Codecs for Video Playback (Jailbroken 3GS/3.0 FW)

[Agent 21]

Ok so when I click a video link and it asks me if I want to download or play in the media player I pretty much HAVE to DL it because 98% of the time if I try to just play it in the media player it goes crazy. The "status bar" (where it says AT&T, the time, battery life, etc) switches to the side like I'm holding the phone in landscape view (I'm not) and the actual video controls stay in portrait and then the screen goes black and just the audio plays. I click "done" to end the playback since I can't see anything, and it "exits" the video, but then like a minute or so later the audio from the video starts to play again, no matter what I'm doing, be it on the homescreen or browsing Safari, and I can't go view the video because it's not actually "open". If I go to dTunes and click media player (where they normally play), there's nothing there, yet the audio is playing. I don't want to DL every video I wanna watch online. They are acting like a PC does when you don't have the right codec, do codecs even exist/apply to the iPhone, and if so where do I get them? If not, any ideas why this is happening? Could it be a compatibility issue with 3.0?

 

[ignus graius]

Ok so when I click a video link and it asks me if I want to download or play in the media player I pretty much HAVE to DL it because 98% of the time if I try to just play it in the media player it goes crazy. The "status bar" (where it says AT&T, the time, battery life, etc) switches to the side like I'm holding the phone in landscape view (I'm not) and the actual video controls stay in portrait and then the screen goes black and just the audio plays. I click "done" to end the playback since I can't see anything, and it "exits" the video, but then like a minute or so later the audio from the video starts to play again, no matter what I'm doing, be it on the homescreen or browsing Safari, and I can't go view the video because it's not actually "open". If I go to dTunes and click media player (where they normally play), there's nothing there, yet the audio is playing. I don't want to DL every video I wanna watch online. They are acting like a PC does when you don't have the right codec, do codecs even exist/apply to the iPhone, and if so where do I get them? If not, any ideas why this is happening? Could it be a compatibility issue with 3.0?

I disable the Safari DL plugin when I'm not using for this reason. You can download a toggle in Cydia.

Also, if you're having trouble using dTunes to play a video, I'd suggest AVPlayer, which is basically a frontend for the iPhone's default media player. If that doesn't work, grab mplayer

 

[Agent 21]

Hey thanks for the info. I'll try disabling the Safari DL. I don't have trouble playing anything in dTunes that I DL, it all goes right to the folder and I just click the file and it plays perfectly. It's just for some reason I can no longer just watch a video, it does the weird things I mentioned above. I HAVE to DL it then go watch it in dTunes.

*EDIT* so I just looked in Cydia. The SBSetting Safari DL toggle says "note that using this toggle will kill Safari". What exactly does that mean lol? Also, how do I know if I even have the Safari DL plug-In to begin with? I never installed that, but after installing the dTunes package I get the "download" or "play in media player" options. I always assumed this was a dTunes feature, but is this in fact the Safari plug-in, did it just DL as part of the dTunes package?

 

[ghcmonkey]

Sweet. I had this exact same problem and deleting the safari download plugin fixed everything. Thanks!

 

[ignus graius]

Hey thanks for the info. I'll try disabling the Safari DL. I don't have trouble playing anything in dTunes that I DL, it all goes right to the folder and I just click the file and it plays perfectly. It's just for some reason I can no longer just watch a video, it does the weird things I mentioned above. I HAVE to DL it then go watch it in dTunes.

*EDIT* so I just looked in Cydia. The SBSetting Safari DL toggle says "note that using this toggle will kill Safari". What exactly does that mean lol? Also, how do I know if I even have the Safari DL plug-In to begin with? I never installed that, but after installing the dTunes package I get the "download" or "play in media player" options. I always assumed this was a dTunes feature, but is this in fact the Safari plug-in, did it just DL as part of the dTunes package?

Yes, the Safari DL plugin is automatically included with dTunes. Also note that you'll need SBSettings (or BossPrefs) to use it. I personally have it switched off until I wish to use it.

"Kill Safari" means it clears the cache of loaded pages and you have to reload the page you were on--so if you're logged into a site you'll probably have to re-enter your password when you open Safari back up. You don't lose the actual Safari app by using this, nor do you lose history or bookmarks.

 

[Agent 21]

Yes, the Safari DL plugin is automatically included with dTunes. Also note that you'll need SBSettings (or BossPrefs) to use it. I personally have it switched off until I wish to use it.

"Kill Safari" means it clears the cache of loaded pages and you have to reload the page you were on--so if you're logged into a site you'll probably have to re-enter your password when you open Safari back up. You don't lose the actual Safari app by using this, nor do you lose history or bookmarks.

Ah OK, thanks for all the help. I do have SBSettings so I'll get the toggle. Thanks again for the info.