'Perian' QuickTime Component for Mac Updated

[TheTick]

I bet the mkv has a subtitle built in. Try renaming the srt to something else and reopening the mkv. If it still has subs, there's nothing much we can do about that.

Actually I take this back.

Do that test still, see if that's it. However, we can probably come up with a way to only have one sub loaded. Now the problem comes picking which one to have.

So I'm thinking that it's better to choose the .srt. The reasoning being that if you spent the time getting a .srt, then you likely want that. However, can you confirm if this is what your typical usage would be and if you'd want the .srt or the built in sub?

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

Actually I take this back.

Do that test still, see if that's it. However, we can probably come up with a way to only have one sub loaded. Now the problem comes picking which one to have.

Integrate a daemon ("periand", for example) in the Perian component package and let this daemon display a centered dialog box, where the user can select the subtitles. This does not require direct QuickTime support, just IPC/RPC between the daemon and the Perian component. Apple calls daemons which have access to the Window Server "Agents" or "LaunchAgents". They work in Mac OS X 10.4 or newer, AFAIK. Just an idea, i'm sure you will find a better way.

 

[TheTick]

Integrate a daemon ("periand", for example) in the Perian component package and let this daemon display a centered dialog box, where the user can select the subtitles. This does not require direct QuickTime support, just IPC/RPC between the daemon and the Perian component. Apple calls daemons which have access to the Window Server "Agents" or "LaunchAgents". They work in Mac OS X 10.4 or newer, AFAIK. Just an idea, i'm sure you will find a better way.

We're not going to do that. We're going to simply choose the best option for the user, and go that route. If everyone agrees it's the built-in, we don't load the .srt. If everyone agrees it's the .srt, we disable the built-in. There's no need for a daemon here that pops up every time you launch a movie, just to become annoying.

 

[vollspacken]

How do you do that?

You have to install Quicktime 7 and open the avi in Quicktime Player 7 (not in the Quicktime X Player) and hit "Safe as..." under "File". Select "Reference Movie" creates a small (2-3MB) MOV container file that you can import to iTunes.

You can even add artwork and tags to that file, just as you would with an mp4 or m4v.

Very handy, if you have a couple of old avi-files flying around that you do not want to rip again. Just put the avi and the Quicktime container in a folder together with artwork and links to the respective entries on wikipedia and imdb and you got it all in place.

vSpacken

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

How well does that run on PPC machines?

Nothing runs on PPC anymore because as the dev said, no one wants to support 20% or less user base. Linux for PPC is getting less support as well (e.g. no firefox4 there either it seems). Ironically, Safari is the only major modern browser still supporting PPC and who knows how much longer that will last. Part of the fault is Apple dumping developer support so quickly. I still maintain if they had kept PPC through Snow Leopard and waited until Lion to dump it, much of the 'needed' software would have more likely remained viable well into 2013. Firefox4, for example dumped PPC precisely because of the lack of certain dev structures that Apple doesn't provide for PPC because they don't support it. If Apple doesn't support it, most devs won't bother either. Some devs dump older OS versions even for newer hardware. It's just easier for them.

All I know is in Windows Land if devs dumped support for Vista tomorrow (not even mentioning XP), that product would likely be in trouble. But therein lies the difference. The Mac users base is so TINY to begin with (compared to PCs) and throw in Apple's forced/encouraged upgrade tactics and it's not worth the effort. The sad net effect is that Macs are getting shorter 'useful' life spans than in the past. And part of this is due to Apple's short shelf life for so-called 'major' operating system updates, especially if those updates DUMP large segments of hardware (e.g. PPC with Snow Leopard and Intel 32-bit with Lion) so that the users have NO upgrade path but to replace their entire machine (even if speed-wise it's still meeting their needs. Sometimes you NEED the newer software for hardware support like newer iTunes to support the iPad2 or whatever even if otherwise the older version was FINE. For example, I bought a new iPod Touch 4G today. It works with my PPC iTunes 10.1.1. But if an update to the iOS firmware requires iTunes 10.2 I'm screwed because 10.2 is buggy as heck on PPC for some reason (crashes within hours here whereas 10.1.1 is the MOST STABLE version of iTunes I've EVER used; I can literally leave my PPC server on for MONTHS and it won't crash) and I haven't seen an update to fix it yet.

So it's fine to say you can still run older software, but SOME things like browsers, e-mail and iTunes need to be running newer software at some point and pretty much force you to upgrade regardless if the hardware is otherwise doing its job (i.e. how much CPU power do I need to use this as a server? AppleTV is doing all the work in the end). Frankly, I hate to put a lot of money into a computer whose purpose is mostly just to serve audio/video and maybe surf. If you want to play games, you interrupt your whole house audio/video system, for example. Oh well, the more I can stretch out of this PPC machine, the more features I'll get when I do replace it with something else. Actually, a Mac-Mini with USB3 might be a nice little server (could be shared on the same desktop with ANOTHER computer that does games, etc. since it takes up so little space), but Apple doesn't want to do USB3 and my media drives are now USB3.... UGH on Apple again.

 

[blow45]

We'd need more people working on Perian to speed this up. Dropping ppc and 10.5 should help a bit though.

Chris Forsythe
Perian Project Manager

You are offering a lot to the community, and you are doing it gratis. Max kudos guys, and thanks again. Anyone sensible enough should understand that no matter how we dislike it (I have a couple of ppc macs) dropping ppc was a very sensible move. And of course dropping 10.5, which goes without saying really.

 

[dukebound85]

Some mkv's will lock up QT still. Nice to see support added albeit some bugs still

 

[munkery]

*shrug* ... it fails to create AC3 with Perian installed, and succeeds with it removed.

I haven't had a chance to try the new version yet. It's possible that Compressor does some "playback" or verification and that Perian gets in the way at that point, but I'm not sure; I don't know how it all works internally.

Have you tried removing the AC3 Compressor component (if it is installed as a component like perian) to see if the app works with only perian installed?

I noticed the same thing occurs if you opt to install the DivX component that comes with Toast. If you remove the DivX component, then both perian and Toast work fine.

It seems if there is on overlap in component functionality the system chooses to use neither component.

 

[blow45]

And let me say something else too, at least as a modest token of appreciation to the devs mr should have put this on page 1. I am sure that it would merit to be there, any dime a dozen garbage rumor makes it to p. 1...

 

[cerote]

And let me say something else too, at least as a modest token of appreciation to the devs mr should have put this on page 1. I am sure that it would merit to be there, any dime a dozen garbage rumor makes it to p. 1...

Agreed. Perian is among the first things installed on my machines and it is in the list of recommended apps to install for OSX when asked.

 

[NazgulRR]

Actually I take this back.

Do that test still, see if that's it. However, we can probably come up with a way to only have one sub loaded. Now the problem comes picking which one to have.

So I'm thinking that it's better to choose the .srt. The reasoning being that if you spent the time getting a .srt, then you likely want that. However, can you confirm if this is what your typical usage would be and if you'd want the .srt or the built in sub?

Hi. Thank you for your answer. The .mkv I was talking about has no built-in subtitles. I only have three external .srt subtitles for it.

Most of the time I use two external .srts and taht is both at once: one on the top and one at the bottom. This is for the purpose of foreign language learning/practising.

So at the moment I still use three different programs for video watching:
- 1 or no subtitles: quicktime+perian (love the simplicity!)
- 2 subtitles: Movist (the only one that has support for this, a bit buggy though)
- IP-TV: VLC

 

[NazgulRR]

--double post, sorry--

 

[Micjose]

exactly what it needed.

 

[vincenz]

Didn't know they updated until now. Time to hit the button.

 

[RMDI]

@MagnusVonMagnum
How about a small thank you (or donation) to the devs, that they invested almost half a year to make this new version work on PPC?

 

[redvettez06]

-100

Heck on the makers of Perian. Just another developer dumping support for true Mac fans who existed in a time before Steve caved to the PC World CPUs after spending nearly a decade touting how great PPC was and how crappy x86 was. It seems developers cannot wait to dump support for older OS versions regardless while Windows machines from 1999 can still run nearly all new software within their CPU capabilities speed-wise (i.e. XP is still supported by nearly all developers a decade later while Mac developers dump support for an OS version that is barely two years old...PATHETIC). The Mac shelf life continues to shrink.... Soon you will need to buy a new computer every year or be left behind by Apple and developers alike while your hardware can run Windows for the next decade.

There WAS a time when Macs usefulness outlasted PCs by some margin. Now it's just the opposite. Macs have obsolescence built into them on purpose and PCs last for ages and yet the price ratios have NOT reversed. You still pay way more only now for less time. No wonder Apple is making money hand over fist.... What's the point of a better made computer if Apple just pulls the plug on them? It's not just PPC. Intel Core Duo is dumped in Lion as well. I guess owners of those Intel Macs can install Windows 7 instead....

Remember when they said that a MBP ran Windows Vista better than a PC? Well now they can say Windows 7 runs better on Macs than OSX!

I kinda see what your saying. My 3 year old Dell Inspirion 1525 is still running strong save for a touch pad issue (which doesn't bother me because I like to use a mouse anyway) on Vista. Recently I installed Snow Leopard on it and it is running very well though slightly slower than Vista. My friend's 2 year old Macbook is not running as well. It has more hiccups despite having near the same internals AND he paid more if I remember correctly.

I think that by and large Apple makes great hardware and software but with iOS bringing in so much revenue I am wary that Apple will put less and less focus on OSX stuff. I guess time will tell

 

[alaris83]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8F190 Safari/6533.18.5)

So I can watch my anime collection without problems now? Let's hope so!

I hope so too!! xD

 

[ghostlyorb]

Just use VLC! It uses the same decoder-libraries (from the ffmpeg-project) as Perian.

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html

I love VLC!

 

[ciTiger]

A very nice utility indeed! Too bad there isn't a playlist in QuickTime...

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

I don't usually watch movies on my PPC Mac, but I do use it to run my whole house audio/video system and I just noticed that since updating Perian to 1.2.2 that I now get a loud buzzing sound (you can barely hear the actual audio) when playing back Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtracks in iTunes. The stereo tracks sound normal. This didn't happen with 1.2.1.

 

[jdiamond]

Sadly, Perian support for MKV doesn't work for me...

Even after letting Perian run overnight, taking 12 hours to convert a single MKV file, I see nothing but a smattering of garbage on the screen. Ironically, the earlier version of Perian was much better at MKV display.

I don't buy Perian's excuses given than the VLC media player plays MKV files flawlessly and instantly.

 

[Haribokart]

Even after letting Perian run overnight, taking 12 hours to convert a single MKV file, I see nothing but a smattering of garbage on the screen. Ironically, the earlier version of Perian was much better at MKV display.

I don't buy Perian's excuses given than the VLC media player plays MKV files flawlessly and instantly.

... and MplayerX plays them even better then VLC. It's the only program I use for videos on Mac now.

 

[ViperDesign]

In all fairness, if you can find a developer who wants to work on Perian on PPC, and can work with our very small team, then I'd be open to changing our stance.

With 2 very part time developers who actually have real jobs and real lives outside of this, and myself as project manager who has a real job and a real life, I really just don't see the point. 1.2.2 and 1.2.1 will still work in 2 years if they still work today. We're just not going to continue supporting it in 1.3 (or whatever version number I end up being happy with).

Please bear in mind that we have 3 real problems to address here in order for any sort of ppc support to return:

1) Nobody who actually works on perian likes working on this old stuff.

2) A lack of time resources. Did you know that we could have released in November if it hadn't been for supporting 10.5 and ppc? Not even 10.4, but 10.5.

3) A userbase which for the most part moves with updates. Over 80% of our userbase that hits the website is on 10.6. We focus on the 80/20 rule.


Let me explain this a bit further, and how we came to this decision. Essentially 2 and 3 are tied together. We spent a large amount of time on support for something which didn't apply to well over 80% of our user base. That's huge for any kind of software. For an open source project with a very small developer pool, it can cause the project to actually die off. No more perian < perian which is enjoyable to work on.

I can entirely understand your point. I have an old g4 800 mhz imac, I had a nice g4 ibook, a g3 700 ibook, and I had even older machines I won't list. The point is that we have to make the best choices for us currently, and for our users. I do respect older versions of os x and hardware, but not at the cost of what we're doing now.

I post this not looking for a response, but as an explanation. Concisely put, we have almost no motivation to continue working on 10.5 or ppc.

Chris Forsythe
Perian Project Manager

Two words come to mind, Thank You.