MPEG4 Modifier and GSpot for Mac?

[tzikeh]

Are either of these tools (or equivalents) available for OS X? My Philips DVP5960 has that horrible jerky playback for any DivX files with packed bitstreams, and I can't find a way to unpack them on a Mac. Any suggestions?

[Squash]

Avidemux will offer to unpack a packed AVI when you open it (I think unpacking is required if you want to edit it in Avidemux). After it's unpacked, just save it out leaving "Video" and "Audio" set to "copy" and "Format" set to AVI. No reencoding so very fast.

This is in Windows, which is what I'm on. I assume it's the same for the Mac Avidemux builds. Avidemux also gives limited file info, including GMC, QPEL, and packed bitstream (but not the number of consecutive bframes, which is where the problem happens. All 5960s handle packed bitstream fine as long as there are not 2 or more consecutive bframes). This info is located under File -> Properties. Not as good as Gspot but it's something.

Downloads at:
http://avidemux.berlios.de/download.html

If you're comfortable with upgrading the firmware on your 5960/37, there are modded firmwares which will fix the packed bitstream problem. They are available at Phunkyfish's 5960 page at:
http://www.phunkyfish.com/article/4/philips-dvp-596012

The one I use is the DVP5960_37_vboroda_1252_v6.24_pb.zip file. It fixes the packed-bitstream with 2-or-more consecutive bframes issue, as well as adding some new features (resume, goto, long file names on CD/DVD, font size choices for subs, etc). This firmware will screw up your audio output if you are using multi-channel audio out via coax when the player is connected to the TV via HDMI. Apparently Philips doesn't have room in the ARM code to have both packed bitstream support and proper audio support enabled at the same time. I don't use coax so I don't care.

There are other firmwares there, too, along with instructions for upgrading. If you decide to do it, follow them closely and don't get in a hurry. Some people have caused themselves problems by not waiting long enough for the upgrade to finish.