DiscRipper may not rip all your discs, but it should handle most of them.
(Credit: Rick Broida)Giveaway of the Day is a site that offers a different software freebie every day of the week. It may sound too good to be true, but trust me, I've grabbed some real gems over the years.
Today's giveaway is an app for anyone looking to archive their DVDs or convert them to a mobile format. The aptly named DiscRipper normally sells for $29.95, but if you download and install it today, it's free.
Let me repeat that: The only catch is that you have to download and install the program before 12:00 PST tonight.
After downloading DiscRipper, be sure to read the instructions contained in the readme file. They're quite simple, but I'm always amazed by how many people report that a GotD freebie "doesn't work" or is "not the full version"--because they didn't follow the instructions.
I'll help out: Copy the license key from the readme file, run the program, click the Buy Now button, and then click Enter License Key. Paste in the key and you're good to go.
The program is a pretty basic ripper: Insert your DVD, choose an output folder and format (it supports everything from AVI to WMV), tweak any other settings you want, and then click Rip.
In my quick, informal test, it worked just fine on a new-release DVD, but I ran into trouble ripping a much older DVD. Your mileage may vary.
Either way, it's still a free DVD-ripping utility. I know some commenters will find a way to complain about it, but I say don't argue with free.
Backup deal: Speaking of freebies, Amazon Video on Demand is offering a free rental (by way of a $4 credit) when you enter code AVODGIFT. Today's turning into a free-nanza!
Though this multifaceted burning tool won't win any beauty awards, it has almost everything Windows users need to create CDs and DVDs. One of the most glaring holes in Windows XP is a good DVD burner program, and CDBurnerXP Pro fits the bill well. Despite a slightly confusing interface, this freeware tool should not disappoint users who take the time to familiarize themselves with its functionality.
The core of the program's feature set consists of three main tasks, which are prompted via a wizard upon start-up: writing data CDs and DVDs, creating CDs for audio playback, and ripping music from CDs, or editing ID3 tags. Canceling the wizard results in a rather blank blue screen with only a few selections in the toolbar. To work on a new project, you'll need to select one of the options, which can be brought back via the "New document" icon in the upper left. Unfortunately, you can't even open an existing project without selecting one of the wizard options first.
The program supports both burnproof and on-the-fly disc writing, as well as bootable ISO files, but it cannot burn double-layer DVDs, a feature promised for version 3.5 and still in alpha development. While it may take users some time to learn how to use it effectively, CDBurnerXP Pro is a competent tool and a great value.
Like a finely tuned laser, FreeRip 3 does one task: extracts songs from your CDs. You remember CDs, right? (Heck, I barely do.) Fortunately, FreeRip accomplishes its goal accurately--with little flair or window-dressing--and makes for an easy-to-use audio-track ripper.
The latest version of the program features some long overdue enhancements. Chief among them is the inclusion of the WMA format, and it's hard to believe it wasn't included before. FreeRip also supports WAV, MP3, Vorbis, and FLAC. Other features include multitrack ripping and an option to use the program as an audio-file converter. The options menu is extensive and will appeal to any advanced user, since it makes most manners of customization a cinch.
The interface is well done, with big icons and a friendly main window split into two sections. The left pane lists the tracks, and the right gives you specific info on each song and has a tab to switch to CD-wide info. The toolbar has icons for all the major functions of the app as well as links to the publisher's community pages. In the end, FreeRip doesn't do anything its competitors don't, but it functions well, is uncomplicated and quick, and has no price tag.
Got a different favorite freeware track ripper? Tell me about it in the comments below.
In addition to the disc-ripping and -burning capabilities with which Nero first made its mark, the digital-media suite also offers a bevy of options for managing movies, music, and photos. Nero helps you create and edit videos and music files, share that content online, turn your PC into a media center, and back up and recover data in case of disaster. Nero 8 includes a revamped entry page in addition to new support for burning and creating HD and Blu-ray CDs and DVDs.
Nero 8 costs $79 to download, $99 for the box, and $49 to upgrade from Nero 7 Ultra Edition. In the past, Nero has not issued a new version of its software every year, unlike so many other brands. Instead, a new package would come onto the market every other year or so. Peppered between each release were significant updates that Nero's 50 million or so active users could download for free. Now, however, Nero will follow an annual version-update schedule.... Read more
What's better than Nero 7's suite of multimedia apps, which bursts with tools to record, edit, save, and distribute audio, video, and data CDs and DVDs in a dozen permutations?
The so-new-you-can't-buy-it release of Nero 8. Tune into the First Look video below, and watch this space on Monday for a full review.
(Credit:
CNET Networks)
When RealPlayer launched back in 1995, it was mostly used to provide consumers with streaming audio and video content without giving them a local copy. Its feature set has grown considerably in recent years, but it's still surprising to see a new RealPlayer 11 beta version that lets users record YouTube videos and Internet radio directly to their hard drives.
Recording streaming media is nothing new, of course. Open-source app Streamripper32 has been letting users record Shoutcast radio for many years, and my favorite audio player, Quintessential Player, can automatically record nearly any audio stream.
Extensions for Mozilla Firefox like Ook Video Ook allow you to save any embedded content in a Web page, including YouTube videos and MySpace audio streams, whereas VideoDownloader focuses more on simply downloading all online videos.
RealPlayer's emergence into the stream-ripping genre is a definite validation of the concept, though the legal issues around the topic seem far from settled.
What do you use to download streaming audio and video locally? Tell me about it in the comments.
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