Storing ‘films’ on our Hudl2 SD card

[pcatterall]

Our hudl has 16gb of ‘built in memory’ and has a 30gb external SD card.

We thought we could download TV and purchased films to take with us on holiday.
There is not a massive amount of space left on the internal memory so I thought I would be able to just move the film stuff to the external card.
I now realise that this is no simple matter. On reflection the ‘owners’ of the data are hardly likely to want their material copied so easilly and will try to ensure that the films can only be read by the device it was downloaded to.
I spent hours yesterday trying to copy data over, there seem to be 3 elements to each ‘film’ ...a small jpeg image indicating the films content, a large file containing the films data and another file. I did wonder if I could just copy over the data element and then, when we wanted to watch that particular film, copy that back to its correct place.
I did try this and will have another go starting with an empty SD card.
( another side issue seems to be that I can transfer whole folders accross to the SD and then back but the empty folder stays on the SD card and cannot be deleted unless I put the SD card into my PC.

 

[Kylora]

I downloaded an app, "ES File Explorer"

Open the app, open the "Downloads" folder, press and hold file icon, press more, then 'move to', click the appropriate folder, then 'ok'.

Iirc, the Hudl2 can be set to download to the SD card, but would need to check.

Ash

Edit, I'm talking about videos downloaded from Vimeo, which might be different.

 

[KevO]

I transferred many dozens of movies across to my 64gb SD card on my Hudl 2. They are all in MPEG 4 format I think. I play them with either VLC or ES Media player with no problems. I downloaded them across using the USB connection from my lappie. Maybe you need to try to convert them from whatever format they are currently in with a free online converter?

 

[pcatterall]

Thanks for assuring me that there is 'a way'!! Could be that I was playing with hired films which had special 'copy protection'. I will experiment more!

 

[Norman_E]

If you have not done so you should install the latest Hudl 2 software update (Version 1.2) Details here http://ttselectrical.custhelp.com/a...2LzEvdGltZS8xNDI2NDk0ODU2L3NpZC9yNTV6bXJobQ==
It enables you to transfer some apps to the SD card.

 

[Burnham Bob]

Of course, the 'ripping' of copyright dvds you don't own is a very dubious practice, but I am informed that the people that do participate in that malfeasance use an aplication called freemake video converter

http://www.freemake.com/free_video_converter/

Like most 'free' programs whilst the program itself is free from viruses, installing it comes with several programs that you don't want. They aren't viruses but they change your home page etc and search engine. The way to avoid this is to choose 'custom installation' and untick the boxes that offer the unwanted programs.

I am told that the video converter can bypass copy protection automatically. In fact I just tested it on a dvd I own (the law is now ok if you own a dvd and want to make a back up to view on another device) and it opened the dvd but I did not convert it as it takes a while on a pc. The program has a preset for android and will make a condensed file that fits on your hudl. A simple usb connection to your pc will open the hudl and you can copy the file to 'movies'. MX Player is a good choice for a free android player. There are several free file manager programs that you can find on the Playstore that will move files to sd cards etc.

As I say, ripping dvds you own is okay. The process known as 'Rent Rip and Return' is still frowned on - but then you wouldn't do that would you?

 

[earlybird]

Judging from the actions of some I know, "Rent, Rip & Return" isn't necessary anyway. File-sharing is cheaper!!
Any-one ever been prosecuted?

 

[pcatterall]

Thanks to you guys I’m making a little progress.
I confirm that I have the suggested hudl update and I have a similar file manager app to that suggested.
It seems clear as I find my way around the system that some ‘’films’ will transfer across and back with no problem ( just BBC iPlayer ) all the rest will not ..blinkbox and 4 on demand.
I guess it may be simpler to download films to my PC then transfer across to the sd card ( using a lead or by moving the sd card between devices.
Can anyone recommend a good safe site where I can download free or pay for films. I see lots of sites on the net but am concerned that some may be dodgy ( spyware and so on!!)
Thanks again

 

[Burnham Bob]

It depends what you want to do. As you say, the key is to get the films first on your PC and then transfer them to the Hudl using a simple usb conection. Simply storing films to watch on board is easy if you already have the dvd - as explained above. Ebay is an excellent source of used dvds which is all you need. Buying a film on blinkbox costs more than the same dvd second hand. You also have the option of buying Ultraviolet codes which are the download verfifications for movies that come with dvds these days. People buy the dvds, rip them and then sell the code which is the 'key' to the electronic version for viewing on mobile devices. The problem with blinkbox and 4OD is that they are basically streaming services so you need an internet connection to use them. Iplayer is designed to let you download and watch offline. If you are a Sky customer then SkyGo Extra allows you to download stuff for watching offline too. If you want to watch recent films, then streaming is the most likely way you'll get them - Netflix, Blinkbox or Amazon Prime - but that's no use on the boat with no internet. 'Rent Rip and Return' is also an option but as discussed above you wouldn't do that would you? To take a load of dvds onto the boat, buying second hand dvds and ripping them is the simplest option. I buy them at charity shops too - often a Pound or so and you'll find some only a few years old.

As for file sharing referred to above. that is a dubious practice usually called Piracy! I wouldn't know myself but its possible apparently to download movies via torrents. That is a system whereby lots of different people have a movie on their computer and the torrent program downloads fragments from each of them. Apparently the people that do this have a torrent client - this explains a little more. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_BitTorrent_clients

You'd be amazed at the number of recent films available in pirated form - or so I am told. What you get is an avi file. mp4 file or a mkv file that will play on the hudl (at least that's what the guy in the pub said and sorry I wouldn't recognise him again Officer.....). As for viruses etc, whenever you install a free program use 'custom installation' as described above and make sure you read all the small print in the boxes! Adware and browser hijackers are more likely to come with free programs than viruses as such. They are programs that you have to install - although the option not to install them is usually well hidden. McAfee is the antivirus system I use and it scans files as you download them to stop virus loaded files. If you were to - and I'm sure you won't - download a pirate movie the guy in the pub suggested scanning the file for viruses before you open it but he said that he'd never had a virus from any of the files he downloaded.

 

[elton]

You'd be amazed at the number of recent films available in pirated form - or so I am told. What you get is an avi file. mp4 file or a mkv file that will play on the hudl (at least that's what the guy in the pub said and sorry I wouldn't recognise him again Officer.....). As for viruses etc, whenever you install a free program use 'custom installation' as described above and make sure you read all the small print in the boxes! Adware and browser hijackers are more likely to come with free programs than viruses as such. They are programs that you have to install - although the option not to install them is usually well hidden. McAfee is the antivirus system I use and it scans files as you download them to stop virus loaded files. If you were to - and I'm sure you won't - download a pirate movie the guy in the pub suggested scanning the file for viruses before you open it but he said that he'd never had a virus from any of the files he downloaded.

Just a small point, but there's no need to worry about viruses from media files. As long as they have a media extension, .avi, .mp4 etc., they cannot execute therefore cannot infect, or otherwise cause a problem. The only possible threat from a supposed media file would arise if it were contained in a ZIP file or similar, which can carry a virus executable. In other words, any ZIP file from an unknown source is to be avoided.

 

[Burnham Bob]

well said elton but these days windows for some reason often hides file extensions for 'known file types' . i always restore the 'proper' setting so i can see the extnesion but i agree if it really is a media file its not an exe or a zip threat.