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HandBrake – An open source video transcoder

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Re: HandBrake – An open source video transcoder

#51
post #28

For context, today in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, the prosecution (ADA Kraus) claimed that he was basically technically illiterate and basically didn't know about transcoding, not in as many words. A review of previous video testimony from PBS's live feed showed that he (Kraus) had Handbrake in the directory that he was showing the video from. That's not a normal application one would just have floating around. The b…

So the speculation is that because he had free transcoding software on his desktop, that he understands transcoding?

Re: HandBrake – An open source video transcoder

#52
post #28

For context, today in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, the prosecution (ADA Kraus) claimed that he was basically technically illiterate and basically didn't know about transcoding, not in as many words. A review of previous video testimony from PBS's live feed showed that he (Kraus) had Handbrake in the directory that he was showing the video from. That's not a normal application one would just have floating around. The b…

We used Handbrake at my school. Sure it's a bit more niche but definitely not unusual.

Re: HandBrake – An open source video transcoder

#53
post #42
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To expand: It was discussed extensively in the Rittenhouse court case today that the prosecution provided the defense with a much lower quality of a particular video file (one that was also possibly cropped) than what the prosecution possessed. The prosecution contends this was an accident and the transcoding occurred when they AirDropped it from one phone to another and then emailed it from their personal Gmail acco…

HN isn't the right place to discuss most of the aspects of this case, but I will just say that there have been multiple tech stories that have come out of that trial that highlight how antiquated our legal system can be in terms of understanding technology and the repercussions from that ignorance are troubling.

watching the proceedings of this trial, I've been blown away at how lax the standards are for digital evidence submission and presentation. from some friends in law I've talked to this seems pretty darn common.

how is there not some kind of startup centered around this specific use case?

Re: HandBrake – An open source video transcoder

#54
post #28

For context, today in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, the prosecution (ADA Kraus) claimed that he was basically technically illiterate and basically didn't know about transcoding, not in as many words. A review of previous video testimony from PBS's live feed showed that he (Kraus) had Handbrake in the directory that he was showing the video from. That's not a normal application one would just have floating around. The b…

So the speculation is that because he had free transcoding software on his desktop, that he understands transcoding?

The generous explanation is that it’s just a coincidence that he had handbrake installed.

The malicious explanation is that he intentionally downgraded the video quality with handbrake (or some other means) before handing over the evidence.

Keeping in mind that the video was the only thing shared with Kyle’s lawyer that was not shared via Dropbox, per his lawyer.

Re: HandBrake – An open source video transcoder

#55

I remember using this to rip every DVD I received in the mail from Netflix, and then copying the file to my iPod Video so I could watch it on the bus ride to school. Man have times changed...

Same here the value proposition of curating a movie collection has changed a bit over the past 10+ years

Funny you mention that! I started doing it again after a ~10 year hiatus. I decided I wanted to curate a collection for my kids. The issue with streaming services - especially outside of the US - is the recency and popularity bias.

Re: HandBrake – An open source video transcoder

#56
Past related threads:

HandBrake 1.2.0 Released - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18949007 - Jan 2019 (58 comments)

HandBrake 1.0.0 Released - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13258029 - Dec 2016 (174 comments)

Handbrake 0.10.0 released - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8650126 - Nov 2014 (56 comments)

Re: HandBrake – An open source video transcoder

#57
post #43
post #28

For context, today in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, the prosecution (ADA Kraus) claimed that he was basically technically illiterate and basically didn't know about transcoding, not in as many words. A review of previous video testimony from PBS's live feed showed that he (Kraus) had Handbrake in the directory that he was showing the video from. That's not a normal application one would just have floating around. The b…

> Kyle Rittenhouse trial what is this trial about?

A 17yo who shot 3 other men (2 dead) with a very large gun, who is claiming self defense, in MN.

I'm not sure how this is somehow less accurate than any other synopsis shrug.

Re: HandBrake – An open source video transcoder

#58
post #28

For context, today in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, the prosecution (ADA Kraus) claimed that he was basically technically illiterate and basically didn't know about transcoding, not in as many words. A review of previous video testimony from PBS's live feed showed that he (Kraus) had Handbrake in the directory that he was showing the video from. That's not a normal application one would just have floating around. The b…

> That's not a normal application one would just have floating around. Without addressing the rest of the post: I've seen plenty of non-engineers use Handbrake. In fact, I've seen more than one lawyer use it. It occurs to me that it would actually be pretty common for lawyers to have it installed, particularly if they're reviewing and copying evidence that was delivered to them by DVD or other physical forms.

I used to use Handbrake all the time to put videos on my iPhone at appropriate resolution etc. Not exactly obscure

Re: HandBrake – An open source video transcoder

#59
post #43
post #28

For context, today in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, the prosecution (ADA Kraus) claimed that he was basically technically illiterate and basically didn't know about transcoding, not in as many words. A review of previous video testimony from PBS's live feed showed that he (Kraus) had Handbrake in the directory that he was showing the video from. That's not a normal application one would just have floating around. The b…

> Kyle Rittenhouse trial what is this trial about?

A man shot 3 BLM protestors, killing 2. Prosecution argues murder, defense argues self defense. The trial itself is proving somewhat of a Rorschach test for political internet bubbles.

Re: HandBrake – An open source video transcoder

#60
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> That's not a normal application one would just have floating around. Without addressing the rest of the post: I've seen plenty of non-engineers use Handbrake. In fact, I've seen more than one lawyer use it. It occurs to me that it would actually be pretty common for lawyers to have it installed, particularly if they're reviewing and copying evidence that was delivered to them by DVD or other physical forms.

Of course you don't have to be an engineer to use it, but if he's really claiming to know nothing about encoding, that's quite the contradiction.

Is it though? I can easily imagine a non-technical user thinking of HandBrake as "that DVD program" without understanding any of the underlying technical details or (for that matter) any of the encoding options.

I mean, HandBrake is pretty simple software if you just stick with the defaults.

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