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General discussion

Problem with Flip4Mac watermarking WMV files.

Jul 9, 2007 8:48AM PDT

OK, I have several WMV files I wish to convert over to DV using a program called MPEG Streamclip 1.8.

However, after I do so I am left with a watermark on the DV file that displays during play back (using QT Pro for playback) telling me I am using the trial version of Flip4Mac (I have version 2.1.1.70 on my iBook).

I have gone into the info panel for the WMV files and specified that the file should not use Flip4mac to play the file but that has made no difference. Furthermore, I can not get my mac to play these files using my old copy of Window Media Player for Mac - the program refuses to even open and crashes every time I try and open it.

I have done a bit of research and came up with this one forum post from Flip4Macs own forums...

http://forum.flip4mac.com/forum/messageview.aspx?catid=8&threadid=184

However, they are talking about the paid version which I do not have. All I have is the free player. If I throw Flip4Mac away, will my wmv files still be watermarked and my old player still crippled?

Anyone have tips or suggestions?

Thanks

grim

Discussion is locked

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The 29 buck question?
Jul 9, 2007 8:57AM PDT

It's a good product. I take it that it's not worth 29 bucks to you. As such you will have to try VLC Player but the experience isn't as good.

Bob

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Playback is not the issue Bob.
Jul 9, 2007 9:32AM PDT

I captured these wmv files from a clients website because he wants to include them with a compilation video of his work he plans on using on a video display at comic-con in a few weeks.

I am not using Flip4Mac for playback of these WMV's. I am taking the WMV file itself... converting it over to DV and then using it in both iMovie and iDVD. The watermark is showing up in the finished product from iMovie and iDVD.

However, it appears that just because I have Flip4Mac on my iBook then all my WMV files will be watermarked now... even if the file was never played through Flip4Mac. I'm assuming that if Flip4Mac was not on my computer then these files would not be watermarked. Am I wrong?

Don't get me wrong, I think it's a great program and have recommended the free player to all my mac using friends. I just use it for playback though. I have no desire to edit in WMV and thus the reason why I took the files and converted them.

I kind of feel like someone gave me a free cup of coffee and told me afterwards that it was poisoned and if I want the antidote I have to pay. It was a good cup of coffee but I would have thought twice if I had known how big the tip they were expecting was going to be.

I'm curious... if anyone out there used Windows Media Player first, before they downloaded the Flip4Mac Plugin... Is your WMP now disabled like mine is or will it still play despite having the free Flip4Mac on your computer.

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It is an issue.
Jul 9, 2007 9:38AM PDT

You can use VLC Player to see if the watermark is there to stay or just because you are using the trial version.

Bob

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Playback with VLC...
Jul 9, 2007 11:08AM PDT

The file converted to DV using the MPEG Streamclip program does show a watermark.

The original WMV file does not.

In addition, the MPEG Streamclip program now says that the WMV format is not supported and refuses to open the file altogether.

I just now used Media Convert to upload and convert the file over to MPEG-4. The results are not as good as the Stream Clip program produced (which was DV output) but they don't have a watermark.

Results of Media Convert site can be downloaded here for 24 hours...

http://w4.media-convert.com/convert/?xid=vxufroxt

BTW... Thanks for your input Bob.

Looks like I will have to pay for the Flip4Mac program if I want to continue using wmv files on my mac. Where did you see the program selling for $29.00? all I saw was the pro version selling for $49.00.

I will also try converting this on my PC before buying F4M pro. Can you advise any good and (preferably free) programs for the winbox that will convert WMV files into DV?

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Interesting...
Jul 9, 2007 11:47AM PDT

From the MPEG Streamclip manual...

To open WMV files, you can install the free Flip4Mac WMV Player from http://www.flip4mac.com/ . Export to WMV is not supported yet.

I started this project on Saturday and the MPEG StreamClip program did convert the files, albeit leaving a watermark behind. Now the program wont even recognize the WMV files as a supported file. I going to check on Flip4Mac's forums further re: the issue and I may just delete and reload the program to see if there is some improvement but I think I may end up having to buy the pro version despite the fact that Squared 5 says the free version of Flip4Mac should work.

We shall see what we shall see.

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I wonder.
Jul 9, 2007 12:03PM PDT

Did you try VLC Player's conversion tool?

Bob

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Not yet...
Jul 9, 2007 1:14PM PDT

... I will need to read up on how to use it since I've never accessed that part of VLC before.

BTW... I uninstalled Flip4Mac and reinstalled the oldest version they had available on their website... 1.0.2 I believe it is.

It now works with MPEG ClipStream where as before Clipstream said the file format was unsupported. The video playback is not as clean but now the program (MPEG ClipStream) once again recognizes WMV files as compatible.

PS... ON the F4M forums, a moderator suggested MPEG Clipstream to a another person as a compatible program to convert one video format to another when used with Flip4Mac. Not sure if it was the paid version though.

I saw the $29.00 version... not sure why I missed it before. Still, I'm hesitant to buy the new updated version if the free version refuses to work with other programs that are supposed to be compatible with it.

Reason why I keep referencing back to the ClipStream program is because the interface is clean and the conversion preferences are as straight forward as I have seen, including conversion to pal, ntsc, wide screen and 3:4, etc, etc.

Talk at you later.

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Oct 29, 2007 4:54PM PDT

I can imagine a conversation going on a few years ago between Gates and Jobs:

BG"You want to compete with Microsoft by making your own browser? OK, we will charge you $XXXX for providing the WMV plugin."
SJ: "Forget it. This isn't the type of industry where you charge me for WMV or I charge you for QuickTime."
BG: "Suit yourself."

A couple of years later, between Gates and Flip4Mac:

BG: "We will license WMV codec for QuickTime to you for $XXXX."
F4M: "How do we get revenue to pay you?"
BG: "Make people pay to use the content downloaded by the plugin."
F4M: "How can we possibly do that?"
BG: "Simple. You offer the plugin 'FREE' at first. But you build in a time bomb that breaks its free status after X days. Now the plugin will proactively alter any and all downloaded content by embedding an ugly watermark over the video when anyone tries to edit the content."
F4M: "But if we don't own the content, is it legal for us to alter it for our own selfish purposes?"
BG: "You are only preventing the people who download the content from editing it when they have no permission to do so. Is it legal for them to edit, is it legal for you to prevent it-- We'll let the lawyers and the Justice Department sort that out. If I worried too much about what is legal, where would I be today?"