Kerplunk! Kersplat! » xbox 360

Handbrake

Craig — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 12:05:22 +0000

I have switched from using DVDFab to encode DVDs into MP4, instead now I am using a combination of Handbrake and AnyDVD. I have also used Handbrake and RipIt on the Mac. I was having really odd problems with how the MP4s appeared when I played them back over the network on my XBox 360. It took a little experimentation to get the settings exactly right, but I eventually found that if I put the average bitrate to 1463 for the video that it wouldn’t have any problems with playback. I have got into the flow of encoding at least 10 discs a day, so I won’t ever have the problem ever again of having a damaged disc due to little grubby fingers. :)

http://handbrake.fr/

http://thelittleappfactory.com/ripit/

http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvd.html

No more scratched discs!

Craig — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:17:00 +0000

With a baby crawling around, I soon realised that I had to come up with some way of putting movies onto a device which cannot be accessed by the baby. I already had a Netgear ReadyNAS storing shared files such as my iTunes library and pictures, so I installed Twonky Media server onto the Ready NAS and then started encoding DVDs using DVDFab. This allows for the movies to be played on an XBox through the Video Library and when organised into folders, is like selecting a movie in a hotel room. The only drawback is that you need to use powerline devices otherwise you don’t have enough speed, especially over Wifi and you have to encode all your movies into files. I am still encoding movies even now I hope one day I will have them all stored away in a draw and be able to select a movie off a 100Tb ReadyNAS and will train the baby, who by this point with be an teenger to encode the movies for me. ;)

http://www.netgear.co.uk/desktop_network_storage_rnd4210.php?src=home

http://www.dvdfab.com/

http://www.netgear.co.uk/wallplugged_adapterkit_hdxb101.php

Rockband

Craig — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:09:16 +0000

We had got used to playing Guitar Hero on the PS3 and then we thought we would try Rockband. I actually prefer it, besides introducing the ability to sing for anyone with no coordination, it also introduces the really difficult drumming. I only wished that the drum kit could be raised higher, as for someone of my height I end up hitting the rim of the drums instead of the pads. I think the selection of music available for Rockband is better. I cannot wait to see what Rockband 2 is like.

http://www.rockband.com/