Easy Tutorial: Optimize Movies for Xoom with Handbrake

By Booya Gadget

Are you trying to get your Video, DVD and Movie collection to play on your Android ? I've already done all the work for you and it is fairly simple.

I’ve tested the hell out of this and have it down cold. In this article I will show you everything you need to know. There seems to be some myth floating around that it’s too difficult with Handbrake which is FREE and OPEN SOURCE.  This couldn’t be more simple, and you don’t have to pay $9.99 for DVD Catalyst so you can have a 1-click setup.  Sorry Catalyst, I’m about to undercut your sales. Try this, and if you love it like me, then spend your money on sweet apps like Nesoid.

Handbrake does appear at a glimpse to be optimized for Apple iPad,iPhone,iPod but I use it for all my android devices.  You can do it too after reading this totally easy setup.  One of the best features about the Handbrake app is that you can batch up videos.  Yes, you can do the old “Set it and forget it”  like they do in the Ron Popeil pasta maker.  I do it all the time, you don’t have to have a degree from M.I.T. just relax and let Booya Rock you through this process, I promise it won’t hurt a bit.

Enough rambling, let’s walkthru step by step on how to set this up.  You will look back and laugh at the days “before you used Handbrake”.. I have no clue why people think this is tough, I’m tired of debating about it at the Forums. I will now remove your fears of using this simple tool, and one of my favorite applications for video conversion.  ** NOTE ** You can use Handbrake for other droid devices as well, this is specific for the Xoom, but it works, because I rock Handbrake to convert for my Windows Phone 7 AND myTouch 3G slide.

  1.  Download Handbrake for your PC ( multiple operating systems supported )
  2.  Fire up Handbrake, let’s setup a couple quick options for a good experience
  • Tools / Options and set a default Folder and naming convention. This places your conversions in nice folder, how about you call it: “Xoom Optimized Files” or “Droid Movies”  naming convention will set your vids so you don’t have to every time.  This is set it and forget it type stuff.
  • use default settings for *iphone iPod Touch*  Just start with this, we’ll change in a second.
Xoom Droid Movie Video Conversion how to Booya Gadget
Set a default folder
Xoom Android Movie Video conversion optimization
start with the defaults for iphone ipod touch
  1.  Create a damn Preset, this is the magic, See bottom right, “ADD”.. you can make your own profile optimized for YOUR DROID! Holy crap this is easy, WTF is the malfunction ?
start with defaults iphone ipod touch Preset booya gadget
Make a New preset with an appropriate name
  1.  If you’re all freaked out about storage, then limit the size by DEFAULT if you want.  I went as low as 500mb, but I think 750MB or 1GB is look the best.  I didn’t like the way “Hurt Locker” looked as 500MB, but I prefer Quantity over Quality.  This is a personal call.  Just test a few sizes, OR don’t limit the file size.  I converted BlueRay Iron Man and got it down to 2GB to me, that’s too big for a 32 GB wifi Xoom.  I converted the same file again, and restricted to 1GB..  I couldn’t tell the difference between that and 1GB and 2GB.  In business this is called diminishing returns or economy of scale for my fellow Business Graduates.
How To Xoom Movies-Video Handrake Tutorial Booya Gadget
Try 500, 750, MB or 1GB the lower the worse quality your call
  1.  Before you’re ready to rock, just double check that you max out the “picture” resolution, although this should already be complete if you correctly set this when creating your new Preset.  No worries, just click UP UP UP on the resolution setting, “KEEP ASPECT RATIO” should be checked, and if you’re rocking a Xoom, don’t go above 1280.   You’re actually ready to go now :)  but i’m gonna sell you on setting up a BATCH so you don’t have to do these manually. After your first successful test, or before ensure that you select PRESETS/SAVE PRESET.  Then you will have the video editing/rendering gift that gives the whole year round.
How To Xoom Movies-Video Handrake Batch mode Tutorial Booya Gadget
Queue it up for Batch Mode. Set it and Forget it
How To Xoom Movies-Video Handrake Tutorial Booya Gadget
batch mode, 1 click multiple flics
  1.  After your first test run, it’s time to copy this file to your Xoom or Droid.  Ignore the nasty gram message that the file copy gives you.  You will be enjoying this movie after the file copy.  If you’re eating popcorn, eat with your left hand so you don’t grease up your screen.  If you’re wondering about screen protectors, I use Skinomi TechSkin and like it very much, I’m thinking it could take a bullet.
How To Xoom Movies-Video Handrake Tutorial copy warning Booya Gadget
When copying Ignore this message, it works
Android optimized video example handbrake output booya gadget
Android optimized video example

A movie App that shows thumbnails and file names that I use is: mVideo Player this smokes the default video player.  Why don’t they make the default video player actually good ?  It’s worthless if you can’t see the name of the frigging file.  That really grinds my gears and raises my rage-meter to code-red.  This player is free, so virtual high five us in the comments if you are feeling this whole article and how helpful it was.

If something goes haywire, just double check your settings !!! This works, I have too many devices totally rocking my Movie Collection smooth and sweet for someone to convince me otherwise.

Get More Booya:

Follow us on twitter, while exploring our Xoom Videos on YouTube make sure to visit the rest of my articles on the Xoom and grab a taste of our many sweet sneak-peek pics on Flickr.  BOOYA !

You are now a Xoom video conversion expert.  I also recommend visiting and joining a Droid or Xoom related forum like Android Central I hang around there all the time.