Ubuntu Questions.

Meloco

Meloco

Meloco

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Joined
25 Dec 2005
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1,275
Location
Kent
Just 2 questions/problems I am having at the moment.

1) Every film I try and play back I get constant flashing (tried with VLC, Mplayer, and default movie player)

2) How do I get themes to work :)??
 
1) Try setting the video output module to X11 in the options.

2) Download the tarball. Open up the Appearance utility. Click the Install or Add or whatever the button in the lower right says. :p Select the tarball, OK it, and select the theme from the menu to use it. That's pretty much all there is.
 
Thanks, I tried the X11 (googled after i posted :p). It seems to be working now thanks :D.

Also, I swear in previous releases in system - > preferences there was an option for visuals (where you could tweak each visual) it seems to have disappeared? All I am able to do now is select from 3 different options, rather than customise fully what extra visuals I want.
 
You do, as always, have to install the compizconfig-settings-manager package to get extra Compiz configuration options. That'll get you the options for all the really gee-whiz effects like the spinning cube, floating windows, partial transparency, and miniature fiery explosions. Go nuts. :D
 
Thanks for the help :-).

For anyone else new, there are some amazing programs to be found in:

Applications -> Add/Remove - > click on drop down bar, select all available applications.
 
Meloco said:
Thanks for the help :-).

For anyone else new, there are some amazing programs to be found in:

Applications -> Add/Remove - > click on drop down bar, select all available applications.
Click to expand...

Aye i noticed that too, currently tinkering with virtualbox, if i can get that working how i want i will basically only ever need windows again for playing games (something i only ever do once a month at most these days)
 
Getting a new problem with playing films.

If I try and skip a film it will nearly always cut out after a few seconds?
 
Meloco said:
It exits the film, and just shows the main player/splash screen.
Click to expand...

All players or just a particular one? What is the source? DVD?


p.s. Were you ever in #Lomac on IRC?

Edit : NM. Your trust e-mail suggests that you were. Small world, lol. :p
 
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eXor said:
All players or just a particular one? What is the source? DVD?


p.s. Were you ever in #Lomac on IRC?

Edit : NM. Your trust e-mail suggests that you were. Small world, lol. :p
Click to expand...


Yes i was :D. Still play it on hyperlobby sometimes.

It's with all players, and it happens with .avi's / .mkv's. Not tried DVD's yet.
 
Some players crash if you skip through large files too fast. Usually when they're not indexed properly. Don't worry about it, it happens from time to time.

Try some other players and update your codec libs when you can.

Now, if you are using a video card that has hardware acceleration do not set your display mode to x11 in VLC or whtever. Unless you are OK with terrible looking video of course.
Install an app called Compiz-icon. It runs in your tray.
Click this and select metacity as window manager, then run your video.

The flickering is due to Compiz desktop effects conflicting with the video. This should be fixed in few months but it's complicated so use this workaround.
 
yashiro said:
Some players crash if you skip through large files too fast. Usually when they're not indexed properly. Don't worry about it, it happens from time to time.

Try some other players and update your codec libs when you can.

Now, if you are using a video card that has hardware acceleration do not set your display mode to x11 in VLC or whtever. Unless you are OK with terrible looking video of course.
Install an app called Compiz-icon. It runs in your tray.
Click this and select metacity as window manager, then run your video.

The flickering is due to Compiz desktop effects conflicting with the video. This should be fixed in few months but it's complicated so use this workaround.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much, i was using the X11 codec due to flickering, But I will try this workaround instead.

Is there any way to index my files on Ubuntu?
 
By default there is an indexing daemon running, I believe.
System Menu, Preferences, Search and Indexing.

To use this effectively you might want to right click a panel (the bars on the screen) and add the Search for Files applet.
Places Menu, Search for Files can also be used.
 
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Thanks, the vid workaround appears to be working. But, unfortunately, still when playing back video if I want to skip to a certain part of the film it just locks up and then goes back to the vlc splash screen (or whichever player i'm using).

Btw, if you switch to vista, then back to ubuntu is it supposed to revert back to a 'default'. ?

edit: My search indexing wasn't on by default. But now is.
 
Meloco said:
Thanks, the vid workaround appears to be working. But, unfortunately, still when playing back video if I want to skip to a certain part of the film it just locks up and then goes back to the vlc splash screen (or whichever player i'm using).

Btw, if you switch to vista, then back to ubuntu is it supposed to revert back to a 'default'. ?

edit: My search indexing wasn't on by default. But now is.
Click to expand...

I'm setting up mplayer on Debian ( Lenny ). I'll test if I am able to seek without problems.
 
eXor said:
I'm setting up mplayer on Debian ( Lenny ). I'll test if I am able to seek without problems.
Click to expand...

Could you also let me know which codec you are using (as the majority seem to be X11)

Edit: In ubuntu, the original movie player seems to be working fine, in terms of skipping to which part of the film I want to go. VLC still has a problem.
 
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I tested rapid seeking in both (S)Mplayer and VLC. Mplayer was flawless, VLC paused for a second or two. Neither Mplayer nor VLC crashed or stopped playing.

Smplayer is sweet. If you exit a movie in the middle of playback, when you reopen it, playback continues from where you left off.

Codecs were :

Max Payne Trailer | video : avc1 | audio : mp4a | VLC
Max Payne Trailer | video : ffh264 | audio : AAC | Mplayer

Dolby Canyon Trailer | video : mpgv | audio : mp4a | VLC
Dolby Canyon Trailer | video : mpeg12 | audio : a52 | Mplayer


I only played two files, so the results are inconclusive.
 
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