Weird Old Quicktime - I need a playlist functionality!

[Miss Shell]

Hi guys,

((Disclaimer))
I have been pursuing this problem for some time, and cannot seem to find a solution ANYWHERE! There are multiple things I have tried, so feel free to quote my post, as I will put up all attempted solutions here to save anyone suggesting what I've already done!
((end disclaimer))

So the problem:

I need to remotely upload new video content on an ongoing basis to several Intel Core Duo MacMini machines (at sep locations) which are in turn playing content displayed on a Panasonic 65" Plasma Screen via DVi. My content is High Def (where problems begin!) QT .mov files, h.264 codec varying from 6MB to 400MB (can squash down to 100MB if neccesary) and they are all 1366x768 (the TV's res) I need to be able to add and remove files as necessary, from a playlist, remotely. (and automated-ly also) I also need to have some news ticker and weather widgets over the top (these seem fine so far) Every attempt to use a playlist of any kind has ended in failure a)to play smoothly b)to not crash I have also tested on my beefier G5, with the exact same results.

Solutions I have tried:
1) Applescript/Automater - enters and exits full screen between every movie
2)SMIL scripting - playback is stuttery
3)VLC Player - Cannot decode h.264 on Intel machines yet (green triangles split my image like a cracked mirror - aside from this playback is perfect!)
4)Livestage - Uses same scripting as 2) with same problems
5)QuickTime Reference movie - Created in QT, copy and paste method, save as ref movie. QT plays well, smoothly for 2 hours or so on a loop, then crashes without fail. On both machines, which makes me think it is not necessarily a RAM issue.
6)iTunes full screen video playback - Movies stutter over file size of about 4oMB or so.

My specs:
1.66GHz Intel Core Duo, 512 MB DDR2 SDRAM osx 10.4.7 QT 7.1.1 Mac Mini
Dual 2.5GHx PowerPC G5 Mac OS X 10.4.7 QT 7.1.2

Sorry for the long winded explanation, but it gives you more ammo to help (I hope!!!!)
Thanks in advance, any suggestions much appreciated

((Just in case you ask, no my comp isn't overheating, yes I am getting page outs, but only on MacMini, and it still crashes on the G5!?!< page outs on G5=0))

[Mikuro]

You could try a third-party QuickTime-based player that supports playlists, like NicePlayer. It has AppleScript support (although I've never used it).

There's also MPlayer, which is like VLC. You might have better luck with its Intel port than with VLC's.

[Lt Major Burns]

try BitPlayer, although it may also be flakey. as far as i know, it differs from VLC in that it just uses the standard quicktime decoders, may it live or die on them. it also has playlists and full screen. it does seem rather amateurish though, hence the flakiness. but i'd give it a shot.

http://tanjero.com/bitplayer/

edit: damn mikuro you're fast.

[Miss Shell]

Hi guys,

Thanks so much for your quick replies, I have previously tried BitPlayer and MPlayer (try playing h.264 content in MPlayer, it's psychedelic man!) But had not heard of Nice Player! And guess what, NicePlayer is working on my G5. I'm going to pop it on the Mini, let in run for a few hours and I'll update you on the progress. I'm cautiously optimistic.. Very Cautious.

[Miss Shell]

Can I just say NicePlayer is my new best friend/ I have had it playing my h.264 .mov files on a continuous loop in full screen mode for several hours. No crashes. Yet.

After months of the most awful kind of computer stress (you know the kind when something works and then doesn't - then you try something else and it works - then doesn't?!) I may have found a solution.

How I would have loved NicePlayer to enter my life sooner. Now if the boys do some playlist scheduling and logging functions, they will have exceeded all my requirements! Or is that too greedy? I left it on their feature request page anyway!

I can't thank you guys enough -