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Video Beagle's iPad Video App Review Report

VideoBeagle

VideoBeagle

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 17, 2010
823
18
App Q&A testing by request.
I mentioned a week or two ago I was going to be doing a comprehensive test of several iPad apps. Several folks mentioned they wanted to see my report when I was done.

Well after some RL delays, I'm done. A benefit of the delay was that 2 of the apps, OPlayer and CineXPlayer were updated while I was testing, so I was able to include those updates.

The full report can be found here:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/10446018/iPad_Video_App_Test.pdf

A quick rundown for the forum, but I recommend checking out the full report:

The tests were done from a user POV, rather than a programmer. There was no rebooting, clearing of caches, or optimizing performances on any of the machines used. This was to see how they "just work", not "work under optimal conditions".

I selected 26 videos of varying formats to test. They range in file size, codec, bitrate, and length. I mainly used music videos. I also used a longer video, similar to what might be found if someone were to download a tv episode off the internet.

Software tested:
iPad Videos (standard software)
OPlayerHD Lite (version V1 & V1.0.7)
Air Video Free (Version 2.2.4) with Air Video Server (v 2.2.7u1)
CineXPlayer (version 1.1 & 1.2)

Conclusions:
Currently, there is not a “one-app-fits-all” solution for video on the iPad. Every program has it’s strengths, but also weaknesses that could be deal breakers depending on needs.

Of the programs that store their own video, iPad Videos and CineXPlayer have the best quality playback, for the videos that they can play. They also have the most limited amount of playable video codecs.

AirVideo has the best combination of playable codecs and quality, but it’s by design tied to a host computer. This makes it very useful for in-home use, but of very limited use (for me) once I step outside.

OPlayer has the most potential for a total solution. There were significant improvements in quality between the two versions I tested, but there were still significant playback issues with many of the test videos.

For now, a combination approach is the best way to go. Choosing the app for whichever video you want to carry with you. It’s also worth mentioning that rumors point to a VLC app for the iPad being available very soon, and based on it’s desktop version, that could change everything in the iPad video marketplace.
 
what app allow you to view video clip attachment in e-mail? My clients always send some clips for me in MPEG and sometimes WMV. What app you test can handle this?
 
Why not wait a little longer for the VLC Player app to launch?

Just a few more days, and VLC Player app will be out. Also, it will be free. Then we will have another choice, and my good feeling is that it's going to blow these other apps away!
 
Amazing Iceman said:
Just a few more days, and VLC Player app will be out. Also, it will be free. Then we will have another choice, and my good feeling is that it's going to blow these other apps away!
Click to expand...

I'll be doing an addendum with the same 26 videos once/if VLC comes out.

I considered waiting, but I've been not getting this doe for a week, and in the meantime CinexPlayer updated, so I had to go back to testing, and if I play the wait for "x" I'll keep waiting as each player updates (I saw Air Player server updated as well after I was done testing). So I went ahead and published now, and I'll update as necessary.
 
matrix07 said:
what app allow you to view video clip attachment in e-mail? My clients always send some clips for me in MPEG and sometimes WMV. What app you test can handle this?
Click to expand...

Of the ones tested, if you look at the report, OPlayer does MPEGs and WMVs. How well is variable.

I don't know if it can grab attachments from email, I haven't tried doing that.
 
Well I found it useful to see the reviews in your PDF. I'd love to see the updated one too when VLC Player is out.

BTW, might be an idea to proof read the final document. A few typos and words missing too.

There is another player, SharePlayer, that I think might be worth adding. Havent tried it though.

CineXPlayer will do me though as Xvid is pretty much all I need. What WOULD be cool would be a player that played the files stored on a Samba share (such as a cheap NAS box).
 
Thanks.

Yeah, once VNC is out, I'll do a revise, including the recent Air Video software updates. I saw something called ZumoCast which I might try as well.

I sent the report to the developers of the programs, and the CineXPlayer were very responsive, addressing several of my concerns and asking for my test files (which I gave them). Like I said in the report, responsive developers doesn't necessarily make a better app, but it does make me feel good about a program.:)
 
Initial VLC Review: Total Fail

Loaded the 26 test files thru iTunes. Opened VLC. See menu..with multi pinwheels over videos. Crashed on opening. Crashed second time. 3x.
Power cycled iPad.
Crashed.
 
Working perfectly on my 32gb Wifi. Watched an episode of Spartacus Blood n Sand without any issues. Sounds like your Pad is on blink?
 
I used VLC to watch a TV show the other night and it worked great. It's been my experience that yxplayer is the most versatile video player. It has played every file I've thrown at it (including .flv and .wmv). I hear people saying all the time that it is impossible to play flash video on the iPad, but this app does.
 
Actually all I want is a player that reliably plays Xvid with MP3 or AC3 sound. Bonus would be I could play direct from server via wifi without having to sync. I do like being able to delete files though and it puzzles me that VLC doesn't do that. BuzzPlayer works well. CineXplayer won't play AC3 which is a litle mad
 
Methanoid said:
Actually all I want is a player that reliably plays Xvid with MP3 or AC3 sound. Bonus would be I could play direct from server via wifi without having to sync. I do like being able to delete files though and it puzzles me that VLC doesn't do that. BuzzPlayer works well. CineXplayer won't play AC3 which is a litle mad
Click to expand...

Hmm..I wasn't paying attention to the audio side of things. That's an excellent point. I'll need to yank some sample files to check AC3 as well. Thanks!
 
VideoBeagle said:
Hmm..I wasn't paying attention to the audio side of things. That's an excellent point. I'll need to yank some sample files to check AC3 as well. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I've compared four...

VLC = fail on AC3 as it plays but cannot hear and misses bits
OPLayer - plays but out of sync
CineXPlayer - politely reports a failure to play ;)
Buzz - plays fine

On interface I think oPLayer is godawful, VLC is simple enough, CineX tries too hard for my liking and why buttons in all 4 corners? Great French lady video telling you how to sync video though. Buzz is easy enough... but being written by another non-English author it doesnt always make sense. Much like OPlayer!

VideoBeagle said:
Doesn't look like Buzzplayer has a free version, which was one of the criteria I was using for selecting an app. (CineXPlayer was free when I started, otherwise, it'd have been left off).
Click to expand...

I'd advise a purchase of Buzz. Seems pretty good to me. Are there any other Xvid players worth a try? YXPlayer?

Ive not tried other formats cos lets be honest. Almost all downloadable TV shows etc come in Xvid, a few in DivX and HD rips in MKV containers. But Xvid dominates.
 
Yeah, OPlayer's file system is dreadful.

Besides tv episodes, I do a lot of music video trading, and that's in every format....but moreover, I'd like a program that's one size fits all..though really, that's just not how the iPad seems to be:/:apple:
 
Do any of these players support Inter-application file exchange? I want to be able to transfer the video files from Good Reader to a player. Hate to have to connect to a computer via USB to do that.
 
hitekalex said:
Do any of these players support Inter-application file exchange? I want to be able to transfer the video files from Good Reader to a player. Hate to have to connect to a computer via USB to do that.
Click to expand...

I don't have good reader, but Drop Box can send to OPlayer.
I didn't have any avi files in my drop box to see if CinexPlayer can do it.
 
I do NOT work for BUZZ but I thought I'd share... since this has now added the one feature I have particularly been looking for (samba network play)


Dear customers,

Thank you for using BUZZ Player!
Thank you for your comment that helps BUZZ Player better!

New version of BUZZ Player (1.1) is available in AppStore, please check it
out!

What's new in this version:
☆ Add Built-in Network Browser allows user to play and copy files from
Widows/Mac/Linux PC and remote FTP servers. (SMB & FTP Support).

☆ Add feature to display embedded subtitle in videos files.

☆ Add feature to allow user to call BUZZ Player to play media files from
external application such as mail, readers...

☆ Fix TVOut problem when using AV Component Cable.

☆ Fix screen aspect problem when play DVD file.

☆ Fix bug when play RTSP stream video with authentication.

We are working to improve BUZZ Player every day, new version of BUZZ Player
with new feature will be release soon. These feature will be release in the
next version:
1) Enable to remember and resume playing position of media.
2) File Manager supports - That allows users to manage their
files/folders easily.
3) Web browser supports - That allows users to browse media file from a
website and play it directly from BUZZ Player.
4) Video/Audio/Subtitle stream selection - That allows users to select
desired Video/Audio/Subtitle stream when play multi stream media.

Thank you very much.

Yours sincerely,
BUGUN Software,
 
hitekalex said:
Do any of these players support Inter-application file exchange? I want to be able to transfer the video files from Good Reader to a player. Hate to have to connect to a computer via USB to do that.
Click to expand...

CinexPlayer can do that. I just downloaded a South Park episode in iCab and opened it in CinexPlayer. It was pretty sweet.
 
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