Gadget | Cutting Edge Technology

Convert DVDs to iPod Video

2007-02-15T19:40:00.000+08:00

Feel like just another pair of white headphones in the crowd? Want to watch something new on your iPod? If so, then you’re on the right page because here you will learn how to rip DVDs for your iPod Video, completely for free.

Getting Videos into your iPod

Well, it was bound to happen anyway. Everywhere people have discovered that they could get their DVD movies and TV shoes onto the new video iPod without charge. How do they do that? It’s simple really. In fact, if you have ripped a movie onto the PSP before, you probably already know how to get your DVDs into your iPod. The transfer process is not that much different and all you really need is a good DVD-to-iPod-Video converter to get the thing going.

DVD to iPod for PC Users

For starters, here’s a guide on how to convert DVD to iPod video using cucusoft iPod Video Converter + DVD to iPod Converter suite.

FEATURES:

· Rip DVD to iPod video directly (no need to convert DVD to AVI or VOB first)

· Convert AVI, WMV, MPEG, RM, RMVB, ASF, MOV, DIVX, XVID, MPG to iPod MP4 or H264 format

· Easy-to-use and fast conversion

· Can also rip DVD to AVI, DivX, VCD, SVCD, and MPEG

STEPS (Windows)

1. Download the iPod Video Converter + DVD to iPod Converter suite

Visit GoRipper.com to get the program file for the software suite. Once there, go to the Downloads section and follow the download instructions on the page that appears. Keep the window open as the file downloads. Afterwards, install and run.

2. Load your DVD

Cucusoft’s iPod Video Converter Suit has a neat, blue user interface that is intuitive and easy to use. There should be three buttons to the right of the interface that says: Video to iPod, DVD to iPod, and Quit (for quitting the program). Click DVD to iPod converter component before loading your DVD. To load your DVD, click ‘Open DVD’ button or choosing ‘Open DVD’ from the ‘File’ drop down menu. After loading, several titles will appear on the list. Here’s a tip: If you want to rip chapters or segments you like, you can also select ‘Open VOB or Mpeg’ or ‘Open IFO’ from the ‘File’ menu.

3. Selecting Files

The main file of the movie should be the longest title. If you don’t like to convert the other titles (usually the special features in your DVD), you can remove them by choosing that particular title, right-clicking and ‘Remove.’

4. Saving Video Files

At the bottom part of the list of chapter titles, you will see several more options. Look for the one that says ‘Subtitle’ beside a drop down menu box. Click on the arrow down radio button to set the ‘Subtitle’ to what you like. To ‘Output Folder’, enter the full path name or choose the path where you want to save your video files by clicking ‘Output Folder.’

5. Convert

To start ripping DVD to iPod video files, just click on the huge circular ‘Convert’ button at the bottom right side of the user interface. You do not need to set ‘Input settings’ and ‘Output settings.’

Of course, the cucusoft way is only one way of doing it. If you find that converting DVDs to iPod using cucusoft’s suite is too tedious, especially if you get into trouble during the conversion process, then you might want to check out this alternative way of converting videos to your iPod. Again, the PQDVD Converter suite is for Windows users only. The guide for Mac users can be found below.

LIMITS

· H.264 video: up to 768 kbps, 320x240, 30 frames per sec, Baseline Profile up to Level 1.3 with AAC-LC up to 160 kbps, 48 khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

· MPEG-4 video: up to 2.5 mbps, 480x480, 30 frames per sec, Simple Profile with AAC-LC up to 160 kbps, 48 khz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

HOW-TO

1. Insert the DVD

Once you’ve loaded up your DVD into your computer, the DVD might start to pay automatically through your PQDVD. However, if it doesn’t, you can click ‘File’ and ‘Open DVD’ to get it to play.

2. Configure Settings

Click around the DVD’s menu (right side of the PQDVD’s screen) to set up DVD playback as you like. Tinker a bit with the language features, subtitles, specific chapters, etc. Here’s a tip: If you have activated these options, they remain active throughout your converted DVD.

3. Aspect Ratio

At this point, you have the option to adjust or modify the aspect ratio of your DVD. Note, however, that this can distort the picture quality of your video. You can also click on ‘record’ at this point, but you will be met with a message that tells you the main movie hasn’t started yet, which means that if decide to continue with the process, all you’ll be recording will be still images and short video clips. You can go ahead and do that, or wait for the main movie to load.

4. Begin the Movie

If you have chosen to wait until the main movie to begin or after you have recorded the clips, navigate the DVD menu to begin movie. To queue up the point at which you want to start recording, you can use the video playback controls for that. But if you want to record from the beginning, no need then to use the playback controls. Just drag the blue button along the bar at the bottom to start of the movie.

5. Record

Click the ‘Record’ button. The PQDVD will ask you where you would like to put the default output folder. You are given the following options: “iPod Video” folder on your Desktop, Desktop, C:\, Other folders:

Just select the folder in which to store your recorded files and once done, the movie will play at a fast-forward speed, recording the .MP4 file. When you want to stop recording, just click the ‘Stop’ button, or leave it running if you want to record the whole thing. At the end, a screen will appear, confirming that the recording has been successful and you have successfully converted your file.

DVD to iPod for Mac Users

As promised, here’s a quick tutorial that explains how to use Handbrake, a program that can rip DVDs into iPod compatible MPEG-4 video files.

REQUIREMENTS:

· An iPod Video

· Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later

· 500 mhz G4 processor or better

· At least 16MB of video RAM

· QuickTime 7.0.3 or later

· iTunes 6.0.1 or later

TUTORIAL

1. Set Up

First thing’s first, download the program file for Handbrake from any of these sites: VersionTracker.com, handbrake.m0k.org, and MacUpdate.com. After download, install Handbrake by just copying the program into your OS X Applications folder.

2. Load Video DVD

After Handbrake is installed, grab a copy of your favorite video DVD and put it into your computer. One important note: Handbrake can only convert standard video DVD’s that you would normally play in a DVD player. You can’t convert video files in any other formats, such as AVI, MPG, WMV, MOV, etc. Next, launch Handbrake, select ‘Detected volume’ and press ‘Open’.

3. Source Settings

Clicking on the ‘Open’ button will trigger Handbrake to start scanning your DVD. Depending on the contents of the DVD and the speed of your optical drive, this may take up to a minute or two. After scanning, Handbrake will select the longest title in the list by default. You can unselect that if that isn’t the content that you want. If you’re not sure which title to rip, you can click on the ‘Picture Settings’ button found at the bottom right of the Handbrake interface and manually step through several frames of the title to find what you’re looking for.

4. Destination Settings

Handbrake’s ‘Destination Settings’ has three settings you can modify: file format, codec, and file destination. For file format, select MP4 file so you can play this video on your iPod. For Codec, you can choose either AVC/H.2.64 or MPEG-4. For File Destination, just type in a name for the video file and choose its destination using the box provided. On average, you need about 300MB disk space per hour of video so try to choose a location that has sufficient space.

5. Video Settings

You have four options at this point. For Frame Rate, you can just leave the fps set to ‘Same as source’ or choose 29.97 as you like. For Encoder, if you choose H264 as your codec, you must also choose ‘Baseline profile’ for the Encoder. For Quality, set it to ‘Average bitrate’ and enter anything between 400 and 600. And finally, at the bottom part of the interface, you are given two boxes for Grayscale encoding and 2-pass encoding. Select 2-pass encoding if you really want a high quality file, but remember that it would take the encoding twice as long.

6. Audio Settings

This is where you click around for the language settings of your DVD. Language 1 should represent the language for the region you live in, which is English if you in America. Language 2 is usually secondary commentary voiced by the Director and actors. If you only want to convert the movie, just select None for this option.

7. Picture Settings

Your iPod wants video files that are 320 pixels wide by 240 wide. Turn on the ‘Keep aspect ratio’ button and decrease the Width to 320. Handbrake will automatically adjust the height to match the width.

And finally, click on the ‘Rip’ button and let Handbrake do its job. There are several variables affecting the encoding time, such as the duration of the video file, the speed of your computer, what other activity your computer is currently doing, the codec you selected (H264 or MP4) and if you decided to do a 2-pass encoding or not.

SCH-B600, the 10Mpix phone

2006-11-05T00:32:00.000+08:00

SCH-B600, the 10Mpix phone
Samsung proudly announced the first phone with a 10Mpix camera in the world! It has an auto focus, a 2x optical zoom and 5x digital zoom, and Bluetooth for direct printing. And as it is a phone for the Korean market, it comes with a DMB TV tuner. Korean geeks, you gotta love this..!

Sony Ericsson M600i: A Mobile For The 21St Century Businessman

2006-11-02T22:50:00.000+08:00

Sony Ericsson M600i: A Mobile For The 21St Century Businessman
by: Bradlly Ben

Sony has done it again. It has surpassed excellence like it has done in the past. Sony has just launched Sony Ericsson M600i which is especially made to perfection for the 21st century businessman. This mobile is another beauty from Sony in the range of the communicator mobiles.

Sony Ericsson M600i has got touch screen navigation which makes one navigate through the phone menu in a very convenient manner with the help of a stylus. All you need to do is to just tap on any option on the menu and the application is opened.

Due to the presence of features like Edge, GSM in Sony Ericsson M600i the internet access is very easy. E-mails can be send at the speed of lightening from any place and without wasting any precious time. With this mobile you can always stay in touch with important business clients. Sony Ericsson M600i has UMTS makes the internet download speeds very high.

It has got features like business data exchange. With this feature digital business cards containing the phone numbers and addresses can be exchanged

Other special features of Sony Ericsson M600i this handset include: conference calling, notes and tasks.

“Conference calling” can be used for multi-party calling. One can also write notes and save them in this phone like a note pad .The function “task” works like your business secretary and shows the list of things to be done. The list is endless. Company intranet can also be accessed on this phone. Also calls can be attended simultaneously while surfing the net. So no calls are missed when you are surfing the net

Another application of Sony Ericsson M600i is completely incredible. Print commands can be given from this phone to a nearby attached printer to print the relevant documents. So, relevant attachments with the e-mails can now be printed.

Stretch part#2

2006-10-16T16:22:00.000+08:00

Carry on with stretch.. it'll release lot of tension. Make yourself comfortable form daily routine, of course from you PC desk...

Having back pain lately?? cool down, follow this step to relieve yourself-- part#1

2006-10-11T21:44:00.000+08:00

Follow this tip to strech yourself from long hours sitting on the chair facing your PC...

Technorati

2006-10-11T11:49:00.000+08:00

Technorati Profile
Like other newbie, it wont be easy for others to know our blog. Lucky got an agent to do the free advertising for beginner to publicized thier blog. Thanks to Technorati!!!!

I saw many blogger put Technorati icon in thier site and I winder what the hack the stuff do untill me myself start experiance blogging. So, I start sign-in my self to Technorati.

Fell free to sign-up yourself to piblisized your blog

Tips on notebook/laptop use with recent battery exploding issue from US CPSC

2006-10-10T08:00:00.000+08:00

Tips on Notebook Computer use with recent battery issue from US CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Comission)

* Do not use incompatible computer batteries and chargers. If unsure about whether a replacement battery or charger is compatible, contact the product manufacturer.
* Computer batteries can get hot during normal use. Do not use your computer on your lap.
* Do not use your computer on soft surfaces, such as a sofa, bed or carpet, because it can restrict airflow and cause overheating.laptop battery explosion
* Do not permit a loose battery to come in contact with metal objects, such as coins, keys or jewelry.
* Do not crush, puncture or put a high degree of pressure on the battery as this can cause an internal short-circuit, resulting in overheating.
* Avoid dropping or bumping the computer. Dropping it, especially on a hard surface, can potentially cause damage to the computer and battery. If you suspect damage contact the manufacturer.
* Do not place the computer in areas that may get very hot.
* Do not get your computer or battery wet. Even though they will dry and appear to operate normally, the circuitry could slowly corrode and pose a safety hazard.
* Follow battery usage, storage and charging guidelines found in the user’s guide.

Full detail of the release can be found here: US CPSC

notebook/laptop user expose to battery explosion

2006-10-09T08:57:00.000+08:00

A few cases of laptop explosion reported recently has create a serious safety concern to laptop user.
1. Dell massive recall
2. Apple 1.8m battery recall
3. Toshiba recall >340k Sony made battery
4. Lenovo/IBM battery explosion

So watch out yours!!!!!