Video2Pod 1.2.4
OnlyMac Software
Price: $10 (limited trial)
Pros: Simple visual interface, iTunes integration, one-click iSight recording.
Cons: No WMV support, few features set it apart from free alternatives.
by Gerrit Dalman
Whether you want to waste an hour on a long flight, need something to keep you awake during CQ, or just don't want to pack your DVD collection to the desert, hand-held digital video is a great fit for an expeditionary lifestyle. But getting your extensive collection of standards-deprived movie files onto your device of choice can be a pain.
Enter OnlyMac's Video2Pod. For a pittance it will convert movies from a wide variety of formats into iPod-compatible media ready for your mobile enjoyment.
The program displays stills from all compatible files in the users "Movies" folder and offers two simple choices. Selecting a file and clicking on the harddrive button will save the converted movie to the disk while clicking on the other will import the new video into iTunes to be synced directly to an iPod. A third "conversion settings" button offers MP4 or h.264 encoding and some advanced output options.
Once started, conversion takes place in close to real time. As an added time saver, multiple files can be added to a queue and will be processed sequentially, making quick work of even large collections.
Video2Pod will import all of QuickTime's native formats and is successful with the majority of DivX content if you've installed a plugin (from DivX.com or DivX Labs). Unfortunately it does not handle Windows Media files even with the free Flip4Mac QuickTime components. That means that, for now, the huge collection of funny WMV files defense personnel seem to accumulate won't catch this ride on to your iPod.
In addition to the conversion features, a record tab lets you capture video straight from an iSight or other device. Using this feature, it's only a few steps to prepare and send video mail to a deployed member for them to watch on their PC, Mac, or iPod.
If you want to make the most of a 5G iPod, a PSP, or even Front Row, you need a program like this. While Video2Pod is a fine choice, there is little to set it apart from free alternatives. Still, if you prefer a visual interface and want the ability to capture your own short clips as well, Video2Pod is the right choice and well worth the modest cost!
System Requirements:
* Mac OS X 10.3.9