GoodPlayer review/report

[IvanX]

We do not get the iPad 3 yet.
However, some lucky users tested iPad 3 with GoodPlayer. 1080P could not be supported on GoodPlayer with iPad 3.
With the CPU information of new iPad 3 (CPU is nearly the same with iPad 2), the bottleneck is on CPU, GoodPlayer needs the CPU for software decoding.

Hi,

Any idea why decoding cannot be offloaded onto the more powerful GPU?

Also, it is possible to play 1080p videos from iTunes on the new iPad through better H.264 compression using High or Main Profile up to level 4.1. So why this cannot be done in GoodPlayer?

Regards.

 

[hustmobile]

Thanks.
For the 1080P, there are 2 cases:
#1 iPod plugin mode (system hardware acceleration): you can turn on iPod plugin in GoodPlayer, then
GoodPlayer can play 1080P mp4/m4v/mov files. This is the case you
described for "better H.264 compression using High or Main Profile up to level 4.1"
#2 native GoodPlayer playback mode: only software decoding will be
used, so 1080P playback is not possible here. Some works have been offloaded to GPU already, however, lots of software decoding work must be on CPU. So the only way here is to improve the software decoding performance.

#23 How about HD playback support in GoodPlayer?

About HD (High Definition) playback support::
For iPad 2, part of 720P(1280x720) MKV/H.264/AVC playback supported,
please note that not all the 720P MKV/H.264/AVC files can be played
smoothly, it depends on the specific video encoding parameters.
For iPad 2, 1280x720 RealVideo (RM/RMVB) playback supported
For iPad 1, most of 720P(1280x720) AVI/MPEG-4 playback supported, ,
please note that not all the 720PAVI/MPEG-4 files can be played
smoothly, it depends on the specific video encoding parameters.
For limited file formats such as MP4,M4V and MOV, by iPod
plugin(GoodPlayer-->Settings-->Plugin Setting-->iPod, Turn on "iPod"),
the 1080P (1920x1080) MP4,M4V and MOV playback supported via iOS
devices system hardware acceleration

Hi,

Any idea why decoding cannot be offloaded onto the more powerful GPU?

Also, it is possible to play 1080p videos from iTunes on the new iPad through better H.264 compression using High or Main Profile up to level 4.1. So why this cannot be done in GoodPlayer?

Regards.

 

[IvanX]

Thanks.
For the 1080P, there are 2 cases:
#1 iPod plugin mode (system hardware acceleration): you can turn on iPod plugin in GoodPlayer, then
GoodPlayer can play 1080P mp4/m4v/mov files. This is the case you
described for "better H.264 compression using High or Main Profile up to level 4.1"

Hmm, MKV files already feature H.264 MPEG4 video standard. For example, here is a MediaInfo output for one of the files...

Video
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 5 frames
Format settings, GOP             : N=1
Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                         : 42mn 25s
Bit rate                         : 3 176 Kbps
Width                            : 1 276 pixels
Height                           : 718 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 16:9
Frame rate                       : 23.976 fps
Color space                      : YUV
Chroma subsampling               : 4:2:0
Bit depth                        : 8 bits
Scan type                        : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.145
Stream size                      : 964 MiB (87%)
Writing library                  : x264 core 120 r2164 da19765
Encoding settings                : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=umh / subme=8 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=50 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=19.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Language                         : English

As you can see, it is created using x264 library, which is the same for H.264 MP4 files. MKV is only a container, so why is there a restriction for just MP4/M4V/MOV files?

 

[hustmobile]

The MP4/M4V/MOV container restriction is from Apple official API. So for official app , the MKV can only use software decoding.

In fact, there is non-official private API can decode H.264 frame (then 1080P is possible here), however, if an app need go to App Store, you cannot use non-official private API.

So the restriction is just there, it is not iOS cannot do it.

Hmm, MKV files already feature H.264 MPEG4 video standard. For example, here is a MediaInfo output for one of the files...

Video
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 5 frames
Format settings, GOP             : N=1
Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                         : 42mn 25s
Bit rate                         : 3 176 Kbps
Width                            : 1 276 pixels
Height                           : 718 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 16:9
Frame rate                       : 23.976 fps
Color space                      : YUV
Chroma subsampling               : 4:2:0
Bit depth                        : 8 bits
Scan type                        : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.145
Stream size                      : 964 MiB (87%)
Writing library                  : x264 core 120 r2164 da19765
Encoding settings                : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=umh / subme=8 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=12 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=50 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=19.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Language                         : English

As you can see, it is created using x264 library, which is the same for H.264 MP4 files. MKV is only a container, so why is there a restriction for just MP4/M4V/MOV files?

 

[IvanX]

The MP4/M4V/MOV container restriction is from Apple official API. So for official app , the MKV can only use software decoding.

In fact, there is non-official private API can decode H.264 frame (then 1080P is possible here), however, if an app need go to App Store, you cannot use non-official private API.

So the restriction is just there, it is not iOS cannot do it.

Can you not distribute a version through TestFlight? Doing so will bypass the App Store and would not require jail-breaking

 

[dbknightx]

MKV 1080p Playback

I've been researching more capable video playback in anticipation of receiving my "new iPad" today, and it sounds like GoodPlayer is the best of the crop out there. I love the fact that there is developer involvement right here on MacRumors. Wow!

However, it sounds like my scenario may still be too much for this great app (or perhaps any app) to handle.

I have a 17TB NAS at home that I have losslessly ripped all of my blu-ray movies to. They are all in MKV containers, and also most of them only contain lossless DTS-HD MA audio (that audio alone may be a killer here).

From what I gather, the only hope of decent playback is via GPU acceleration, which requires "iPod" mode and MP4/M4V/MOV containers. Do you think it would be possible for an app (like GoodPlayer) to do an on-the-fly remuxing from MKV to MOV containers, and then feed that to the player, thus allowing it to use GPU acceleration?

At a minimum I guess it would require more buffering time, but I could definitely live with that.

Thoughts?

-David

 

[hustmobile]

How is the bit rate of the lossless blu-ray movies? Maybe it is too much for the Wi-Fi?

For the on-the-fly remuxing idea, technically it should be possible. However, it is not just remuxing, sometimes re-encoding is needed. For your blu-ray case, the audio needs to be re-encode to AAC.

Although the idea is possible, but it is somewhat hard to be implemented.
I guess the easier way now is to remux it in desktop PC, AAC audio is needed for mp4 file. If the video needs not to be re-encoded, the remuxing on desktop PC will be very fast.

I've been researching more capable video playback in anticipation of receiving my "new iPad" today, and it sounds like GoodPlayer is the best of the crop out there. I love the fact that there is developer involvement right here on MacRumors. Wow!

However, it sounds like my scenario may still be too much for this great app (or perhaps any app) to handle.

I have a 17TB NAS at home that I have losslessly ripped all of my blu-ray movies to. They are all in MKV containers, and also most of them only contain lossless DTS-HD MA audio (that audio alone may be a killer here).

From what I gather, the only hope of decent playback is via GPU acceleration, which requires "iPod" mode and MP4/M4V/MOV containers. Do you think it would be possible for an app (like GoodPlayer) to do an on-the-fly remuxing from MKV to MOV containers, and then feed that to the player, thus allowing it to use GPU acceleration?

At a minimum I guess it would require more buffering time, but I could definitely live with that.

Thoughts?

-David

 

[peelers]

Airplay

Hi

I think i found a bug with Goodplayer 4.6 and Airplay.. when playing a video and I want to send it thru Airplay - only sound come out no video.. if i turn on Airplay Mirroring, it send the video, BUT Goodplayer will turn black screen. Also, it seem it only work 1 time only, if you play a video file, stop or pause it and go to settings and back again, the screen go blank with no picture and have to exit the app and back before it work. I test it with other apps and no problems with Mirroring and work like it suppose to, only Goodplayer have the blank screen problem. Im using Ipad 3 with the new Apple TV stream random video with different resolution,, it kinda choke a bit on 1080 video but will do more tests this week as I only had it for few days.

please look into this if you can..

thank you.

Peelers

 

[iohass]

i tried playing an mkv file on a friend's iphone4 through goodplayer and it couldn't play it without lagging and stuttering. the file was 720p.

does this mean the same file can't be played on my ipad?

 

[Dukat]

i tried playing an mkv file on a friend's iphone4 through goodplayer and it couldn't play it without lagging and stuttering. the file was 720p.

does this mean the same file can't be played on my ipad?

I tried a 1.4gig MKV that ran very choppy and a 4gig MKV that runs butter smooth. I don't know why one works and the other doesn't.

 

[iohass]

I tried a 1.4gig MKV that ran very choppy and a 4gig MKV that runs butter smooth. I don't know why one works and the other doesn't.

probably difference in bitrate..

 

[hustmobile]

For the new iPad, it is iOS 5.1, now GoodPlayer has some issues with iOS 5.1.
Please wait for the next 4.7 version and test again, most of iOS 5.1 issue should be fixed in the 4.7 version.

Hi

I think i found a bug with Goodplayer 4.6 and Airplay.. when playing a video and I want to send it thru Airplay - only sound come out no video.. if i turn on Airplay Mirroring, it send the video, BUT Goodplayer will turn black screen. Also, it seem it only work 1 time only, if you play a video file, stop or pause it and go to settings and back again, the screen go blank with no picture and have to exit the app and back before it work. I test it with other apps and no problems with Mirroring and work like it suppose to, only Goodplayer have the blank screen problem. Im using Ipad 3 with the new Apple TV stream random video with different resolution,, it kinda choke a bit on 1080 video but will do more tests this week as I only had it for few days.

please look into this if you can..

thank you.

Peelers

----------

The size matters less than the video encoding parameters.
For iPhone 4, the 720P is not possible. Please only expect 720P support on iPad 2 or iPad 3.


Here are some test results. We do not get the iPad 3 yet (hopefully we will get it in this week). iPad 3 should have a very similar performance with iPad 2.

#23 How about HD playback support in GoodPlayer?

About HD (High Definition) playback support::
For iPad 2, part of 720P(1280x720) MKV/H.264/AVC playback supported, please note that not all the 720P MKV/H.264/AVC files can be played smoothly, it depends on the specific video encoding parameters.
For iPad 2, 1280x720 RealVideo (RM/RMVB) playback supported
For iPad 1, most of 720P(1280x720) AVI/MPEG-4 playback supported, , please note that not all the 720PAVI/MPEG-4 files can be played smoothly, it depends on the specific video encoding parameters.
For limited file formats such as MP4,M4V and MOV, by iPod plugin(GoodPlayer-->Settings-->Plugin Setting-->iPod, Turn on "iPod"), the 1080P (1920x1080) MP4,M4V and MOV playback supported via iOS devices system hardware acceleration

probably difference in bitrate..

 

[lsquare]

Have anything changed in terms of Blu-Ray subtitle support? If not, what is the best way to convert my blu-ray subtitles into a format that GoodPlayer will understand?

 

[hustmobile]

No changes in Blu-Ray subtitle support yet. Since for blu-ray files, the srt subtitle is not supported, so now there is no good way to support Blu-Ray subtitle.

Have anything changed in terms of Blu-Ray subtitle support? If not, what is the best way to convert my blu-ray subtitles into a format that GoodPlayer will understand?

 

[Dex4788]

The MP4/M4V/MOV container restriction is from Apple official API. So for official app , the MKV can only use software decoding.

In fact, there is non-official private API can decode H.264 frame (then 1080P is possible here), however, if an app need go to App Store, you cannot use non-official private API.

So the restriction is just there, it is not iOS cannot do it.

Is there any interest in releasing the unrestricted version of the app, via Cydia or something else? It'd be very helpful for the many of us who do jailbreak.

 

[hustmobile]

For jail-broken device, maybe XBMC for iOS is enough.
Since it is not just release a unrestricted version, it needs lots of other coding work to support it. Now we are too busy to work for jail-broken device.
Please try XBMC.

Is there any interest in releasing the unrestricted version of the app, via Cydia or something else? It'd be very helpful for the many of us who do jailbreak.

 

[foobaz]

The size matters less than the video encoding parameters.

About HD (High Definition) playback support::
For iPad 2, part of 720P(1280x720) MKV/H.264/AVC playback supported, please note that not all the 720P MKV/H.264/AVC files can be played smoothly, it depends on the specific video encoding parameters.

I have asked you this before in an email. What exactly are the encoding parameters that are supported? At least we can know what to expect if our video files are not fully compliant. Apple gives limited information about supported parameters but you live close to them so only you can give precise parameters.

 

[hustmobile]

In this thread, we gave some parameter suggestions. Please check the older post in this thread.
Please note that we only tested limited cases.
For a better performance: no B frames is good; less reference frames is good; no CABAC is good

H.264 encoding is really complicated, so we could not give a simple standard.

If you like to know what Apple iPod plugin can play: nearly all 1080P/720P can be played by Apple iPod plugin, make sure the audio is AAC.

I have asked you this before in an email. What exactly are the encoding parameters that are supported? At least we can know what to expect if our video files are not fully compliant. Apple gives limited information about supported parameters but you live close to them so only you can give precise parameters.

 

[foobaz]

At least you have now given SOME things to look for and avoid, if possible. That's a start.

In this thread, we gave some parameter suggestions. Please check the older post in this thread.

OK, I just skimmed all 20 pages, searching for 'mkv' and I have found no more detail than you have given in this post. Can you please give links to specific posts that include more detail?

H.264 encoding is really complicated, so we could not give a simple standard.

It seems that you could give a list of the maximum values of the various parameters that your software is capable of supporting, since you are the only ones who know the limitations. At least that way we can know exactly what to avoid.

If you like to know what Apple iPod plugin can play: nearly all 1080P/720P can be played by Apple iPod plugin, make sure the audio is AAC.

Sure, if I transmux an mkv into an mp4 with aac audio and turn on the 'iPod' switch, the performance is greatly improved, but that defeats the purpose of my buying your player, which is supposed to make this time-consuming exercise unnecessary. Also, it would be much appreciated if the app could detect an mp4 and automatically use the iPod emulation. It is really annoying to have to go to settings and hunt for the button and turn it on, and then have to do the same to turn it off when it is not needed.

 

[silbizkit]

File listing in DiskAid & Text/Font

Hi,

Im using iphone 4s and DiskAid to transfer my files into GoodPlayer. For some reason, after i put files in folders into GoodPlayer using DiskAid for the next time I open GoodPlayer from DiskAid, the files & folders not to be seen. But the files & folders is available if i check from the phone itself.

For the file & folder listing, can make the image and font smaller or put in setting so user can choose the size?
Currently from the iphone, I can only view 4 files at a time, it would be better if can see maybe 5 or 6 files. Easier to check the list from the phone for those with many movies

Anyway, loves GoodPlayer....its really GooD

 

[hustmobile]

The older post is here: https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/14007187/

We just got our new iPad . In our performance testing, new iPad is slower than the iPad 2. Please do not expect too high of iPad 3.

Now for GoodPlayer performance:
iPad 2 > new iPad (iPad 3) > iPhone 4S > iPad 1 >iPhone 4 > iPhone 3GS

At least you have now given SOME things to look for and avoid, if possible. That's a start.



OK, I just skimmed all 20 pages, searching for 'mkv' and I have found no more detail than you have given in this post. Can you please give links to specific posts that include more detail?



It seems that you could give a list of the maximum values of the various parameters that your software is capable of supporting, since you are the only ones who know the limitations. At least that way we can know exactly what to avoid.



Sure, if I transmux an mkv into an mp4 with aac audio and turn on the 'iPod' switch, the performance is greatly improved, but that defeats the purpose of my buying your player, which is supposed to make this time-consuming exercise unnecessary. Also, it would be much appreciated if the app could detect an mp4 and automatically use the iPod emulation. It is really annoying to have to go to settings and hunt for the button and turn it on, and then have to do the same to turn it off when it is not needed.

 

[hustmobile]

1. For the file not showing issue, it should be related to the "iTunes Sync" setting
Please change Settings->File Manager-> iTunes Sync to "on".

For iTunes/iCloud Sync, we have already given an option to the end users in
the GoodPlayer settings. GoodPlayer->Settings->File Manager->iTunes
Sync, the default is "off" from 3.2 version, when this setting is
"on", the media files uploaded to GoodPlayer will sync with iTunes.
When this setting is "off", the media files in the GoodPlayer will not
sync with iTunes. For the iOS 5, when the setting is "on", the
media files in GoodPlayer will sync with iCloud, when the setting is
"off", the media files in GoodPlayer will not sync with iCloud.
From GoodPlayer 2.3, the option was added to disable iTunes Sync file
backup, this can save a lot of time and disk space when the iOS device
sync with the iTunes.
Please Note: for the first time the iTunes Sync is turned off, the
most safe testing way is to exit the desktop iTunes , and restart the
desktop iTunes , then sync the iOS device with iTunes. It was found
sometimes the iTunes Sync setting does not work immediately, maybe it
has something to do with the cache.

2. For the file & folder listing request, we will consider it.

Hi,

Im using iphone 4s and DiskAid to transfer my files into GoodPlayer. For some reason, after i put files in folders into GoodPlayer using DiskAid for the next time I open GoodPlayer from DiskAid, the files & folders not to be seen. But the files & folders is available if i check from the phone itself.

For the file & folder listing, can make the image and font smaller or put in setting so user can choose the size?
Currently from the iphone, I can only view 4 files at a time, it would be better if can see maybe 5 or 6 files. Easier to check the list from the phone for those with many movies

Anyway, loves GoodPlayer....its really GooD

 

[foobaz]

Im using iphone 4s and DiskAid to transfer my files into GoodPlayer. For some reason, after i put files in folders into GoodPlayer using DiskAid for the next time I open GoodPlayer from DiskAid, the files & folders not to be seen. But the files & folders is available if i check from the phone itself.

No need to sync to iTunes. For some reason, after you open the player on your device--I have tried this on iPhone 4s, iPad 3, and iPod 3G--the media files get moved immediately to:

Library->Caches->PrivateData

They no longer show in iTunes--at least with sync turned off. I don't want sync on because I have backups already.

 

[hustmobile]

Yes, by default, these files need to be moved. This is because of the Apple official storage policy. It is a must.
If they are not moved, they will be synced to iTunes and iCloud even you do not want it so.

No need to sync to iTunes. For some reason, after you open the player on your device--I have tried this on iPhone 4s, iPad 3, and iPod 3G--the media files get moved immediately to:

Library->Caches->PrivateData

They no longer show in iTunes--at least with sync turned off. I don't want sync on because I have backups already.

 

[foobaz]

Yes, by default, these files need to be moved. This is because of the Apple official storage policy. It is a must.
If they are not moved, they will be synced to iTunes and iCloud even you do not want it so.

Really? I have files on another movie player that remain in the Documents folder and don't show up on iCloud or in iTunes backups. Where are they located?