Video Optimization

Optimizing Videos

So, you've got videos uploaded on the Showell App. That's great! But here's the catch - if your users have devices with limited storage space, downloading those videos can be a real pain. And hey, when you use the Showell App for Web, it relies on the browser's video player, which can cause some codec issues. Don't worry though, we've got your back. Optimizing your videos is the key to a smooth viewing experience for your users. Keep reading and we'll show you how to do it effectively.

Use Optimal Video settings

• Resolution: Resize your content to a size that fits the screen well. Most monitors, tablets and phones are Full HD (16:9 aspect ratio).
  • We recommend to have content of at least 1920x1080 pixels. Smaller sized content might not look so great on a bigger screen.
  • If you will display your content mostly on Apple devices, we can recommend to have a resolution of at least 2084x1536 pixels.
  • 4K (UHD) devices have a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels, most devices do not support a resolution higher then this, so uploading larges sized content will take up unnecessary device space.
  • Keep in mind that If your company has a primary device that is used by the entire organization, it is easy to optimize your videos to match the aspect ratio of that device. For example if everyone in your company is using an iPad, you would use the 4:3 aspect ratio on all of your videos.
• Format: As the Showell App for Web uses the browser build-in video player, and each browser, or even browser version, supports different codecs/formats, we highly recommend to upload all your content in MP4, as this is the most supported format across all platforms and browsers.
• Codec: While there are multiple codecs available for video, not all of them are supported on all platforms or browsers. In order to optimize compatibility, we recommend using the widely supported H.264/AVC codec.
• Frame Rate: Our eyes can't easily distinguish differences in higher frame rates. Frame rates of 24, 25, 30, 50, or 60 fps are therefore all perfectly suitable. There's really no need to go any higher than that.
• Bit Rate: The ideal bit rate for your videos will vary based on the resolution and frame rate you have chosen. However, a bit rate between 4.5 and 12 Mbps is generally recommended for optimal performance.

Use a Video optimizing tool

There are multiple tools available online and offline that can help you optimize your videos:

• (Web-based) Cloud Convert: Convert your videos in a few simply clicks with this handy online tool to MP4.
• (Desktop) Handbrake: To optimize your videos with your preferred settings, you can download Handbrake, a free software. We also provide a helpful guide on how to use Handbrake effectively.

Keep on device

If you're unable to compromise on the size or length of your videos, or if you don't want to use an optimization tool, you can take advantage of our "Keep on Device" feature.

Enabling this feature allows all content to be automatically downloaded and updated for users when they are online. Once the files are saved to their devices, they can be accessed offline as well. This ensures that your videos are easily accessible and can be viewed without the need for a constant internet connection. However, if you have very large videos, it is recommended to turn this feature off to save storage space on your users' devices.