? for I-Pod Owners

[cliffy]

My wife bought me a 30 gig I-pod as a birthday gift earlier this year...and I love it. My question is this: Is it possible to some how download the DVDs that I already own onto the I-pod?...much like I have done with my cd collection. Thanks for any help.

Cliffy.

[lotsofish]

Yes, you need software to convert the DVD to a digital movie format that's supported on the ipod, like mp4 (mpeg-4).

As far as software, I don't really have anything to recommend because I don't do it myself. Google "DVD to mp4 conversion software" or something like that and you get millions of hits. Most of them are shareware, which means you get to download it and try it for free, but some of the features wont work or you can only use it for a limited amount of time before purchasing it. You may be able to find a free one if you look hard enough. You can try out a few different ones and see which one works the best before you buy it.

Keep in mind that an average movie will be about 800mb - 1GB... they take up a lot of space. With the 30gig ipod, you should be able to fit quite a few movies and still have room for all your music though.

[irvingdog]

Do a google for "handbrake". It cracks the video, and will leave it in MP4. Save to desktop, and then move to Itunes.

Technically, it's Piracy, but I'd argue that you're not doing it for profit, you are only doing it to the movies you own, and are just trying to have it in a format that you can watch on a device that you also own.

[irvingdog]

Handbrake is free.

[IFallsRon]

I've used Handbrake. It ran really slow on my old Mac and I haven't tried it on the new one yet.

There has been random issues with the iPod recognizing and syncing the movies.

I've recently downloaded Streamclip and iSquint but I haven't tried them yet.

There is a conversion script within Quicktime but I haven't used that yet.

[ChemE]

Popcorn 3.0 from Roxio does a very good job of converting DVD media to mp4, divx, or h.264. I think it costs $30 now.

[fishtank]

I bought a 30G video i pod over a year ago. I have downloaded over 20 movies and over 1200 songs, and still have plenty of space left. I went on the i pod HSOforum and looked around at their forum's. What I found, is that I needed 2 pieces of free (at the time) software. "Videora Converter" and "DVD Decrypter". It took me a while to get the hang of it, but there was easy step by step instructions that came with it.

[cliffy]

This is so crazy. I downloaded the software you mentioned but I just can get the Videora Converter to work. I had no problems ripping the DVD...just cant get videora to work propery. I have been using the normal mode.... Its like I am missing something....the screens dont looks just like those in the directions...I am missing buttons..etc. Any suggestions?

[IFallsRon]

Do a search for howto.diveintomark, you can print out the screens for using Handbrake. They don't match the screens on the version that I used, but the results were the same.

[cliffy]

Thanks but I found that very confusing...perhaps its just not ment to be for me.

[irvingdog]

Don't give up, Lil camper!!! Once you get it, you'll be darn glad you did.

/no, I'm not coming over to teach you..

[cliffy]

I think there has to be a problem with my computer.....I just cant get it to work. I tried the handbrake software and couldnt get it to go...I just cant figure out the Videora converter....I downloaded the directions and my screens dont look like the ones in the directions...very close but missing certain buttons to get things started.

I think its my computer because I have noticed that certain websites I visit will be missing certian buttons to use certain functions....I have no problems with these same websites when I use a computer at work or a friends computer. What he heck is going on?

[AaronM]

For what it's worth, I've had a 30 gig Ipod for two years. I got the software from the internet, and put about 20 movies on it. Honestly, I can't say that it was ever worth the work. Put songs on, put pictures on, and if you are set on having movies on there, buy them from the Itunes store. There, you get great quality and all the work is done. Just my two cents, and good luck!

[cliffy]

I hear ya. I was just trying to put a few Drury hunting movies on it...to pass my time during my travels. I buy a lot of songs and audiobooks from I-tunes.....but they dont have much for movies...well, the movies I like to watch anyways.

Cliffy

[Chode2235]

You can also just use quicktime that comes with iTunes. There is an option to rip or save to ipod. I think you may need quicktime pro, maybe.

Anyway, there are tons of guides out there on the internets.