Some Practical tools for your iPod

Video Converters

videora iPod Converter: A free iPod video converter that converts video files, YouTube videos, movies and DVD's so you can play them on your iPod.

Media-Convert: web based media converter

HandBrake: Rip DVD movies to your iPod. (MacOS X, Linux and Windows)

Pavtube DVD ripper:(shareware) rip DVD to your ipod with excellent quality.

General Ipod Management Tools

Sharepod: another free program that can run from directly from iPod, let’s you easily transfer files between your machine and iPod without using iTunes. Features; built-in music player, search, create winamp-style playlists, network file sharing (using this feature you can allow other network(office,college, etc) users to run your copy of SharePod from their own computers and download music directly from your iPod) and more.

YamiPod: A freeware application to efficiently manage your iPod under Mac OS X, Windows and Linux. multi-purpose tool that can run directly from your iPod. Features include; PC to ipod AutoSync, playlists import/export (PLS,M3U), built-in music player, last.fm support, search, song list export and more

Ephpod: Ipod management tool for windows machines, not as flexible as above ones but has couple of cool features;

• fast song transfer (1,000 songs under 30 minutes)
• supports standard WinAmp (.M3U) playlists
• powerful playlist creation features
• one click synchronization
• microsoft outlook contacts import
• latest news, weather, e-books, and movie listings

Task Specific Tools

CantoPod: get favorite lyrics on your iPod (with over 200.000 lyrics to choose from)

Dictionary: hook up your ipod with dictionary that includes over 40,000 definitions, Handbook of Style,Common Abbreviations and pronunciation guide

Encyclopodia: this incredible tool can get wikipedia.org into your iPod, if you’re one of those who can’t imagine web without wikipedia defintely check it out

GoogleGet: weather+news combo tool. When it comes to news, best option would be to have something like RSS reader that can convert feeds into iPod readable format, however I wasn’t able to find any free tool for that, what I got is Igadget which will cost you $15 Post it in comments in case you know about any other alternative

iDirectionz: store driving directions on your iPod (update: idirectionz will work only on windows, thanks to iching for pointing it out)

iPodGym: turn iPod into your gym advisor; iPodGym is a website where you can find over 80 exercise videos (incl. descriptions) all of which can adopted to the iPod format.

iPodwizard: windows program that let’s you change fonts, graphics and text on you iPod

Ipod-notes | Ipod-ebook-creator: these 2 nifty tools let you easily create iPod compatible ebooks from regular text files. Actually, Ipod-notes goes even further by letting you create ebook from a webpage, check it out. In case you need some free ebooks to start with, drop by Project Gutenberg Library

piPod - guide to the best pizzerias in the five boroughs of NYC

Ipodlinks: variety of icons and wallpapers

senuti(Mac OSX): this application syncs files off your iPod and sends them directly to your iTunes library. It can also play songs directly off iPod

Weather for Me: downloads weather forecasts from Myforecast.com and puts it on your iPod

Ipodwizard: ipod themes

HOW TO Rip DVD Movies To Your iPod Using Free Software

HandBrake is a software application that can convert a DVD into a MPEG-4 video file in .mp4, .avi, .ogm, or .mkv containers.
HandBrake 0.9.2 incorporates many major and exciting changes—including full support for the AppleTV Take 2 and the latest iPhone/iPod Touch firmware. Mac users take note: this release is only compatible with Mac OS X Leopard, 10.5.

1. Choose download for Operating System:
   
   Download HandBrake for windows
   
   Download HandBrake for OS X 10.5
   

2. Windows Vista Users
   

   As of version 0.9.2 you should no longer need to give HandBrake admin rights, however if you run into problems you should add admin rights for the application.
   

   To do this simply right click the shortcut, Select Properties, Click the "Compatibility" Tab, Check "Run this program as an Administrator", Press "Apply", then "OK"
   Remember: This has to be done for all shortcut's of Handbrake. You could alternatively simply set admin rights on the exe itself (Under the Program Files Directory or wherever you installed it.)


3. You need to do is click the “Browse” button which is in the Source box. If you're selecting a DVD source simply click "Browse", however if you wish to select an ISO or TS/MPG file then first select the "File" radio selection. As shown in Figure 1.
   
   

   Depending on what option you select, you will either see a file or folder selection window appear.

   Assuming you have the DVD option selected, (Thats the default option) you will get a folder dialog box up on the screen. You’ll see the name of the DVD listed followed by a drive letter above. Click the + arrow and you’ll then see a “VIDEO_TS” folder appear below it. Select this and press ok.

   If you selected the file option, simply browse to the location where your source input file is located and select it.

   Once you've selected your source and clicked "OK" you'll see another window appear. Read what it says then press the "OK" button. You'll see a command prompt window appear behind this window for around 10~60 seconds. Once the DVD has been scanned, you will be returned to the original Handbrake window (as per the first screenshot).

4. Selecting a DVD Title
   There is a drop-down menu named "DVD Title:". You are given a list of Titles on the DVD. Select the one you wish to encode. (The one with the longest duration is usually the main movie.) You can either leave the DVD chapters dropdowns set to auto or select the range of chapters you'd like to encode.


5. Setting up the Output File.
   Click the "Browse" button in the Destination box. Browse to where you wish to save the output video. Type in a file name. Click "Save".


6. Encoding Settings (using presets)
   Choose a preset from the Preset list. This will automatically setup the all the required settings. All you need to do now is press the "Encode Video" button and wait for it to finish.

Notes: - Encode times will be anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours depending on the length of the video, the settings which are being used and finally the hardware of your PC.

Supported sources

Any DVD-like source: VIDEO TS folder, DVD image or real DVD (encrypted for non-Windows platforms or unencrypted for all platforms, but protection methods other than CSS are not supported and must be handled externally with third-party software) PAL or NTSC, AC-3, LPCM or MPEG audio tracks.

Outputs

* File format: MP4, AVI, OGM or MKV.
* Video: MPEG-4 or H.264 (1 or 2 passes or constant quantizer encoding).
* Audio: AAC, MP3, Vorbis or AC-3 pass-through (supports encoding of several audio tracks).
* Misc features: chapter selection; basic subtitle support (burned into the picture); integrated bitrate calculator; picture deinterlacing, cropping and scaling; grayscale encoding.

Supported file types

* Input: DVD, DVD image, DVD VOB files, Transport Stream
* Output container formats: MP4, AVI, OGM, and MKV
* Video Codecs: x264 (with H.264 output), Xvid and FFmpeg (with MPEG-4 ASP output)
* Audio: AAC, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, and AC3

Supported iPod, Apple TV, PSP,PS3 and so on!

Four Very good software for ripping DVD to your iPod

I have try many software for ripping DVD to my iPod, and find some is very good tools, With the super fast conversion speed and excellent output quality.

1. Wondershare DVD to iPod Ripper is a powerful DVD to iPod Ripper software for your iPod player. With the latest MPEG-4 video encodetechnology XviD & H.264, you can easily convert all kinds of DVD movies to iPod video MP4 and iPod audio MP3 and M4A,put DVD on your 30GB or 80GB iPod with 640 by 480 resolution.
   ------ Microsoft Windows ME/2000/NT/XP/2003
   Wondershare DVD to iPod converter for Mac is an excellent DVD to iPod conversion tool that is designed for Mac OS users to convert DVD to iPod video.
   


2. Xilisoft DVD to iPod Suite is all-in-one and easy-to-use DVD iPod rip software, iPod music and iPod movie converter. The DVD to iPod rip software includes two excellent products, i.e. DVD to iPod Converter and iPod Video Converter.
   -----Windows 98/ME/NT4/2000/2003/XP and Windows Vista;
   


3. Pavtube DVD to iPod Converter is professional all-in-one and easy-to-use DVD to iPod software. It can rip DVD to MP4, DVD to H.264, MP3, WAV, M4A, and AAC; perfectly help you convert DVD to iPod classic, iPod nano, iPod shuffle, iPod touch, iPod mini, iPod U2, etc.
   ------Windows 98/ME/NT4/2000/2003/XP and Windows Vista
   


4. Cucusoft DVD to iPod Converteris the easiest-to-use and fastest DVD to iPod converter software for Apple iPod Video devices. It can convert almost any kinds of DVD to iPod video format.
   ------Windows 98/ME/NT4/2000/2003/XP and Windows Vista
   

How to Rename Your iPod

Sick of your generically named iPod? Let's change it!
Renaming your iPod is actually a very simple procedure. Here's a list of step-by-step instructions on how to rename your iPod:

Requirements:

• Any iPod


• Any computer capable of running iTunes .

HOW TO RENAME YOUR iPOD

1. Turn on your computer and open the iTunes application


2. Connect your iPod to your computer. Wait until you see your iPod appear in the iTunes Source list. In this example, my 60GB Video iPod is just called "iPod". That's boring. Let's change it.
   
   


3. Double click on your iPod's name. The iPod's name should now be highlighted and editable.
   
   


4. Type a new name. Press Enter. This name is still boring, but at least you get the idea right?
   

NERD NOTE: Don't feel like opening iTunes to rename your iPod? You can actually rename it directly from the Finder (Mac) or Windows (PC) unless your iPod is set to AutoSync with iTunes. If you do have an AutoSyncing iPod, please use the procedure detailed above.

iTunes Store Sells Over Five Billion Songs

Apple has announced that it has sold over five billion songs through the iTunes Store since it went on line back in April of 2003.

The iTunes Store is the world's most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over eight million songs, over 20,000 TV episodes and over 2,000 films including over 350 in stunning high definition video. With Apple's legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as iTunes Movie Rentals, integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, the ability to turn previously purchased tracks into complete albums at a reduced price, and seamless integration with iPod and iPhone, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.

Apple also indicates that iTunes customers are now renting and purchasing over 50,000 movies per day, making the iTunes Store the world's most popular online movie store.