Output via "vdpau" broken

[Grizzly]

Binary package hint: mythtv

karmic koala 2.6.31-14-generic
mythtv 0.22.0+fixes22594-0ubuntu1

In "Settings->TV->Output on Page 3 it is possible to select "vdpau" as output. When run as non-root on NVIDIA 190.42 proprietary driver with onboard GeForce 8300.

Expectations: vdpau is working and maybe the bad tearing with ffmpeg / xvid disappears

Result:

NVIDIA: could not open the device file /dev/nvidiactl (Permission denied).
2009-11-01 20:42:39.489 VidOutVDPAU Error: Failed to initialise VDPAU
2009-11-01 20:42:39.489 VideoOutput, Error: Not compiled with any useable video output method.
2009-11-01 20:42:39.489 NVP(0), Error: Couldn't create VideoOutput instance. Exiting..
2009-11-01 20:42:39.489 Unable to initialize video.2009-11-01 21:05:48.959 VideoOutput, Error: Not compiled with any useable video output method.
2009-11-01 21:05:48.959 NVP(0), Error: Couldn't create VideoOutput instance. Exiting..
2009-11-01 21:05:48.960 Unable to initialize video.
2009-11-01 21:06:08.846 playCtx, Error: StartDecoderThread() Failed to startdecoder
2009-11-01 21:06:08.846 TV: StartPlayer(0, Watching WatchingPreRecorded, main) -- end error

2009-11-01 20:42:59.501 playCtx, Error: StartDecoderThread() Failed to startdecoder
2009-11-01 20:42:59.501 TV: StartPlayer(0, Watching WatchingPreRecorded, main) -- end error

When run as root - via "sudo mythfrontend" "could not open the device file" is omitted
then...
2009-11-01 21:05:48.925 VidOutVDPAU Error: Failed to initialise VDPAU
etc...

assumptions
a) The user can't access the vdpau API because of insufficient rights (i.e. something is misconfigured in the distro) OR (more likely)
b) mythtv in ubuntu has no compiled vdpau support - but it is selectable in the config menu within mythtv...

[Adrenaline (edrolph)]

Getting the same on lucid :-(

[Mario Limonciello (superm1)]

Grizzly:

I don't think your hardware supports VDPAU (unless it's a 8300 GS). See http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/VDPAU for more information.

Adrenaline:
Lucid stuff is in flux right now. Are you using nvidia-current? Can you confirm the build number you're on? I'd recommend a fresh bug for your issue if it's persisting today. Please file it like this:
$ apport-bug mythtv

That will grab all sorts of relevant logs for us to look at.