VideoNow Color (and Jr) Video Conversions

[sanriofreak]

I wonder if anyone will read this.. no matter! I have a question and a little tip. My question is about modding the VDN Color. I have pushed out the sides like people have said, but in the front there is a latch and a little round something-or-other that the disc hits. What do you do about those? o_O

My tip is about the CD-Rs I've had luck with. I'm using the house brand from Best Buy, Dynex. They're really cheap, but the quality is great. Best of all, the reflective layer stays put without doing anything extra! No scoring, fingernail polishing, etc. I just trace out the size with a sharpie and cut with regular scissors. No peeling or anything! Video looks/sounds fine too.

[Excelsior]

In regards to the question about the post that will hit a full sized cd in the modded player, cut it off and jamb/glue the switch that the post pushes in on, and epoxy a small washer on the base, then on the lid epoxy a small magnet that will just touch the magnet when the lid closes.

[coondog1234]

Hi all great to be back, i have tried this awhile ago using virtualdub and i got no sound so i just gave up on it thats ok i now have a 30 GIG APPLE IPOD VIDEO i can convert any video to mpeg 4 and stick it on it, dont worry i still love my videonow i just havent used it in awhile. the converters i use are RIVa FLV converter (For FLV Files like on youtube) and jodix free ipod video converter (For Everything else mpegs AVIs WMVs etc.) really good setup oh and dont forget quicktime 7 pro and itunes

[Tr@cy]

I registered just so that I could thank the folks who worked so hard on this project. It was facinating to read the posts from the very early stages all the way up until the final resolution. It's crazy, but after reading over the forum, I bought a VN Jr. on Ebay just to see if I could actually make a PVD. I had already made several before it arrived and they really work in the machine! The only problems I had making them were when I hadn't read and followed the instructions word for word. I also modded my player in about 15-20 minutes using my soldering iron to cut away and smooth the plastic (while looking at the jrmodded jpeg). My soldering iron is sort of gun shaped with a trigger so I suspect that it made it a lot easier than a regular iron though. It's rare when something like this actually works for me... even when I do read the directions! Thanks again, Tracy.

[VideonowDude]

Thanks Tr@cy!

FYI Target are selling the Media Wizard (i.e. 3 blank mini vdn discs + crappy s/w) for $3.98 (not on their web site though).

I see there is yet another version of the player, the VideoNow Color FX, at $27.99. I guess they are still selling else why keep producing new players?

[dizzie]

Hey, guys. Great work here. Got any help for Mac users? Or, if not Mac, I could try to install Linux or FreeDos on my Mac. Thanks!

[belwhisper]

Hi, I have successfully used Videonowtogo but am unable to trim the disc as it splinters like crazy when I use scissors or metal cutters. I did a bit of research and apparently there are new 8" minidics that can hold upto 34 mins worth of data - see: http://www.osta.org/technology/cdqa7.htm. Apparently also the Videonow has something that disables any disc that has less than 20mins worth of files on it to prevent the minidics being used. Has anybody gotten their hands on these 34 min mini dics. This might be a way around having to modify your player (which I am not willing to do at this stage) or trim normal CD-R discs (Which I've had no success in doing so far). Hoping someone has tryed this method. Let me know, I haven't been able to find anyone selling them, though I have just started looking. Just thought I would give everyone the heads up and see if anyone has any success.

[VideonowDude]

I did a bit of research and apparently there are new 8" minidics that can hold upto 34 mins worth of data - see: http://www.osta.org/technology/cdqa7.htm. Apparently also the Videonow has something that disables any disc that has less than 20mins worth of files on it to prevent the minidics being used.

You mean 8cm discs right? 8" discs would be laserdisc-sized! No, an 8cm disc won't work. The player checks for at least 20 VDN minutes (=40 audio CD minutes). If you run the player with the lid removed you can watch it seek the heads past the edge of an 8cm disc during startup.

[CMHax0r]

Hello everyone,

I have just discovered this thread and it seems to be most active/valuable source on the VideoNow formats. Latelly I've been working on exploring Tiger's TVNow device which is on sale at Walmart currently for only $25! Its essentially same device as a VuGo hardware wise, but software wise its crippled and does not work with the VuGo Desktop app. It also supports 2GB SD memory cards!

However I figured out a way to swap TVNow audio file headers with VuGo Desktop generated audio file headers, and that allows you to listen to your favorite MP3s on the device! Swapping is done with a simple perl script.

The video format is a little tricky though, but my guess is that it is close to that of VideoNow. VLC plays the video and it claims that the resolution is 144x80, same as VideoNow, yes?

In a few days I'll upload a page detailing my findings, but if anyone has any comments on this nextgen of VideoNow player let me know.

[Draco_Red]

Hay guys, I've been working on customizing a videonow player to act as a digital picture frame (Pictures as a AVI slideshow). But I just plugged the screen back into the mainboard and the screen only showed solid blue, and then blue with a single white line, than timesout.

Anyone experience something like this? Did I screw up the screen when soldiering on an external play/pause toggle button?

Thanks for all the help,

Draco_Red

[patrick80639]

The video format is a little tricky though, but my guess is that it is close to that of VideoNow. VLC plays the video and it claims that the resolution is 144x80, same as VideoNow, yes?.

Now that's weird, the TVNow seems to have a lower-res screen than the Vugo. I remember the Vugo having a a higher resolution than 144x80. I've known of people that have attempted to play Vugo files on the TVNow unsuccesfully, that may be the reason why it hasn't worked, rather than the DRM protection of Vugo....or could be both?

[bob.li2]

Much thanks to VideonowDude, Greg Smith and all the great folks in this forum. The videonowtogo filter (in VirtualDub) works mint. Also dig VnD's logo and intro jingle. Just finished a 3-CD set of classic Gulliver's Travels for the kids (put in lots of scene breaks for FF/RW buttons). Any 80-min audio (700MB) CD-R works fine (40 min VDN-time). Snip down to 108mm w/ scissors no problem. No need to mod the VideoNow-fx player as a 108 CD gets more than 30 min (cut ~1/4" off 700MB CD-R after burning n/m/t 575MBs of tracks). Kids are totally stoked and want to go into producing all kinds of theirstuffnow. What a novel idea! (Wizards need not apply).

So I'm thinkin' website for exchanging VDN tracks (VDN-ster) and some kind of 'ROB-CO' can-opener' CD-R trimmer. Just watch out for Mr. Crab's lawyers. I here they are sharks!

Anyway. God bless the Internet and VnD rules!

PS - Will post DL-link to GT-VND tracks if anyone wants. Sharing is Caring.

[bob.li2]

Oops. Any 80-min CDR will not work for cutting to 108mm. Just bought 100 Memorex (cheap-$13), cut CD and it peeled like bad sunburn. Guess I got very lucky on a one-time purchase of Staples CDRs (plain white mat-finish printable CDR 52X). These cut very well and clean. Also cut disks to 110mm dia. as largest possible size w/o modding fx unit (closer to 575MB). Reduced burn rate to under 24X (in Roxio) and no static on fx playback. Always boost sound 300-400% (sound file step) before laying VDN wav tracks. Been burning Futurama episodes (for kids?). They look and sound great. Dad is the man.

For under $30 bucks the fx players are a great deal provided you can make own content on 30 min disks. VideoNowToGo filter works fantastic. Sound and image quality very good. Hand is tired from cutting down Staples CDs w/ scissors. Now looking to buy non-peel 108mm blanks w/ min. 550MB from anyone willing to manufacture. Will pay $60 per 100. I refuse to pay $1.50 per blank on principle alone and will just keep snipping Staples CDs. Even if they start peeling I will just snip more. And, 108mm blanks must be 550MB and not 480MB (a Sponge Bob PVD reported 540 MB). Hasbro is hurting themselves by playing games with grownups. Kids still want VCamNow, however, so snip snip snip more Staples disks for the players and a mem-card for the cam. We is making movies! Thanks again VideoNowDude! Shame on Hasbro! Bah, Humbug!

PS Anybody want to swap VDN tracks? Public domain vintage cartoons of course.

[coondog1234]

Hi all great to be back, i have tried this awhile ago using virtualdub and i got no sound so i just gave up on it thats ok i now have a 30 GIG APPLE IPOD VIDEO i can convert any video to mpeg 4 and stick it on it, dont worry i still love my videonow i just havent used it in awhile. the converters i use are RIVa FLV converter (For FLV Files like on youtube) and jodix free ipod video converter (For Everything else mpegs AVIs WMVs etc.) really good setup oh and dont forget quicktime 7 pro and itunes

Is anyone's Riva FLV encoder still working mine quit on me for some odd reason and so did a few of my little games i got on here so i now use SUPER and that works good, its said that SUPER can convert swf to mp4 (iPod) but i tried it and no go didnt work

[drewbiedoo]

I'm not sure how active this thread is anymore, but here goes:

I have modded my color Jr. unit to accept regular CD-R's and I am using VideoNowDude's method to convert video with no problems. I am having trouble when I load the disc into the player... it plays OK for a little bit, and then portions of the video are filled with static.

I have tried Sony Music CD-R's and TDK's but neither has seemed to fix my issue. I am using Nero to burn, and have tried slowing the burn process down.

When I modded my player, I didn't remove the little black "sponge" in the player (on the back end of the laser), but I don't think this is my issue...

Does anyone have any other recommendations?

Also, one more quick question. What do you use to convert VOB files into .avi? I used AutoGK, but that process took FOREVER... Does anyone know of a quicker way to flip VOB's into a usable format in VirtualDub?

Thanks in advance!

[VideonowDude]

I... it plays OK for a little bit, and then portions of the video are filled with static.

What do you use to convert VOB files into .avi?

I got the static too, until I removed the transparent plastic sheet that sits over the laser. YMMV.

I don't need to convert the VOBs to anything - I use VirtualDubMPEG2 which reads them directly.

[drewbiedoo]

Thanks for the reply VideonowDude.

I'll remove the plastic and update my results...

Again, a sincere thanks for all your work on this project.

Being able to convert cartoons to VideoNow is fantastic!

I have looked at every store imaginable for toddler aged discs, but the only thing they make now are music videos and cartoons for older kids (like Batman - way above my 2 year old)...

[drewbiedoo]

VideoNowDude-

Removing the plastic cover over the lens has helped immensely. The static has been virtually eliminated.

As for converting VOBs directly... I didn't read the instructions carefully enough. Your guide spells it all out, I just missed that part.

Again, thanks for the help and work you put into this.

[Korie]

Have read over everything-think I am ready to give it a try. About as new at this as can be, so looking forward to entering into a new dimention. Thanks for catching my interest. There are some pictures in the Video now to go instructions when I try to open them they are not available. Does anyone know how I could see them?? Thanks!

[drewbiedoo]

Korie-

I am assuming you will be using VideoNowDude's method for converting the video so....

Here's the link to the software:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/images/guides/p1341186/videonowtogo.zip

When you extract it, open the html file first. There are pictures and a complete walk through of the conversion process.

Good luck!

[lol36]

if anyone wants mystuffnow download link which isn't dead you can click link below.
http://savefile.com/files/514890

[lol36]

please dont hotlink download file^

[lol36]

remember its a trial

[loreaxed]

Hey to all who are still hanging in there with VideoNow....I have read all the posts and finally took the plunge into making new disks for my kid. She has finally refused to watch the same shows over and over and over....so, I decided to try Videonowdude's method for making new disks. I plan to use the hasbro pvd disk to rip to but, I haven't gotten that far. I have downloaded virtualdub (versions _1_5_10_2_All_inclusive, 1.6.15, 1.6.17, and even 1.7.1) and plugged in the VideoNowToGo.vdf. I follow Videonowdude's directions, to the letter, and get as far as converting the fps to 18. When I click the output playback button, the program crashes. If just disappears, no error message...nothing. For half a second the playback begins, but then nothing. Using the all inclusive (_1_5_10_2_), it doesn't crash, but only the audio plays after you press the output playback button. The image freezes until the final frame. When I go to the chosen directory, nothing is there. I think it has to do with the plug in because if I don't use this filter, the program doesn't crash. To be honest, I have no idea and I would appreciate any help I could get here. Thanks.

[lol36isback]

glad to know

[lol36isback]

i cant help you there i use mystuffnow to convert videos and music to a mini-cd.
you can still download from
http://savefile.com/files/514890

You are in breach of the forum rules and are being issued with a formal warning.
/ Moderator Baldrick

[VideonowDude]

crash. To be honest, I have no idea and I would appreciate any help I could get here. Thanks.

What input format are you starting with? If you don't add the VDTG Filter can you play it back ok in VDub? Only use the 1.5 version: newer versions will crash instead of reporting problems, which it sounds like is happening.

[hudsoncs]

Ok, how about for someone who is not so "advanced" with video conversions... I tried looking through the threads and got lost. Is there still a functioning link that has directions easy enough for someone wh just learned to download music and burn it to a cd?

Does anyone sell cheaper pvd's? I'm having a similar prob. that many of you are, I have a 2yr old. The only videos I can find are on Ebay and w/shipping they are $15....any solutions? Any sellers? I have a new videonow color fx....$10 at goodwill.
Thanks in advanced!

[sh80kd]

Thanks VideoNowDude for making it so easy to make homemade PVD's. Just a quick question for a special project... Is it possible to use my own PVD startup video? Any help would be appreciated.

[VideonowDude]

Is it possible to use my own PVD startup video? Any help would be appreciated.

Yes. I *think* I made mine by:
1. Take a video clip of at least the minimum size
2. Convert to VDN format using my tool, you'll end up with an .MP3 file
3. Truncate the file to the exact same size as my startup file using a binary file editor or custom app.

I can't find my notes now, but I think this is how I made mine. Let me know how it goes.