Help w/ Digital Copies w/out using iTunes

[tsakdee]

I hate using iTunes so I always transfer all my audio and video files into my iPod using other programs. Is there a way I can use the digital copies without iTunes? When I put the Digital Copy DVD into the drive I can see the video file but when I try to transfer it to my iPod the video wont play. Is there a way to get around this? I'm just not a fan of iTunes and refuse to create an account with them.

[guns1inger]

There are plenty of apps that can encode for the iPod that have nothing to do with iTunes. Videora, Xvid4PSP, WinFF, CDex for audio conversion to MP3 etc.

How you get it onto the iPod without iTunes is another question. There are quite a few applications for managing iPod content. I don't know how good they may be.

If you hate iTunes that much, why get an iPod ? There are plenty of much better portable units around.

[Ai Haibara]

...however, most of the third-party managers probably won't be able to do much with DRM-encoded videos, which is what most of the Digital Copy videos included with DVD (and BD?) releases usually are.

tsakdee: What container does the video use (probably .wmv)? Are there any instructions given with the DVD (or on it) telling you how to activate the video and put it on (your iPod)?

If it is .wmv, it'll certainly have to be re-encoded... but the studio/DVD maker might also have an option for you to download an iPod-compatible version, as well.

[tsakdee]

There are plenty of apps that can encode for the iPod that have nothing to do with iTunes. Videora, Xvid4PSP, WinFF, CDex for audio conversion to MP3 etc.

How you get it onto the iPod without iTunes is another question. There are quite a few applications for managing iPod content. I don't know how good they may be.

If you hate iTunes that much, why get an iPod ? There are plenty of much better portable units around.

I use Winamp to transfer the files into my iPod. I have encoded a few of my DVDs into videos for my iPod but its the newer movies I buy in Blu-Ray that I wish I could just use the digital copy that it comes with to use on my iPod.

Why get an iPod? Well I like the way the iPod works and all the new home audio and car audio systems out there are iPod compatible (can control iPod) I don't see many options out there for the Zune or the Zen. Besides, some companies make good hardware but have really bad software. The iPod and iTunes is one example of that.

[tsakdee]

...however, most of the third-party managers probably won't be able to do much with DRM-encoded videos, which is what most of the Digital Copy videos included with DVD (and BD?) releases usually are.

tsakdee: What container does the video use (probably .wmv)? Are there any instructions given with the DVD (or on it) telling you how to activate the video and put it on (your iPod)?

If it is .wmv, it'll certainly have to be re-encoded... but the studio/DVD maker might also have an option for you to download an iPod-compatible version, as well.

I haven't looked at some lately but most of the ones I've seen before are indeed WMV files.

[guns1inger]

So you just need an encoder, and are happy to continue to use WinAMP to do the file management ?

You will have problems converting DRM protected WMV files, but if you are starting from Bluray source then RipBot264 is probably the best option. Be prepared from long encoding times though, especially if your computer details are correct.

[tsakdee]

So you just need an encoder, and are happy to continue to use WinAMP to do the file management ?

You will have problems converting DRM protected WMV files, but if you are starting from Bluray source then RipBot264 is probably the best option. Be prepared from long encoding times though, especially if your computer details are correct.

Yup. Just something that will let me play the video file on my ipod or just from my computer.

Yeah my comp is very outdated. a long conversion is ok. I can just leave it going at night.

I just read the description of the software. It says it a ripper for DVDs and Blu-Rays. Will it remove the protection from a WMV file?

[guns1inger]

No. There used to a program called Fairuse4WMV or similar, but I don't know if it is still valid or not. WMVs, if unprotected, can be processed with Xvid4PSP.

[tsakdee]

Thanks! I'll check them out.

If anyone else knows of what I need and isn't posted yet, please1 do reply.

[guns1inger]

Some light reading

http://www.iskysoft.com/article/remove-wmv-protection.html

[SingSing]

Is there a simple program that can transfer MP3 or video files from windows XP to Ipod touch ?

[Ai Haibara]

Winamp?

Technically, you can move files onto the iPod using Windows Explorer, but you'd need to know exactly where to place them, and how to manually update the iPod's databases.

You may also be able to use Floola to access the iPod. Personally, though, I haven't tried anything else - and I don't think there's really anything simpler. Not sure if Songbird or foobar2K can do it... MediaMonkey, maybe.