mpgedit may be the right tool to create the ringtones in the prototype.
Q) What is the optimal way to store video for mobmixing? Individual frames storage good or bad idea?
A1) Store JPEG for each frame and map movie current time onto appropriate frame number
A2) Store video and dynamically query for each frame requested
A3) Store video and check static cache ahead of dynamic query
My MOBMIXER app has hit a design stumbling block.
To make the experience compelling to buy wallpaper/ringtones from a movie trailer you need to be able to get the frame/soundtrack snippet you want within a few clicks. There lies a problem with the way movie trailers are published typically. The player is either the Windows, Real or Quicktime media and there is no easy method (I can see) to pass the current frame, or time, to another application.
Q) What is the best approach? I'm leaning towards A1
A1) Replace movie files themselves with files with embedded scripting (e.g. Quicktime created in LiveStage Pro)?
A2) Embed files in Shockwave?
A3) Embed files in Flash?
A4) Javascript call to movie player API? (can't find way to do this)
A5) Java wrapper for movie player (http://java.khm.de/content/projects/VideoPlayer.java)
A6) Rely on user to type in current frame number
0.1 prototype MobMixer for mobile revenue. Extract wallpaper and ring-tones from any art in the system.
http://thequality.com/flics/10weeks/mix/mobilemix.swf
MOBMIXER technical specification
Summary: use MobMixer to select and manipulate a frame direct from a movie trailer and send it to your mobile phone as a wallpaper
Play the movie
Select the desired frame (e.g. pause, scrub movie, enter timecode, back a frame, forward a frame, back one second|minute)
Click on MobMixer icon (ModMixer starts with selected frame loaded)
Manipulate image (rotate, zoom, drag, select phone model)
Reset image to sensible size onscreen
One click to get from movie trailer video to mobmixer
One click to Buy image - transfer to mobile purchase path
Pass transform coordinates to server (to ImageMagick)
Transform server-side image using ImageMagiK
Pass transformed image to purchase path (one time URL?)
Authenticate against mobile purchase path (Bango SOAP?)
Receive token from mobile service provider that payment recevied
Grant access to image for installation via WAP or SMS.