Want to watch complete DVD's, recorded TV series or other video images on your TomTom PND? As of today, this is possible with Media Studio for TomTom 1.0, created by
Makayama Interactive. This software, which is currently only available for the GO Classic, GO 300, GO 500 and GO 700 can be downloaded from Makayama's site for the price of ¤ 29,95 (£ 20).
Formats
Makayama has developed a technology which is able to fit 100 minutes of video on an (empty) 128 MB SD-card. The video and audio can be converted from harddisk, CD, DVD or any other removable storage device, and the software supports almost all popular video formats like AVI, MPEG1, MPEG4, DivX, XVID, VOB and ASF. After the conversion is done, an MPEG4 file is transferred to the TomTom PND via USB.
The company claims that a complete movie can be converted and transferred in 45 minutes from DVD to your TomTom PND.
Safety
To make sure traffic safety isn't compromised by the new video function, Makayama has implemented an option which stops the video play from the moment the PND detects that it is in motion. But for those who want to use it to keep the kids quiet in the back seat, the option can also be disabled...
The software runs on Windows XP/2000/NT/Vista and there is a demo version available on Makayama's website which allows for three minutes of video to be converted. As stated, this version 1.0 is only suited for the TomTom GO Classic, the GO 300, GO 500 and GO 700 for now. Makayama is currently working on support for the ONE, RIDER, GO 510, GO 710 and GO 910.
Other news:
March 2
Posted on: June 1, 2006 - 13:27 hour
By:
bryce
When this is loaded and not working (as you are driving!) will my GO 700 work as normal or are files changed which preclude the use of my 700 in its normal sat nav mode when this software is loaded??
Cheers,
Posted on: June 1, 2006 - 17:35 hour
By:
Mills
I'm a bit confused. While I can't try the demo out till I get home tonight, it looks like all this software does is convert video... right?
So, once it's on the TomTom, how do we play it? Has anyone tried this out yet?
Posted on: June 1, 2006 - 21:36 hour
By:
btonetbone
I downloaded and installed the demo last night and it worked perfectly! I am very impressed. And to make this even more dangerously intriguing, you can convert Tivo files to an mpeg using any number of separate programs and then load them onto your Tomtom giving yourself full access to just about anything on tv.
The program is not something I can foresee myself ever using regularly, but it may help make long trips more entertaining for your passengers.
It works by adding a menu item called "Player" which you have to select to view the videos. The demo version allosw you to convert 3 minute clips to give you a taste of the full potential.
Posted on: June 1, 2006 - 23:45 hour
By:
Bog
I installed this on my GO300 last night (the demo) and it works fine for about 1 min and then re-boots the unit. Not very impressed!!!
Posted on: June 2, 2006 - 01:49 hour
By:
mike5718
I installed it on my 300 last night. It had to downgrade my firmware from 5.42 to 5.2 (I think). It is really cool. I want to get a 2 gig SD card so that I can have some nice videos as wel as my maps. You can install it on a separate SD card if you want to keep your map SD untouched. The only ONE thing that I see wrong is that the Video is a little sluggish. I am not sure if it is a processor issue or compression of the video.
Posted on: June 2, 2006 - 17:57 hour
By:
rithmanavy
This program only works with OS 5.2. A downgrade from higher OS versions is required by the setup program.
Poor video, jerky motion.
Low sound volume even at highest setting, not loud enough for a noisy car interior.
Still containing bugs, locking up several times, requiring a hard reset once.
Sorry that I bought the software without trying it out first--still trying to get a refund if they let me.
Posted on: June 2, 2006 - 19:29 hour
By:
Zuke
I think this is best put on a spare SD card - the application will put the TTG system on for you if the card is blank. However as the previous two posters said, the playback is very jerky. I thought it was due to inadequate CPU performance, but if you play the AVi files created in Windows Media Player (if you've got the right codec installed), they're not much better. No real practical value IMHO
( and the sound was too quiet as well...)
[b][size=7]
DO NOT BE FOOLED INTO BUYING THIS PRODUCT, FOR ME IT WILL NOT WORK AT ALL!!!!
Posted on: June 3, 2006 - 13:41 hour
By:
Zuke
Probably best to continue ongoing comments on
this thread on the main TTG forum so that more people will see them.
Further to my last post-
I must say sorry to Makayama, my copy will not convert any of my DVD's, even home movies.
However, I have found I can install from my Archos AV700, and the results are not bad.
Sorry if I misled anyone.
Ia Silverton
You need a fast SD-card for the best video quality. I used an old card that I had lying round and video was choppy, but then I put it on a newer 12xspeed card and it's fine now.
I don't agree with the other posters. I think this is great software. DVD conversions are fast, filesizes small and it gives new use to my sat nav. Video quality is not DVD like, but what can you expect. It's good enough for some tv and movie viewing on a business trip or holiday.
Posted on: June 16, 2006 - 05:48 hour
By:
pumaboise
Let C
Posted on: August 8, 2006 - 23:56 hour
By:
buckmstr
After an initial hiccup (due to a pecular setting in Internet Explorer of all things!), I've installed the software. I got a 1G SD card and am watching a DVD of Paul McCartney's world tour from a couple of years ago - the sound quality is not hi-fi but then what can you expect from a mere GO300? The vision quality is reasonable - it won't win an Oscar but again for a 3.5 inch screen what more do you want?!
I think the investment in teh software will prove worthwhile - at least it saves me spending a lot more to buy a portable DVD player, and provides an alternative use for the GO when I don't need a satnav!
What's more, while the passenger watched the vidoe, I can listen to the soundtrack!
A public thank you to Vincent of Makayama for helping overcome the IE problem that prevented me installin gthe program.
Posted on: August 22, 2006 - 07:36 hour
By:
jmjerome
hey buckmstr
I'm having an issue with my IE and I don't know how to get around it.
Can you tell me what you did to get to the activation?
Thanks,
Jeff
21-03
