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Converting video - DVD to iPod

Moving audio around - from CD to PC to MP3 to iPod - is an simple task, with lots of free tools to make it easy.  This week, I needed something to get one of my DVDs over to my iPod, and found one useful tool - Cucusoft DVD to iPod Converter [download link - 5.4MB].
[Drag the slider to enlarge the screenshot] - [details on this]
It's a super-easy way to rip a DVD into iPod-compatible MP4, H.264 at up to 768 Kbps or MPEG4 at up to 2.5 Mbps.  Options for various input and output formats let you choose details about the audio downsampling, frame rates, codecs, how aspect ratio is handled, and more.  On my 2.2GHz Pentium 4 laptop, conversion is slightly slower than real-time, and the output looks great.

Cucusoft's iPod Video Converter [download link - 4.3MB] does the same to-iPod video conversions, but from a variety of sources, including AVI, MPEG, Windows Media, RealVideo, DivX, and others.

Each product retails for $29.95, but the two are available as a "suite" for $39.95 [download link - iPod Video Converter Suite 7.1MB].  The downloadable trial versions are fully functional, but leave a "Trial Version" watermark on the converted video image.

I haven't done an exhaustive review of products available in this category, but in a pinch, the Cucusoft toolset was exactly what I needed to get the job done with little ramp-up time and minimal effort.  I recommend giving it a try.

[Disclosure - the download links on this page are affiliate links. If you register the software by clicking "Upgrade" from one of these downloads, a small payment will go to help support this website.]