Why doesn't itunes?

[anotherfreak]

Why doesn't itunes let you rip tv episodes from dvd's like songs from cds?

I have some Kids shows I have bought on DVD for my daughter, and I'd like to be able to watch them on my ipod touch for long road trips.

I know there is software outside of itunes to convert files, but is there any reason I should beware of outside programs like these. Is there one that is better than the others? Are there legal things I should know about? I'm feelin' old, I like tube amps

[specialk]

I've never used them but there are two I think. Mac The Ripper:

http://mac.softpedia.com/get/Utilities/MacTheRipper.shtml

and Handbrake:

http://handbrake.fr/details.php

I don't know what the difference is between them, but it's a good place to start.

[mathman]

Mac the ripper creates a folder that is playable by DVD player app that is a copy of the movie minus copy protection. You can then use disk utility or Toast ( a disc burning application) to make a copy of the DVD.

Handbrake creates a movie file from the disk that can be put on an ipod, in itunes, on psp, on appletv etc. from the dvd.

The same company that makes Toast makes a program called Popcorn that does the same as Handbrake. There are other companies that make software that does the same thing as Mac the ripper. Avoid most because they are no better than Mac the ripper and cost money.

Ripit is an exception. It works pretty well but it creates a dvd player file that can be played using dvd player on the mac but doesn't always remove the copy protection.

The windows side has lots of programs that do the same thing. Handbrake is compatible with both. For windows programs that are comparable to Mac the Ripper> click here.

[geoff_hartwell]

Are you a Mac or a PC?

I'm a Mac and I have to say +1,000,000 for HandBrake. It's FREE, and takes minutes to download and get working. For a 2-hr movie, I select about 700mb as the file size, and I have more than 100 movies on my MacBook Pro and my iPod Classic (in addition to a bajillion songs). If you're definitely only watching on an iPod, you can make the file size smaller, but the quality goes down. I then save them to my iTunes library and back it up on an external drive.

The conversion process is pretty slow (about an hour or even two, to convert a 2-hr movie) but the convenience of having all the Naked Gun movies when I'm stuck in an airport or hotel room is a Godsend.

I did most of them by copying the movies I already had that I re-watch, then getting three movies at a time from Netflix and burning one while I watched another. The public library is the cheapest alternative and probably has the most kid stuff.

Good Luck!

Geoff

[Bennyboy-UK]

Irrelevant I know - but I think iTunes is bloody rubbish. Generally.

[mathman]

iTunes 10 is a disappointment but I like iTunes just fine. Does everything I need it too.

[anotherfreak]

I'm a PC, and I think itunes is rubbish, but for now it's what I have to work with.

I had heard about handbreak, I usually ask my students, they seem to be the best theives of the airways I trust advice from here more

I thought I was the only one who owned the naked gun vids