720x576 aspect ratio problem

[DMD]

This is the original file taken from the Video Essentials DVD (Joe Kane)
http://www.videoessentials.com/products/video-essentials-dvd/

Try this file on your PC, with any software player there is no problem.
With HiMedia OFW 2.1.4 Slightly distorted image
http://www.mediafire.com/file/tk74za2iiti2ewr/Snell%2526_Wilcox__4.3_720x576_25_fps.rar/file

[Mount81]

Yes, sadly with this new test file it appears to be squeezed a bit by HiMedia Player, as PC and KODI plays back normally. Newer noticed during playback of my regular 4:3 SD videos, maybe cause that it appears just a bit of a squeeze, but it seems like it's present...

Futeko: Please take that also on the buglist to be reported to HIMedia (if there would be any new FW's, but hope so, these "holes" can't be left without patching...)

[DMD]

I am in crisis and I cannot understand a simple reasoning, why a 4: 3 format video with 720x 576 pixel resolution (ratio 1.25) can be seen with the right proportions between stand-alone DVD player and TV, between PC software player and monitor?
I don't understand how a 1.25 (pixel resolution) ratio can match perfectly with the aspect ratio of 1.34 (4: 3)
I think the latest HiMedia firmware from 2.05 onwards do this kind of reasoning.
I do not know what to think. 

Perhaps the reasoning is this, if I'm not mistaken:
The display aspect ratio (DAR) and the storage aspect ratio (SAR) defines the overall format of storing and displaying a movie, which can be represented by the following formula: PAR = DAR/SAR
While in the traditional films DAR and SAR coincide and therefore PAR = 1 (square pixels), this does not happen in the anamorphic video where the image is compressed in width and we have a PAR> 1.

    DVD PAL standard: PAR 1,066
    DVD PAL  anamorphic: PAR 1,422
    DVD NTSC standard: PAR 0,888
    DVD NTSC anamorphic: PAR 1,185

It would take a patch to get the SAR read from the file, As already mentioned by pcristi

[DMD]

To temporarily solve the problem, either downgrade to version 2.0.4 or upscaling files with aspect ratio 4: 3 

[Mount81]

Neither an option, and upscalling (re-encode) will reduce quality, specially in the case of interlaced videos.

Is the squeeze the same in the case of 4:3 DVD iso's?

Maybe for "simple" 4:3 avi's and mkv's there would be some other apps, like MX or Archos player that wouldn't squeeze the picture? Maybe worth to check it out.

[DMD]

II use Adobe Premiere for upsacalare from 720x576 interlaced to 1280x720 progressive, with codec AVC (format H264) with average bitare of 10-12 mb/ s.
I also apply the anti-flicker filter (integrated in Premiere) for interlaced mode.
The theoretical loss that exists, however, is very irrelevant for practical purposes.

[Mount81]

You will loose the motion smoothness advantages in the case of interlaced videos if you "downgrade" them i.e. 50fps to 25fps.

But: have tried MX Player with the upper problematic test video and the aspect ratio displayed correctly, no squeeze at all.  So I guess I will use this option somehow (it easily can be also integrated in KODI to launch only SD videos with this resolution).

The only thing i'm not convinced about yet, if it has as good PQ as the HiMedia Player.  Will dig in deeper in it's Settings and options if there's a way to max out it's PQ on the HiMedia Box (there are a plenty decoder and even interlacing options). 

And also will have a try with Archos Player. Will see witch one is better. 

[DMD]

The HiMedia player for me is unsurpassed as a quality and is my favorite, so I regret that they have not solved the bug.
MX Player doesn't seem to be up to date and of lower quality.

[DMD]

8 firmware have been released and I think the problem will no longer be solved.
At this point, in my opinion, it is to find a player at the height of the videoplayer and set it using a wrapper for 4: 3 video files.
Otherwise I don't see a solution unless I make the upscale @ 720p for all 720x576 4: 3 videos to be stored on HDD.

[Mount81]

At this point, in my opinion, it is to find a player at the height of the videoplayer and set it using a wrapper for 4: 3 video files.

Already mentioned MX Player, I can get the best result using HW+ decoder. Archos Player does seem to struggle and stutter hardly with my test SD videos (don't know why, maybe because the codecs), so it's a no-go. But if you've find any other better Player for the purpose don't forget to drop a line here.

[DMD]

I will certainly do so, although I find it very difficult to find a worthy replacement for the videoplayer.
Not even the internal Kodi player is at the same level as the videoplayer.

[Mount81]

MX Player widely mentioned as one of the best SOC independent Android player. Maybe SMPC and VLC could also worth a try. Remember that these might have multiple different options for acceleration and decoders to use. I.e. SMPC will have a few different options for deinterlacing methods as well. Also has MX player. So maybe if it won't go as well at first run, it may worth to have a look at the Settings.

[DMD]

I don't know if I'm crazy to find a worthy player that can replace Videoplayer, or transcode all the 720x576 material to 720p.

[DMD]

I'm seriously thinking at this point without going crazy, reinstalling the 2.0.4 firmware and keeping it in these conditions until the bug is fixed or I will replace the Q10pro with another multimedia player.
I do not want and it is impossible to transcode all the pal material I collected in these years, and not even settle for players inferior to Videoplayer.
I'm sorry for HiMedia, I thought they took these bugs into consideration, obviously not considering them relevant.

[pcristi]

OK. Let as know a model of media player witch do proper job for 576i SAR 16:9 and 576i SAR 4:3.
As I written already here HiMedia FW 2.0.4 are just more conformable version as play by default 576i video in full screen.