[Nook Color Android Development] bytte:
Leaving the GB decoder in place I ran 2+ repeats of the following with and without 720p commented out of media_codecs.

In each case I rebooted, waited for logcat output to subside, and started IPlayer.

With 720P enabled video started each time. With 720P disabled video failed to play most times, but on one occasion it did play eventually.

When the video didn't play logcat gave output like:

W/libOpenSLES( 2965): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 74901; current position 74932
W/libOpenSLES( 2965): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 75532; current position 75536
W/libOpenSLES( 2965): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 76336; current position 76357
W/libOpenSLES( 2965): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 77157; current position 77160
W/libOpenSLES( 2965): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 77360; current position 77400
W/libOpenSLES( 2965): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 78200; current position 78200

and

W/libOpenSLES( 2549): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 193720; current position 193720
W/libOpenSLES( 2549): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 194520; current position 194538
W/libOpenSLES( 2549): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 195438; current position 195440
W/libOpenSLES( 2549): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 196040; current position 196040
W/libOpenSLES( 2549): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 196840; current position 196840
W/libOpenSLES( 2549): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 197440; current position 197440
W/libOpenSLES( 2549): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 198140; current position 198160

where the pid is that of BBCMediaPlayer

In both cases I preserved the listing from /proc/pid/maps for mediaserver while video / audio was playing..

In neither case did libOMX.TI.720P.Decoder.so occur in the output; in the case when it was configured, it was NOT mapped into any process once the video started playing, although it was recognised:

130|root@android:/proc # logcat |grep -i 720p
D/TIOMX_CORE( 1266): Found component OMX.TI.720P.Decoder with refCount 0 pHandle (0x41f3caa8)
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): 720p VIDDEC OMX Component Version : DEC_3630_05_16_2011
D/720p_VideoDec_LoadDefaults( 1266): VIDDEC_Load_Defaults:405

In the cases when 720P was NOT configured (and there was no video output) the following additional libraries/regions were mapped:

root@nigel-ThinkPad-Edge-E420s:~# sdiff -s medServ_720_so3.txt medServ_without720_so3.txt
>	anon_inode:ion_share_fd
>	/dev/ashmem/ACodec (deleted)
>	/dev/ashmem/decode_fd (deleted)
>	/dev/ashmem/MemoryHeapBase (deleted)
>	/dev/DspBridge
>	/dev/pvrsrvkm
>	/system/lib/libbridge.so
>	/system/lib/libion.so
>	/system/lib/libLCML.so
>	/system/lib/libOMX.TI.Video.Decoder.so
>	/system/lib/libPERF.so
>	/system/lib/libstagefright_soft_aacdec.so
>	/system/vendor/lib/hw/gralloc.omap3.so
>	/system/vendor/lib/libpvr2d.so
>	/system/vendor/lib/libsrv_um.so

Repeating with the JB 720P decoder produced similar results:

root@nigel-ThinkPad-Edge-E420s:~# sdiff -s medServ_JB720_so.txt medServ_without720_so3.txt
/system/lib/libOMX.TI.720P.Decoder.so	|	/system/lib/libOMX.TI.Video.Decoder.so

With the same warnings being logged by BBCmediaPlayer, together with debug info from JB 720P(mediaserver):

I/ESQueue ( 1266): found AAC codec config (44100 Hz, 2 channels)
I/avc_utils( 1266): found AVC codec config (640 x 360, Baseline-profile level 3.0)
D/ACodec ( 1266): onConfigureComponent: AMessage(what = 'setu', target = 13) = {
D/ACodec ( 1266): string mime = "audio/mp4a-latm"
D/ACodec ( 1266): int32_t channel-count = 2
D/ACodec ( 1266): int32_t sample-rate = 44100
D/ACodec ( 1266): int32_t is-adts = 1
D/ACodec ( 1266): ABuffer *csd-0 = 0x41d8b708
D/ACodec ( 1266): }
D/ACodec ( 1266): configureCodec OMX.google.aac.decoder OK
D/TIOMX_CORE( 1266): Found component OMX.TI.720P.Decoder with refCount 0 pHandle (0x40c704a0)
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): 326 ::: In OMX_ComponentInit ***
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): 720p VIDDEC OMX Component Version : DEC_3630_06_11_2012
D/ACodec ( 1266): onConfigureComponent: AMessage(what = 'setu', target = 11) = {
D/ACodec ( 1266): string mime = "video/avc"
D/ACodec ( 1266): int32_t width = 640
D/ACodec ( 1266): int32_t height = 360
D/ACodec ( 1266): ABuffer *csd-0 = 0x41d90da8
D/ACodec ( 1266): ABuffer *csd-1 = 0x41d90ec8
D/ACodec ( 1266): RefBase *native-window = 0x40c72f38
D/ACodec ( 1266): }
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameWidth is 640
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameHeight is 480
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_GetParameter ::: 1261 Buffer size = 614400
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameWidth is 640
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameHeight is 360
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_SetParameter ::: 1746 Buffer size = 460800
D/ACodec ( 1266): configureCodec OMX.TI.720P.Decoder OK
D/ACodec ( 1266): native-window OMX.TI.720P.Decoder
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_SetParameter:1569 In VideoDecodeEnableAndroidNativeBuffers in VIDDEC_SetParameter
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_SetParameter:1573 IN VIDDEC_SetParameter, in if-condition
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameWidth is 640
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameHeight is 360
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_GetParameter ::: 1261 Buffer size = 460800
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_GetParameter:974 VideoDecodeGetAndroidNativeBufferUsage
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameWidth is 640
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameHeight is 360
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_GetParameter ::: 1261 Buffer size = 460800
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_UseBuffer 3523 ION map done at 0x41cdc000
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameWidth is 640
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameHeight is 360
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_GetParameter ::: 1261 Buffer size = 460800
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_UseBuffer 3523 ION map done at 0x4261f000
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameWidth is 640
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameHeight is 360
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_GetParameter ::: 1261 Buffer size = 460800
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_UseBuffer 3523 ION map done at 0x42a98000
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameWidth is 640
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameHeight is 360
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_GetParameter ::: 1261 Buffer size = 460800
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_UseBuffer 3523 ION map done at 0x42dc9000
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameWidth is 640
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameHeight is 360
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_GetParameter ::: 1261 Buffer size = 460800
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_UseBuffer 3523 ION map done at 0x430ad000
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameWidth is 640
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameHeight is 360
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_GetParameter ::: 1261 Buffer size = 460800
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_UseBuffer 3523 ION map done at 0x4318f000
I/SoftAAC2( 1266): Reconfiguring decoder: 44100 Hz, 2 channels
D/Omap3ALSA( 1266): open called for devices 00000006 in mode 0 channels 00000003...
E/Omap3ALSA( 1266): direction requext. devices 34703, mask 40959, result 34703
E/Omap3ALSA( 1266): direction requext. devices 34703, mask 40959, result 34703
W/libOpenSLES( 2572): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 200; current position 33252
W/libOpenSLES( 2572): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 33452; current position 33486
E/ALSALib ( 1266): external/alsa-lib/src/pcm/pcm_hw.c:1400:(_snd_pcm_hw_open) Invalid value for card
D/Omap3ALSA( 1266): open called for devices 00000002 in mode 0 channels 00000003...
E/Omap3ALSA( 1266): direction requext. devices 34703, mask 40959, result 34703
E/Omap3ALSA( 1266): direction requext. devices 34703, mask 40959, result 34703
E/Omap3ALSA( 1266): direction requext. devices 34703, mask 40959, result 34703
I/Omap3ALSA( 1266): Set PLAYBACK PCM format to S16_LE (Signed 16 bit Little Endian)
E/Omap3ALSA( 1266): direction requext. devices 34703, mask 40959, result 34703
I/Omap3ALSA( 1266): Using 2 channels for PLAYBACK.
E/Omap3ALSA( 1266): direction requext. devices 34703, mask 40959, result 34703
I/Omap3ALSA( 1266): Set PLAYBACK sample rate to 44100 HZ
I/Omap3ALSA( 1266): Buffer size: 4000
I/Omap3ALSA( 1266): Latency: 90702
V/Omap3ALSA( 1266): setDefaultControls
V/ALSAControl( 1266): set(HandsfreeR Switch, 1, -1)
E/ALSAControl( 1266): Control 'HandsfreeR Switch' cannot get element info: -2
V/ALSAControl( 1266): set(HandsfreeL Switch, 1, -1)
E/ALSAControl( 1266): Control 'HandsfreeL Switch' cannot get element info: -2
V/ALSAControl( 1266): set(HandsfreeR Mux, AudioR2)
E/ALSAControl( 1266): Control 'HandsfreeR Mux' cannot get element info: -2
V/ALSAControl( 1266): set(HandsfreeL Mux, AudioL2)
E/ALSAControl( 1266): Control 'HandsfreeL Mux' cannot get element info: -2
V/ALSAControl( 1266): set(HeadsetR Mixer AudioR2, 0, -1)
E/ALSAControl( 1266): Control 'HeadsetR Mixer AudioR2' cannot get element info: -2
V/ALSAControl( 1266): set(HeadsetL Mixer AudioL2, 0, -1)
E/ALSAControl( 1266): Control 'HeadsetL Mixer AudioL2' cannot get element info: -2
I/Omap3ALSA( 1266): Initialized ALSA PLAYBACK device default
E/AudioHardwareALSA( 1266): RE-OPEN AFTER STANDBY:: took 567 msecs
D/TI_LCML ( 1266): LCML PATCH init
D/TI_LCML ( 1266): LCML PATCH create
W/libOpenSLES( 2572): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 33692; current position 33856
D/TI_LCML ( 1266): LCML PATCH run
D/720p_split_dsp_dec( 1266): OUTPUT width=640 height=360
D/720p_split_dsp_dec( 1266): INPUT width=640 height=360
D/720p_OMX_VidDec_Parse( 1266): VIDDEC_ParseHeader : 1538 Crop width from header = 0, Crop height from header = 0
D/720p_OMX_VidDec_Parse( 1266): VIDDEC_ParseVideo_H264:1232 66
D/720p_OMX_VidDec_Parse( 1266): VIDDEC_ParseHeader : 1538 Crop width from header = 0, Crop height from header = 8
D/720p_OMX_VidDec_Parse( 1266): VIDDEC_ParseHeader : 1642 Parsed Width = 640, Parsed Height = 368, Crop Width = 0, Crop Height = 8, OutPort WIDTH = 640 , OutPort Height 360
D/720p_OMX_VidDec_Parse( 1266): VIDDEC_ParseHeader : 1743 Parsed Width = 640, Parsed Height = 368, Crop Width = 0, Crop Height = 8, OutPort WIDTH 640, OutPort Height 360
D/720p_split_dec( 1266): asc_thread:1195 isRefFrameCheckDone flag set
D/720p_split_dec( 1266): asc_thread:1196 isLevelCheckDone flag set
D/720p_split_dec( 1266): *** nNumRefFrames = 2 ***
D/720p_split_dec( 1266): *** nLevelIdc = 30 ***
D/720p_split_dec( 1266): *** max_ref_frames = 16 ***
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameWidth is 640
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): pPortDef->format.video.nFrameHeight is 360
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_GetParameter ::: 1261 Buffer size = 460800
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): Crop Width = 0, Crop Height = 8
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): VIDDEC_GetConfig ::: 2178 Croppped width = 640, Cropped Height = 360
D/720p_OMX_VideoDecoder( 1266): eError = 0
W/libOpenSLES( 2572): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 34556; current position 34602
W/libOpenSLES( 2572): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 34902; current position 34924
W/libOpenSLES( 2572): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 35524; current position 35528
W/libOpenSLES( 2572): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 36128; current position 36132
W/libOpenSLES( 2572): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 36832; current position 36840
W/libOpenSLES( 2572): Missed SL_PLAYEVENT_HEADATNEWPOS for position 37240; current position 37240

Nigel