[kentuckyfried]

For video conversion, I used to use FFMPEG, but I ended up switching over to iSquint, which worked great. iSquint doesn't involve as much finagling with the options in FFMPEG, saving the frustration of converting a file for over 40 minutes and then finding out it doesn't work b/c of some thing I forgot to toggle (plus FFMPEG, the last time I checked, couldn't do batch conversions b/c of a bug).

It seems that the company has now been closed. =(


a) What mac tools would you recommend for the conversion of avi, wmv, and divx files into a mp4 format that works with the iPod touch/iPhone?

THE MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION:

b) What about the PC side of things? My friend kept borrowing my PSP, and then I asked him, "why don't you use your iphone" to which he replied, "I don't know how to convert files on a PC"

I've never done it on a PC, since the computers at work all require applying to get admin access right now, so most of the freeware won't install. It's too bad VLC doesn't have this function built-in, since that's the one thing I can install without having to get an admin to step in.

Your answers are much appreciated, thanks in advance.

[Cold Warrior]

handbrake runs on Windows and OS X. I use it on OS X.

It has had some problems on Snow Leopard, but depending on what you do, it may be stable enough. They are putting out "nightlies" on a regular basis to work through these issues.

[kentuckyfried]

Thanks, I just noticed the handbrake URL on the iSquint download page too. I'm excited to go home and give that a whirl.

[Simon]

So far iSquint and Handbrake have served me well for all my iPod and iPhone rips. iSquint is simpler/faster, but Handbrake offers more options and IMHO is better suited for large screens (iPod touch, iPhone).