Movies On The iPod

Apple's iPod has transformed from a digital music player to a digital media player par excellence. Now in its fifth generation, the iPod brand covers devices that play music, display pictures of album covers, allow touch based interfaces, and even play your favorite movies and television programs, all available through the Apple Music Store. Beyond the commercial options, you can also download copies of your own video programming to your iPod through the iTunes music store.

How do you add a movie to become a part of your iPod movies? The first step is to choose what movie you want to put in your iPod movies. You can opt to download movies straight from the Internet but that might cost a bit more, around $2 USD for a movie. It is highly recommended that users download their iPod movies through the Apple iTunes Music Store.

Converting a movie you already own to play on the iPod is a bit tricky. There are compatibility problems lurking under the surface of the device, and it does take a bit of time. Remember that your time is also a valuable part of the equation - ask yourself how much two dollars of your time is actually worth before you start this quest.

If you've decided that, like Tim Taylor on ToolTime, the best way to do it is to do it yourself, you need to find a piece of software called a "codec ripper" - you can find several types on the internet by using Google to search for terms like "codec ripper" and "homemade iPod videos". Make sure that the software states, up front, that it supports the iPod video format, and be aware that not all of these things are created equally.

Video, when it's squashed down for digital presentation, uses an encryption/compression algorithm called a codec. There are several kinds of codecs out there, and the iPod will play a fair number of them. The most commonly used codec out there is called MP4 or MPEG4, and this is the native codec (with some tweaks) that the iPod uses. Make sure that whatever video converter you use gives you a preview function, so you can make sure that everything comes out well. Two "known good" converters are PQ DVD to iPod Video Converter, and ImTOO iPod Movie Converter.

Each of these software converts all of the popular video formats to iPod Movies MP4 (iPod video format MPEG-4) and they also convert audio files to iPod supported MP3, AAC, M4A file format. The conversion process happens automatically so all you have to do is set what format you want the movie converted then set the volume and the directory to save it in. Presto! You now have an addition to your iPod movies.

There is a coming storm about distribution rights and payment of creatives for digital media. The current WGA writer's strike that's shelved most popular television programs is just one example. Be aware that at some point, there may be tracking bits put into DVDs to prevent these kinds of rips, or to track down pirates to bring them to court.

For now, iPod video economics are set by the Hollywood production companies, because the cost to produce and create those programs is very high, while the cost of distribution can be very cheap - and they want to make sure that they make money doing their jobs. This is an area that's going to change rapidly over the next ten years.

One signal of where that change is going is TV episodes by iPod, which are currently a legal and financial hot potatoe, both between the networks and Apple, and between production companies and writers. The writers want payment of digital distribution in the form of residuals comparable to an airing of a rerun on TV - the production companies are saying otherwise (while pocketing almost a billion dollars in ad revenues from this.)

To fully enjoy your iPod movies, there are accessories available for your iPod video. With its TV OUT and wide screen option, you can share you iPod movies with friends inside your living room. The video quality will somewhat depend on the file compression but over-all the resolution is a great.

Other useful accessories for your iPod enjoyment include external speakers, and cable set ups - there are even stereos with "iPod docks" to let you just plug your iPod in.