| Now that iPods can be used to watch videos, | | | | more, do a research on the Net for "Convert |
| the natural consequence should be to make | | | | iPod to DVD". You are immediately directed to |
| DVDs which are iPod friendly. Freewares are | | | | many links. From these you can make a |
| indeed available which allows you to transfer | | | | selection which best suits your needs and |
| DVDs to the hard drive and then onto the iPod | | | | falls within your budget. |
| for viewing. If you can add videos to your | | | | |
| iPod collection, then storing the videos are | | | | Because of the huge size of DVD files, it is |
| more convenient while you are on transit. | | | | wise to store them in 30 or 60 GB iPods. With |
| | | | iPod shuffle or an iPod with lower storage |
| The process of transferring DVDs to your IPod | | | | capacity, you will not be able to store many |
| involves something called "ripping" which is | | | | videos in your iPod, if you can store |
| transferring the contents to your hard drive | | | | anything at all that is. Remember, the more |
| and then copying the same to your iPod using | | | | videos you store in your iPod the lesser will |
| iTunes. Several utilities can be used to do | | | | be the number of songs you can store. |
| this. Here are some low-downs on some of the | | | | |
| popular utilities. | | | | There are some copyright issues when you copy |
| | | | DVDs to iPods. Ripping a copy-right protected |
| A popular utility used today is Handbrake. To | | | | DVD to transfer to a iPod is considered |
| use this, first put the DVD in the adequate | | | | illegal under the Digital Millennium |
| drive. Then start the program. Once the | | | | Copyright Act. Of course the law does not |
| program is launched, it will automatically | | | | give its green signal when you wish to |
| scan the DVD. In case the disc is protected | | | | transfer content from your personal |
| by any app protection, scanning will not | | | | collection and utilize the same for personal |
| happen and you will read a line saying "no | | | | use. |
| valid title found". After due scanning a list | | | | |
| of titles will be displayed. These are all | | | | It seems alright if you as a rightful owner |
| the viewable titles like, the movie, any | | | | of a DVD copy its content to another portable |
| documentaries, deleted scenes, any extras, | | | | device. The law says that it is right to copy |
| etc. Choose the file which you wish to rip. | | | | DVD contents, so long as the same is not used |
| In case you can not locate the movie choose | | | | for infringement purposes. The Motion Picture |
| the file with the longest duration. Click the | | | | Association of America however disagrees when |
| Rip button. This starts the ripping process | | | | it says that for whatever reason it may be, |
| of the DVD which can take a few hours to | | | | any copy of DVD is violation of the DMCA. |
| complete. Once through, you can add the file | | | | Since the law does not say anything specific |
| to your iPod library. | | | | on whether copying DVDs is legal for personal |
| | | | use, every user is needed to access their own |
| Available at $29 from the makers' website, | | | | views on the subject. There are many who are |
| another utility is called Xilisoft DVD to | | | | of the opinion that DVD copying for personal |
| iPod converter. This permits file compression | | | | reasons is legal till there is a law that |
| to any size and lets you preview the ripping | | | | rules against it. |
| progression. Xilisoft is a great utility for | | | | |
| beginners but with the added benefits in | | | | May be in the very near future, we will have |
| terms of setting controls, it is a good buy | | | | digital DVDs which can be bought and |
| for seasoned users as well. | | | | downloaded from the Internet directly into |
| | | | the iPod, without using any external utility. |
| There are many other utilities also available | | | | But till such times, we have to use a utility |
| which permit conversion of DVDs into formats | | | | to rip the DVD content and add to the iPod. |
| which can be viewed on iPods. To find out | | | | |