I have successfully burned DVD movies to my Behold. These are step by step directions on how I did it. I am sure other methods can be used, but I know this works. These directions are for a PC, so please don’t ask about Mac since I don’t know squat about them.
Note these only cover the basics to burn a movie. I really have not played with the conversion software too much (ie: changing the start/stop points, etc.).
To burn movies from DVDs, You will need a few items:
Micro SD card. I bought an 16 GB SDHD from a local BestBuy store. List price is $99,
Optional SD card reader. If you have a large SDHD card like the 8 GB, you will need the correct reader. I have an SD card reader in my computer but it will not read the SDHD format. I bought a SanDisk Mobile Mate SD+ for $20 at a local store. WHATEVER READER YOU USE, ENSURE IT IS SDHD COMPATIBLE IF YOU HAVE THE LARGER CARD.
Note on readers: I find that using a card reader instead of the phone as the reader is MUCH FASTER. Download and install
Acala DVD 3G Ripper on said PC.
Get it here:
http://www.download.com/3000-2641_4-10773555.htmlThis program is FREE. It is also the full version with no limits. It might say trial version on it, but trust me, it is full. Maybe in time they might charge, who knows.
OK, time to convert the DVD to a 3G video:1. Put a DVD in the PC. Turn the movie off if autoplay starts it.
2. Open the Acala DVD 3G Ripper program.
3. Click the + button at the bottom of the screen. The Browse from folder window comes up. Select the drive the DVD is in and hit OK. Hint: Only click on the drive, do not expand it.
4. A bunch of titles will appear in the lower window. This confused me at first, but after burning 4 different DVDs, it seems like the program will automatically select the title that contains the main movie. All the other titles are for the “bonus” stuff on the DVD. If you are only recording the main movie, check to see if a title is checked. If so, relax.
5. In the upper right screen, you can change certain things. I left the Video Bitrate to normal and increased the Frame size to 320 by 244. The Voyager handles this size well. As for where the converted movie saves, you can put it in whatever folder on the PC you desire. I created a “3G movies” folder, and pointed the saves to it.
6. Hit the play button to start the conversion. Go get some coffee or lunch, this takes a little time.
7. After it is complete, go to the folder where the movie was saved in. You can rename the file to the movie title if you like.
Now you have a file that the phone can use, it must now be put into the phone. I tried to use tk, but it will not recognize the 3G format the movie is now in. What does work is to put it directly on the SD card via the PC.
1. If you have a new SD card, install it in your Behold to format it.
After the card has been formatted, the Behold will put folders on it. Now it can be used. Do not perform a standard PC format on it, do it in the phone.
2. Using USB Mass Storage, plug your phone into the PC using the USB cord. Open Tools, then USB Mass Storage. The phone will connect to the PC as another drive. If using a card reader, remove the card from the phone and install it into the PC card reader. It will be recognized as an additional data drive in My Computer”. Open the new drive. Open the “Videos” folder.
3. Open the folder where you put your burned movie in. Drag it over to the open Video folder.
4. If using a card reader, after copy is complete, remove the card from the PC and install it in the Behold. If using the phone as the reader, hit end under USB Mass Storage and unplug the phone from the PC.
FIN!
Pretty cool thing for a road trip. The average DVD conversion is around 110 to 120 MB, so quite a few can be put on an SD card. Using a car adapter on a long trip might be a good thing because I would assume the battery power will drain rather quickly.
I am still in awe how a micro SD card that is small enough for the dog to inhale can hold multiple full length movies. Makes me wonder what will be out in the next few years.
