How to Convert DVD Movies to iPod Format

If you want to convert (or 'rip') a DVD to run on your iPod, you will need software to perform the conversion as well as a copy of iTunes on your computer. Ipods with video use the MPEG-4 video format with the H.264 codec. Fortunately, there are a couple of conversion methods possible to get there from your DVDs.

Using an older, commonly 2-step conversion process, you could first convert your DVDs from their DVD format to .avi files, then convert from those files from .avi to .mov (QuickTime), and then finally upload to your iPod via iTunes.

Or you could simply purchase a DVD to iPod conversion utility such as PQ, Avex and Cucusoft DVD to iPod programs convert DVD formats directly from the DVD to the iPod file format.

The things to look for in a one-step converter are speed, audio and video quality (since you will be converting both video and audio files), as well as ease-of-use for beginners, since converters often come with advanced features difficult for the newbie to grasp.

Newbies will definitely want instructions as it's not intuitive what to do when opening a DVD in a converter and see all kinds of weird files and folders, such as VOB (Video Objects - where the movie files are), IFO (files that provide information for DVD players about where chapters start, where certain audio tracks are located, and so forth) and BUP (simply backup files.) Plus questions about bit rates and image sizes may throw a beginner as well, so ease-of-use is essential.

Also, if you are looking specifically at a DVD converter, not a more general video converter, make sure it converts all DVD formats. Not all do. And, as always, look for reviews from trusted sources such as CNet.

Converting your DVD movies to iPod format is only part of the process, however. You also will need to load the results into your iPod.

To do this, you must have iTunes on your computer. Fortunately iTunes is available free for both Macs and PCs from Apple and uploading is easy.

Simply drag the MP4 or .mov file you have converted into your iTunes library or select Add to Library from the File menu, and then select the desired movie. (Note: You probably want to click on "Videos" in the left column then double click on your file just to make sure the video actually works.) Then load the movie onto you iPod for your viewing pleasure.

For more on how to convert video and DVD to iPod-compatible format as well as reviews of the top-selling DVD to iPod Converter software, you should visit the iPod Conversion Guide today at http://www.ipodconversionguide.com/!

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Broadband - Unsure Future for the UK

Stephen Timms, the UK's minister for competitiveness, warned last year that the UK risks falling behind in the race to providing super-fast broadband networks, claiming the situation to be "21st century's equivalent of the great arms race".

Timms drew up comparisons between our current broadband networks to those used in Japan and Korea, the world's leaders in broadband speeds, questioning why the UK should be allowed to fall behind.

The average advertised speed in Japan was 93Mbps in 2007, and South Korea's 43Mbps. Compare this to the average advertised speed of 10Mbps in the UK, with actual download speeds in the region of 4.5Mbps its easy to see where Timms is coming from.

The answer, it would seem, to stepping up our broadband networks is easy enough - a nationwide roll-out of fibre optic networks. The practicability and cost factors involved with such a roll out however, are where businesses and government officials start to stumble.

With an estimated cost of 7 to 15Bn, Ofcom, the UK's telecommunications regulatory body is having a hard time trying to convince any one company to invest.

It's been raised that what Timms didn't take into consideration is the concentration of residence in Japan and South Korea, where network speeds are at their highest. As, once you move out of the big cities and into the vast rural areas, the situation with slow or no broadband access isn't all that dissimilar to that experienced here in the UK.

Realistically it would seem that there is no "quick-fix" solution to the problem.

Various experiments and trials are being commissioned around the country with regards to implementing fibre networks, which will of course help towards the cause.

Moreover, even though it does not compare to other countries' networks, the UK is expected to be able to have the networks in place to increase advertised broadband download rates to 24Mbps over the coming years; which is a considerable improvement based on current standards.

Liam is a UK based author, currently focusing on broadband Compare cheap broadband online today.

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