How to convert video for the iPod
A key draw of the iPod as a portable video player (PVP) is the fact that its complementing software, iTunes, offers a cheap, easy, and legal way to get content that will play on the device. But what if you already own the video files you'd like to watch, but they're in any variety of formats that aren't natively supported by the iPod? iTunes has a built-in converter, but then you'd be limited to the file types that QuickTime supports. If you want the capability to convert from the full gamut of video file types, check out the tip below.A note before starting: There's quite a selection of free software programs available that convert from nearly every file type to an iPod-friendly format, but many of the ones I tried in the service of this tutorial had drawbacks, such as processor hang ups and unclear conversion progress monitoring. In testing, I found that Videora didn't choke up my system, and it's so clear on its own that you'll scarcely need to follow this tutorial. If nothing else, the walkthrough below will at least give you a feel for the interface--including the extensive ad placement that lets you enjoy the software for free.Cost: FreeLevel: BeginnerTime commitment: Varies, but figure on about one hour per hour of video (unmonitored)System requirements: WindowsDownload and install Videora iPod ConverterOpen Videora and select your iPod type. If you have more than one iPod, start with the one you use most for video. You can adjust settings later for different players. Add videos Click the Convert button at the top of the window, then select the Video File tab. Select user profileClick Normal Mode for the least amount of tweaking on your part. You can always go under the settings tab to adjust video output type, should you choose. For the iPod Touch (or iPhone), videos are automatically converted to H.264 at 480x320. For the iPod Classic or Nano, videos will be H.264 QVGA.Add videoClick Select File, then navigate to the window that contains the video that you want to convert.Select output directoryClick Browse, then navigate to the folder where you want your output file saved. I have a specific folder named iPod Videos for such purposes. Click Next.Name the videoType in a name for the video. This is how the title will be displayed on your iPod. Click Next.Adjust video settingsThe better the video quality you select, the larger the output file will be. I left the settings as is and the result was passable when played back on the iPod. Click Next.Convert videoClick Start Converting.Monitor progress You'll be taken to a screen with two options. Click View Conversion in Process. You can also get to the monitoring screen by clicking the Convert button at the top of the screen, and then the Progress tab.Add files to the queueRepeat steps 2 through 9, adding as many videos as you wish to convert. I recommend doing this at night before you go to bed, as the process is time consuming and slows your machine somewhat. You can check the box labeled Shutdown When Complete if you want your computer to be automatically shut down at the end of the process.Videora should automatically add the completed files to iTunes--it did for me most of the time. In the event that it fails to add a file, simply navigate to the output folder you selected and drag the file directly into the iTunes interface. Videos automatically show up under Movies unless you edit each one's information in iTunes. To do so, right click the file, select Get Info, then click the Video tab. Under the Video Kind drop-down, select the appropriate category. If it's a TV Show, you can add the show name, season number, and episode number.
5-year-old sorry for racking up $2,500 iPad bill in 10 minutes
5-year-old sorry for racking up $2,500 iPad bill in 10 minutes
Weapons cost money.This is something we hear all the time in discussions about budgets cuts. It's also something the Kitchen family discovered when they gave their little 5-year-old Danny the passcode for their iPad.Danny, you see, wanted to play Zombies vs. Ninja, a game that somehow has passed me by. Still, the future brigadier-general of the British army explained to his parents that the game was free.Greg and Sharon Kitchen of Warmley, England, were busy entertaining, so what better way to keep their little 5-year-old quiet than to bury his fascination in an iPad? As the Telegraph reports, everyone had a lovely evening.The following Monday, however, the Kitchens received 19 e-mails from iTunes. They had allegedly spent 1,710.43 British pounds (around $2,570) through the iTunes store.Oh, and then their credit card company called, reminding them of their sudden expenditure on bombs.Yes, these were virtual ecstasy bombs. But ecstasy bombs can be expensive.The Kitchens seemed to have bought a lot of virtual keys too. They had surely not been partaking of a key party.Sharon Kitchen quickly realized who the culprit was. She told the Telegraph: "I realized what happened and told Danny he'd better get ready for bed and run and hide before daddy got home. He was crying, as the rest of the children were telling him we could have bought a house with the amount he had spent."Children can be cruel, as well as expensive. Kitchen believes it was far too easy for Danny to go to town on the bombs. For his part, Danny admits to having cried and isn't even aware how he bought so much stuff.He also added: "I'm banned from the iPad now, but I am still going to play games when I can, but I will be careful now." The timing of this unfortunate incident is quite eerie. Just a couple of days ago, Apple settled a lawsuitbrought by parents who thought it far too easy for their kids to make in-app purchases.In the Kitchens' case, the company refunded the money, saying that they had alerted Apple quickly to the issue.An Apple spokesman also told the Telegraph that parental controls exist on all iOS devices. He added: "Our parents' guide to iTunes details the steps and measures parents and guardians can take to make sure younger players have access to the right content. The first thing we recommend is not to share your password." May I translate?: "You must be mad if you trust your 5-year-old with your password. Have you any idea what 5-year-olds are like?"
Weapons cost money.This is something we hear all the time in discussions about budgets cuts. It's also something the Kitchen family discovered when they gave their little 5-year-old Danny the passcode for their iPad.Danny, you see, wanted to play Zombies vs. Ninja, a game that somehow has passed me by. Still, the future brigadier-general of the British army explained to his parents that the game was free.Greg and Sharon Kitchen of Warmley, England, were busy entertaining, so what better way to keep their little 5-year-old quiet than to bury his fascination in an iPad? As the Telegraph reports, everyone had a lovely evening.The following Monday, however, the Kitchens received 19 e-mails from iTunes. They had allegedly spent 1,710.43 British pounds (around $2,570) through the iTunes store.Oh, and then their credit card company called, reminding them of their sudden expenditure on bombs.Yes, these were virtual ecstasy bombs. But ecstasy bombs can be expensive.The Kitchens seemed to have bought a lot of virtual keys too. They had surely not been partaking of a key party.Sharon Kitchen quickly realized who the culprit was. She told the Telegraph: "I realized what happened and told Danny he'd better get ready for bed and run and hide before daddy got home. He was crying, as the rest of the children were telling him we could have bought a house with the amount he had spent."Children can be cruel, as well as expensive. Kitchen believes it was far too easy for Danny to go to town on the bombs. For his part, Danny admits to having cried and isn't even aware how he bought so much stuff.He also added: "I'm banned from the iPad now, but I am still going to play games when I can, but I will be careful now." The timing of this unfortunate incident is quite eerie. Just a couple of days ago, Apple settled a lawsuitbrought by parents who thought it far too easy for their kids to make in-app purchases.In the Kitchens' case, the company refunded the money, saying that they had alerted Apple quickly to the issue.An Apple spokesman also told the Telegraph that parental controls exist on all iOS devices. He added: "Our parents' guide to iTunes details the steps and measures parents and guardians can take to make sure younger players have access to the right content. The first thing we recommend is not to share your password." May I translate?: "You must be mad if you trust your 5-year-old with your password. Have you any idea what 5-year-olds are like?"
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