh]

Europe is ahead of the American market in cellphone technology, so the European products will probably have better audio/video quality and longer battery life than the ones in the US. I hate having a cellphone, personally. Electronic dog leash.

[MJA]

happy LG FUSIC LX550 user.for MP3 they do the job,but video Big no.I'm not even happy with my 37' TV

[oldfart13]

The push in North America seems to make them out as teen or 20-somethings toys. I don't see an ad at all for older folks using them. The biggest push though is for India where they are trying to make the cell phones as cheap as possible (under $20USD wholesale) for that market. Both Europe and North America are saturated markets so they can't push much more of that technology onto us.....

[oldfart13]

Or maybe you are looking for something like this:

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/02/13/tech-mobiletv.html

[TooLFooL]

The push in North America seems to make them out as teen or 20-somethings toys.

not just america.. the entire global market is driven by the kids. and the phones in the US dont even begin to compare to the technology overseas... features like live streaming tv (DVB), and 10-megapixel cameras.. neat stuff!

[TBoneit]

Sorry if this seems rude, But Cell Phones, Yuck!

Another source of annoying telemarketing, and even more loss of personal alone time.

One day I may even buy one, If I have to, to get another job before retirement age or a lucky lottery win, Then as soon as possible it's history and back to privacy again.

I feel sorry for all the people that have to be in touch wherever and whenever they go.

[Ai Haibara]

So are cellphones getting good enough at being quality video and audio playback devices?

Well, that depends... The screen size issue is a matter of opinion; I've seen people in the past who were perfectly willing to watch videos on digital-wristwatch displays.

But the thing I'm concerned with is how much storage space is on the phone (and/or whether or not you could use Compact Flash/etc. cards), and how much memory/processing power it can use to play those videos, etc. Of course, good, cheap phones for playing video aren't readily available...

(and it'd be nice if I could produce a 3GP that didn't munge the audio in some way... )

[DereX888]

Well, IMHO "cellphones" is too broad a description.
My martphone certainly make excellent music player, and my pocketpc with built-in phone, GPS, etc is way better than any ipod for music or most of PMPs for video since I just install codecs and voila - anything plays Some pocketpcs have real VGA 640x480 nice large screens too - although they are kinda large as a phone.

However majority of the "cellphones" people use are just the usual moto-nokia dumbphones. Thats why most of people don't see a cellphone as a replacement for phone + music player + video player (and perhaps a digicam too, but so far most of pocketpcs have rather crappy camera au pair as dumbphones do).

[Richard_G]

But the thing I'm concerned with is how much storage space is on the phone (and/or whether or not you could use Compact Flash/etc. cards), and how much memory/processing power it can use to play those videos, etc. Of course, good, cheap phones for playing video aren't readily available...

I've just got a Nokia N73 (http://www.nokia.co.uk/A4344232) which will play video in numerous formats and can take additional memory of up to 1GB. It's also a 3.2Mp camera, mp3 player, radio, etc. Unfortunately, I only want to be able to make and receive phone calls but that is no longer possible in the UK! This phone was a free upgrade on my standard contract, so good, cheap phones for playing video aren't readily available, only free ones!

However, no matter what it's capabilities, I certainly won't be trying to watch video on it. Why the hell would I want to? The screen is far to small to be of any use for anything other than displaying the number of the caller!

[TheFamilyMan]

The evolution (or rather revolution) of the personal electronics device is kick ass. But it's a matter of need (but that's the point of marketing, right?). Do I need a single device that:
can be used as a phone
can be used to play music
can be used to play videos
can be used to send/read text messages
can be used to send/read email
can be used to browse the web

For me, it's No. Just give me a cheapy tracfone cell phone, my audiophile hifi system and my TV with a DVD player and I'll be happy.

Edit: How could I forget...and my computer

[DereX888]

The evolution (or rather revolution) of the personal electronics device is kick ass. But it's a matter of need (but that's the point of marketing, right?). Do I need a single device that:
can be used as a phone
can be used to play music
can be used to play videos
can be used to send/read text messages
can be used to send/read email
can be used to browse the web

For me, it's No. Just give me a cheapy tracfone cell phone, my audiophile hifi system and my TV with a DVD player and I'll be happy.

Edit: How could I forget...and my computer

Typical case of failure to imaginate
My older bro used to say exactly same words.
I got him PocketPC on b-day 2 years ago.
Nowadays he too can't imagine going back to a "dumbphone" ever
Try it, then make opinion.

(I just typed this reply on a pocketpc, in the comfort of my bed - next im going to watch latest crankygeeks webcast (its downloading atm) or maybe watch some streaming tv or read an ebook while listening to classical music so as you see, its possible to live completely without any "regular computer" for usual tasks 90% of people use computers for...

[oldandinthe way]

Closer to the topic. As good as what?

As good as an IPOD or MP3 player - sure.

As good as a TV or home stereo systems - no.

As good as a portable DVD player - no.

As good as your car radio - maybe.

As good as YouTube - yes.

[DereX888]

Closer to the topic. As good as what?

As good as an IPOD or MP3 player - sure.

As good as a TV or home stereo systems - no.

As good as a portable DVD player - no.

As good as your car radio - maybe.

As good as YouTube - yes.

Current best screen on pocketpc is just VGA.
Manufacturers will improve screen resolutions when technology permits, but the main purpose of carrying a phone (pocketpc) is to use it when we are on the road, not at home, etc. Certainly such devices will never replace our home stereo systems or TV.
Even if they will have some HDTV or beyond resolutions - there will always be a limit to the size of the screen, phones can't have a 10'' screen obviously, or they will become the size of a laptop
(unless some foldable screens will be developed...)

But as a portable dvd player / substitute for car radio / car player - they are already there.

Youtube is just latest fad. I don't like flash videos, quality is worse than VCDs.

[mats.hogberg]

As MP3 player - sure. As video player - Not a replacement for anything, really. Anything < say 15" is too small for me to watch video on. Until the day when they invent some kind of virtual display, all portable video players will be no more than a cool gadget (at best).

/Mats

[DereX888]

As MP3 player - sure. As video player - Not a replacement for anything, really. Anything < say 15" is too small for me to watch video on. Until the day when they invent some kind of virtual display, all portable video players will be no more than a cool gadget (at best).

/Mats

Few years ago during one of the computer shows I was playing with a sunglasses with built-in see-through (if needed) tiny screens of 1024x768 resolution. I thought this gadget will catch on and should show up as an accessory for all the portable dvd players and other mobile devices. Unfortunately it didn't, at least not yet.
I'm mentioning it, because watching a movie on those "sunglasses" was equal to viewing it on some 80'' tv screen. Seriously, I'm not repeating their advertising bullshit, I have tried them on, it really did. It could have been perfect solution for comfortable viewing "on the go" - i.e. I woould rather load 8gb SD card with bunch of my movies and watch'em that way in a hotel etc, rather than select crap from the hotel's pay-per-view system and watching it on hotel room's tiny 26'' TVs (or less LOL)...
I think it will make its way to portable devices such as smartphones and pocketpcs one day.
The whole "Voice Interface" (such as Microsoft's Voice Command) took 6-7 years until they finally bundled it with latest Windows Mobile 6 OS, which I have been always suggesting since begining Displays like this will be next, I hope.

[edDV]

If you like VCD on a 1.5"+ display, then you might think cellphone TV is "quality"

[DereX888]

If you like VCD on a 1.5"+ display, then you might think cellphone TV is "quality"

did you even read the thread?
or is your reply to someone else?

[mats.hogberg]

sunglasses with built-in see-through (if needed) tiny screens

That technology must have evolved - tried something similar some 10 years ago, playing Monaco GP on Sega Genesis(?) - not really a good experience.. Think they had tried to add some parallax offset between the eyes to simulate a kind of 3D too - didn't work.

/Mats

[edDV]

If you like VCD on a 1.5"+ display, then you might think cellphone TV is "quality"

did you even read the thread?
or is your reply to someone else?

I was speaking to fixed displays. The goggles could work but they would need high res capability that current cell phones lack. Possible in the future as is the roll up LCD display.
http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/09/22/Roll_up_monitor/

[DereX888]

Possible in the future as is the roll up LCD display.
http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/09/22/Roll_up_monitor/

VERY interesting.
I remember the "digital paper" some 10yrs ago with greenish-black display, I think this is the much updated version.

Personally I can't wait for screenless 'star wars' type resizable holo displays
i.e.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeWR27UmgAY

sunglasses with built-in see-through (if needed) tiny screens

That technology must have evolved - tried something similar some 10 years ago, playing Monaco GP on Sega Genesis(?) - not really a good experience.. Think they had tried to add some parallax offset between the eyes to simulate a kind of 3D too - didn't work.

/Mats

Yeah, definitly.
I remember goggles when playing some "virtual 3-D" shooters at the CN Tower's game room 10+ years ago too.
It was very uncomfortable, it too tried to simulate 3-D but graphics were sucky, 3d was horrible.

[redwudz]

Until the day when they invent some kind of virtual display, all portable video players will be no more than a cool gadget (at best)./Mats

There is this: https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=322422 A small cell phone video projector would be one way to get around the minuscule screen sizes. If they could make it holographic, then you wouldn't even need a screen.

I still use a analog 'bag phone' at work. We have to switch to digital cell phones by July 2007, unless they have changed the cutoff date. I really don't want to be 'accessible at any time.'

[EddyH]

I can't comment on video playback for my phone, as I haven't converted anything to it, though the built-in demo video looks alright. I suspect anything I'd transfer to it would still be quite poor (220x176, 15fps, 3GP format), but at least better than the built-in camera's output (176x144, 10fps, awesomely high compression).

But I voted "yes" on the basis of it's camera and moreover MP3/AAC capabilities, for which the K750i, particularly when paired with suitable headphones or speakers, is a proper beast. Very nice. Good power and sound quality (even the internal piezo speaker is passable if you don't expect a silk purse from a sow's ear), and quite easy to control too. Easily the equal of any chewing-gum-stick mp3 player I've had, and normally they're surprisingly good... Plus it has expandable storage via Memory Stick Duo, and it supports AAC (LC, unfortunately, but its better than mp3 still)... used that to encode all the songs on the supplied 128mb stick at 40kbit so it would have a reasonable running time. Still sounds fine thru headphones (if you don't mind mono and a slight dulling of the treble) or internal speaker; i think 128k would sound fantastic

[NiteLite]

The evolution (or rather revolution) of the personal electronics device is kick ass. But it's a matter of need (but that's the point of marketing, right?). Do I need a single device that:
can be used as a phone
can be used to play music
can be used to play videos
can be used to send/read text messages
can be used to send/read email
can be used to browse the web

For me, it's No. Just give me a cheapy tracfone cell phone, my audiophile hifi system and my TV with a DVD player and I'll be happy.

Edit: How could I forget...and my computer

Sounds good to me, FM

Also remember all this is coming towards you at 60+ mph with some newly liscense teen only a couple feet or so to your left...or right in Europe. I cant wait to see what kind of laws are passed soon when the gov't starts getting involved.
I cant imagine watching anything on an inch and a half screen. Quality? forget it for my eyes. It's hard enough trying to just dial out. I'll stick with my 15 cents a month plan and just use it for calling...once or twice a month.
NL