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Converting MKV Fansubs to iPhone or iPad using Handbrake


Getting fansubs on a iPhone or iPad can be a difficult process that requires a person to unmux and then reencode to a compatible format so it can be used on mobile devices. Since iOS do not have mplayer and the VLC app on iOS is unsuitable for fansubs, it could be frustrating. However, there is a program called Handbrake, which can hardcode the subs while maintaining the chapters the MKV has. Since the program can be used on any platform, everyone can use it.

Requirements:

  • A nightly build of Handbrake, which can be obtained here
  • Fansub to convert

To convert…

  1. Open Handbrake and choose your fansub.
  2. Select the preset for your device.
  3. Go to the Subtitles page and then select the “English – (Text) (SSA)”
  4. Uncheck “Forced Only” and check “Burned In”
  5. Click Start and it should start encoding. After it’s done, transfer to your device and enjoy.

Caveats

  • While the custom typeface works, the SSA effects don’t. This includes shadows and text effects.
  • Encoding can take a while, unless you have a fast CPU
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WPTouch Pro 2.1 First Impressions

I have been using WPTouch Pro since June 2010 since I am a heavy user of my iPhone and it works great. It allows me to use threaded comments when I write comments on the iPhone and load the site without waiting it to load. Mobile Themes are becoming more important since AT&T and soon Verizon would be getting rid of Unlimited Data Plans. As a result, having an optimized site for mobile users will use the data plan more efficiently since its not loading all the bloat from the full theme.

Today, BraveNewCode has released a beta of WPTouch Pro 2.1 that adds iPad support along with other features. Overall, it captures the multitouch experience rather nicely even though it wasn’t necessary since the desktop theme loaded fine. Even so, I wanted to provide users options.

Its worth nothing that this theme isn’t limited to iPad, but it works on the Amazon Kindle too. In the future, they will probably add support for the Samsung Galaxy Tab and RIM’s BlackBerry Playbook. I’m quite interested on how WPTouch iPad theme would operate on these devices.

Even though there is an iPad theme called Padpress, I decided against that since it costs too much money and I knew that the guys at BraveNewCode would make the iPad browsing experience better for a lot less ($29 opposed to $49).

Chikorita157’s Anime Blog and Shiori’s Diary has the iPad theme enabled, so go ahead and try it out for yourself if you own a iPad or a Kindle.

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Goodbye MyWi4.. Hello iTether!

Previously, I used a questionable copy of MyWi4 since the developer charges too much for the app. All I got is a unstable iPhone when I tether it to my iPad. The reason being is that the web browsing experience is better because of the bigger screen and the 3G version of it was not worth it.

I decided today I had enough with miwi, so I took the native tethering route by installing a carrier profile that enables tethering and bought iTether on the iPad, which costs $5 (15 dollars cheaper than MyWi). So far, there is no difference in speed and the iPhone battery doesn’t drain fast after three hours of use since it uses Bluetooth PAN.

Got BeeJive on iPad using my debit card …

Got BeeJive on iPad using my debit card since it is currently the only client that supports conferences on XMPP. It works well and I set it so backgrounder is always enable. The only problem is that it shows all the names null… I can’t tell who is who. I hope they will fix that bug in the next version.

Now I can XMPP without using my Macbook Pro when I am on the go.

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So bored

Now I have nothing to do… beside watch Anime and wait for my Wifi iPad 16GB model which I will use for next semester. I went to the Apple Store to reserve one since they are all sold out! I played around with the iPad and the screen looks gorgeous. Text was sharp and colors were vibrant. I want to test out how light novels will read, which I will import via epub, the web browsing experience and blogging with it with the WordPress Web Interface and the iPad Application. It looks better than any shitty netbook I seen…

Can’t wait… supposed to come this week… hopefully. Once I played with it, I will share my experiences with it.

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