How to Convert H.264 MKV Files to MP4 Without Re-encoding (Mac)

Source : Internet

These are instructions on how to convert H.264 MKV files to MP4 without re-encoding. 

Following this procedure will save you lots of time and prevent video quality degradation if you need video in mp4 format for playback through iTunes, the Apple TV, or on your iOS device.

***We have posted an easier version of this tutorial here, we suggest that most users follow that tutorial instead.***


IDENTIFY THE SOURCE VIDEO AND AUDIO
Before beginning lets get some details on the source video and audio.

Step One
Download and install VideoSpec to your Applications folder from here.

Step Two
Launch VideoSpec from your Applications folder.


Step Three
Click Select from the toolbar.


Step Four
Choose your .mkv file and click Open.


Step Five
Make sure the video format is H.264 and take note of the Frame Rate (fps) and Audio Format.


Important: Make note of the Encoding Profile. Some older Apple devices only support the Main profile so if your video is High Profile this procedure may not work. The new Apple TV supports High Profile at Level 4.0; however, we have tested level 4.1 and it worked fine in all attempts. The iPhone and iPad support High Profile level 4.1.


EXTRACT VIDEO AND AUDIO FROM MKV
Demux (ie extract) the video and audio tracks from the MKV container format.

Step One
Download and install iMKVExtract from here to your applications folder.


Step Two
Launch iMKVExtract and click the Browse button to select your Matroska file.


Step Three
Select your mkv file and click the Choose button.


Step Four
Select the video and audio track for extraction. These are usually track one and track two.


Change the target folder if need be and click the Extract button.

Step Five
iMKVExtract will let you know when the extraction is complete.



CONVERT AUDIO TO AAC
If the audio track you extracted is NOT in AAC format than you will need to convert it. If it is in AAC format then you can skip this section.

Step One
You can use your favorite application to convert the audio or try Audio-Converter which can be downloaded from the Mac App Store here.

Step Two
Launch Audio-Converter from the Applications folder.


Step Three
Set the Convert To: dropdown to AAC then set the destination folder to the folder than contains the files we extracted earlier.


Step Four
Drop the audio file that was extracted from the mkv into Audio-Converter to begin conversion. Note: the audio files will likely be named audio2.ac3 or audio2.dts.



COMBINE VIDEO AND AUDIO INTO MP4 FILE
Mux the .h264 video and the .aac audio file into a mp4 file using MP4Box.

Step One
Download MP4Box from here and save it to the same folder as your extracted video and audio. Double click to extract the archive if need be.


Step Two
Open a new Terminal window from Applications:Utilities.


Step Three
Navigate to the folder your video and audio is located in.
ie. cd ~/Desktop/[mkvextract]video


Step Four
Execute the command to create a MP4 video. Make sure to specify the frame rate we noted earlier or your audio will be out of sync. Also be sure to use the .aac audio file and not the original.

ie. ./MP4Box -fps 23.976 -add video1.h264 -add audio2.aac video.mp4


Step Five
MP4Box will now combine the video and audio tracks into a mp4 that can be added to iTunes!

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5 Top Windows 8 Features You’ll Love

Source : internet

Following the release of Windows 8 Developer Preview, many sites have done reviews on what the next Windows system will be like. The reviews are mostly positive, with some hailing Windows 8 as the next revolution in the technology of computer operating systems (OS). Such may well be the ambition of Microsoft, and it shouldn’t surprise time it comes at a time when Apple’s share of the OS market is rising and pitting fiercely against them.

If there’s one thing great about competition, it is that it brings out the best product between companies. I’ve read up some of the features that Microsoft’s Windows 8 will be offering, and am now both intrigued and excited for what’s to come in the full version. It will even come with a new and unique kind of user interface (UI) known as the Metro.

Here are brief descriptions to some top features you would be keen to know about:

1. Speedy Boot Time

The load and boot up speed has improved significantly over Windows’ predecessors. This is partly due to the better resource allocations to applications and the system. When compared to Windows 7 desktop CPU, Windows 8 has an even speedier boot time.

(Image Source: Within Windows)

How did they improve so much over Windows 7? Well, Windows 8 employs a technique of hibernating the system kernel (think of it as your OS’s resource manager) when you shut down, such that it becomes almost like a partial hibernation each time. When you reboot the system, the‘memory’ of your previous session gets reinitialized quicker.

2. Innovative & Dynamic Desktop

The tiles-based interface, or the Metro UI, will be the first thing you see upon logging in to Windows 8. At first glance, the UI seems to go intuitively with touchscreen devices like tablets and smartphones. Indeed, in such devices, you tap on those apps to open them. The grid layout seems to facilitate such interactions. Needless to say, you can customize your grid by adding and arranging applications.

(Image Source: JRtheTech)

The coolest thing, however, is that not only does Windows 8 allows you to personalize your desktop with the organization of the apps, it is also able display real-time information through them. Microsoft had demonstrated how the tile for a weather app could reveal the current temperature in a city without having to activate the app. The same goes for emails and such. In one glance over your tiles, you can have access to all that you need to be notified and take action on those which are urgent.

3. Improved Search Function

8 has no search box at the bottom of the Start menu. Heck, it doesn’t even have the trademark Start menu! That doesn’t mean that there’s no convenient search function available. All you need to do is to type anything, and a search box will appear from the right and give you the results. The search capability is even stronger this time, displaying all the matching apps and files instantaneously.

(Image Source: JaisonYR)

Unlike Windows 7, Windows

You can also search within apps that utilize Windows 8′s search function. The search pane that pops out on the right of your desktop will contain the list of apps which you can conduct the search in. For instance, if you’re looking for the emails sent by a particular contact, typing that name and clicking on the email app would allow you to search from within.

4. Windows To Go

Of the entire list here, this is one feature that offers the most convenience to users. Windows To Go allows users to make a copy of their OS complete with their settings, wallpapers, files and even apps, into a USB thumb drive. Plugged it into another computer with Windows 8 already installed, and you can boot up the PC and make it look exactly alike the OS you normally use, with all settings intact.

(Image Source: Engadget)

It sounds rather amazing, doesn’t it? The potential for such a feature is high and possibilities, many. For one, a virus-infected and crashed system could be revived by simply plugging in the USB thumbdrive with your last saved settings, inclusive of all your files, apps, etc. Users don’t have to worry about losing the ability to work on their projects just because their PC is down; they can always rely on plugging in that thumbdrive into another Windows 8-installed PC. Another is that users may simply bring back work from the office with that thumbdrive rather than a much bulkier laptop.

5. Windows Live Syncing

Similar to Windows To Go, the new Windows 8 will provide Windows Live syncing, such that users can login on any Windows 8 PC with ‘Live ID’ and get back their own personalized settings on it. The desktop will look the same every time the user login on a PC with their Windows Live account.Migrating to a new PC is probably made easier when the user has all the essential settings synced.

(Image Source: Windows 8)

How different will this be from Windows To Go? Well, Windows To Go seem to serve more as a controlled device for IT administrators to distribute to employees (with exact duplicates of Windows 8 with the same settings, wallpapers, apps, etc on thumbdrives), while Windows Live Syncing is more to allowing users to keep the basic settings and data available even if they’re away from their primary PC. We can only anticipate how the former and latter will be truly be like until they are unveiled by Microsoft in due course.

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