How do you watch 4:3 videos on widescreen?

unixguru · 2010-02-16 05:30:29

I have a huge collection of 4:3 videos and would like to know the best method to watch these on a 16:9 screen. I heard that the best way to watch these videos is to use non-linear stretching. Does any player support this feature? I checked everywhere is smplayer but could not find this option anywhere. Is there any other alternative? Neither zooming nor plain stretching are satisfactory.

JackH79 · 2010-02-16 07:39:20

From what I know, there is currently no player that supports this feature. There may be some video editing software that would allow you to do that (not on the fly though). However, a quick (non-exhaustive) google search didn't bring anything up in that regard.
So, if you're really keen on that sort of stuff, you might want to invest in some video equipment (ie TV) that offers this functionality natively.

Hiram · 2010-02-16 10:16:37

Err, I typically watch all my videos in Xine, and if I desperately want it in 16:9, I switch it to anamorphic or DVB under Aspect Ratio. Not sure if that's what you're after, but it looks pretty good to me.

You can even do it in XBMC and set it as a permanent thing to do.

Not sure if that's what you're after, but it's the closest I get. Hope it helps!

johnrl · 2010-02-16 10:23:59

I don't know any media players other than Cyberlinks PowerDVD which does this. Unfortunately PowerDVD doesn't run in Linux so your best bet is Wine, and looking at the appdb it doesn't look very bright. If you really want this you could go ahead and report the bugs that needs to be fixed for PowerDVD to be able to run in wine.

Best of luck.

unixguru · 2010-02-16 16:53:43

Thanks for the suggestions. PowerDVD is out of the question. A free program which has non-linear stretching is Zoom Player for windows. I did not find much difference between normal stretching and non-linear stretching. Everything still seems "fat". I will try XBMC. Hope it is better than zoom player.

johnrl · 2010-02-16 22:18:55

Then perhaps try Zoom Player in Wine. Otherwise I can recommend VLC as THE media player, although I don't believe it supports non-linear stretching.

Cyrusm · 2010-02-16 22:25:59

this works for me

mplayer -fs -aspect 4:3

because mplayer (not VLC) is THE media player.

Last edited by Cyrusm (2010-02-16 22:37:13)

Arch Linux

#1 2010-02-16 05:30:29

How do you watch 4:3 videos on widescreen?

#2 2010-02-16 07:39:20

Re: How do you watch 4:3 videos on widescreen?

#3 2010-02-16 10:16:37

Re: How do you watch 4:3 videos on widescreen?

#4 2010-02-16 10:23:59

Re: How do you watch 4:3 videos on widescreen?

#5 2010-02-16 16:53:43

Re: How do you watch 4:3 videos on widescreen?

#6 2010-02-16 22:18:55

Re: How do you watch 4:3 videos on widescreen?

#7 2010-02-16 22:25:59

Re: How do you watch 4:3 videos on widescreen?

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