Hello all,

This question comes about as a result of receiving a damaged or nonstandard mpeg file. I can view in in VLC, but can't do anything else with it. I can't see it in quicktime, and can't edit it with anything I have. Apparently the header or other information at the beginning of the file is damaged or missing. However, the rest of the file is fine, as VLC plays it, and it looks fine. So, my questions start here:

1) What engine/process does VLC use to view mpeg files, and how does it differ from the method that quicktime uses? Is there anyway to take advantage of VLCs decoding of the file to export it to another format or re-save it as a proper mpeg?

2) Is there any efficient mpeg editing software out there? Ideally, I'd like to be able to handle mpegs (both 1 and 2) the same way the QuickTime Pro handles a .mov file. I'd like to be able to do simple things like cut and paste and then be able to save the resulting file as a working mpeg. Is there a program that does this easily? Right now, I can only manipulate files through programs like ffmpegx that are sort of like a black box. You feed something in one end and something else comes out the other.

3) Totally off topic. I've seen that there's a release date set for Panther, and I'm drooling. I read that someone on here already has a beta. So what's the story? Most of the stuff I've read on the Apple website stresses increased compatibility and better GUI. Is Panther essentially an improvement to Jaguar's GUI, or has a lot of work been done under the hood so to speak? In particular, are we going to get meaningful controls for our webservers and FTP servers? An on/off switch is a good start, but some of us might like a bit more.... Anyways, that has nothing to do with video, so I won't go on....

Thanks, as always, for whatever help comes my way!

-Clement