| So, you've just taken in a shiny new iPad and | | | | In addition to the ability to take content from a DVD |
| impressed by its beautiful display. There are several | | | | directly to an iPad-ready format, iFunia DVD to iPad |
| possible sources of content that you will want to | | | | Converter for Mac also offers simple movie editings, |
| convert for viewing on this big screen, and the best | | | | the ability to queue up multiple tracks from a DVD, |
| tools to use for the job will often be determined by | | | | support for the finetune of video and audio settings |
| the type and source of that content. | | | | and the ability to extract audio track compatible with |
| The most common types of content include DVDs, | | | | the iPad. |
| downloaded digital video content (such as that | | | | Part III. Converting Standard Digital Video and HD |
| downloaded from the web), content recorded from | | | | Video Content |
| a TV using a digital video recorder (DVR), standard | | | | Standard Digital Video Content refers to the various |
| digital video content and high definition video content. | | | | types of digital content that can be stored on a |
| We will be discussing each of these content types in | | | | computer, such as that obtained from web sites and |
| turn, and our recommended tools for each. | | | | already pre-extracted from DVDs into other |
| Content | | | | non-iPad-ready formats. HD Video Content means |
| Part I - Understanding the formats compatible with | | | | high definition video. The HD video generally refers to |
| iPad | | | | any video system of higher resolution than |
| Part II - Converting DVDs | | | | standard-definition video, most of them are at display |
| Part III - Converting Standard Digital Video and HD | | | | resolutions of 1280*720 (720p) or 1920*1080 (1080i |
| Video Content | | | | or 1080p), and obtained from AVCHD and other HD |
| Part IV - Converting Recorded TV Content | | | | digital camcorder. |
| Part I. Understanding the formats compatible with | | | | There are many free tools for iPad video conversion |
| iPad | | | | on Mac, like iSquint, VisualHub, MPEG Streamclip, etc. |
| You know that 9.7-inch high-resolution screen makes | | | | But iSquint and VisualHub have been discontinued and |
| iPad perfect for watching video, but that doesn't | | | | are no longer for sale, while MPEG Streamclip cannot |
| mean that every type of video file will play on your | | | | convert HD video content. Maybe you can convert |
| iPad. The iPad supported video formats are: | | | | HD video from most digital camcorders through |
| H.264 video (up to 720p, 30 frames per second; main | | | | Apple's iMovie HD application included in iLife '06 or |
| profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, | | | | above. But iMovie does not provide any additional |
| 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file | | | | default presets for higher-resolution iPad, also the |
| formats); | | | | conversion times will be quite slow as it uses the |
| MPEG-4 video (up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 | | | | underlying Quicktime engine. |
| frames per second, simple profile with AAC-LC audio | | | | So far the best option for HD and SD video |
| up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, | | | | conversion for iPad maybe iPad Video Converter, still |
| and .mov file formats). | | | | from iFunia Corp. It's designed specifically for Apple's |
| Part II. Converting DVDs | | | | new tablet, provides standard presets for iPad |
| One of the most common sources of iPad content | | | | encoding, as well as simple video editings. For the |
| will be DVDs. Although the legality of ripping the | | | | average user, the main iPad Video Converter screen |
| content from DVDs varies in different jurisdictions, | | | | is nice and clean, providing just the necessary basic |
| many countries outside of the U.S. have no specific | | | | functions. You can simply drag in the content that |
| restrictions on the conversion of DVDs that you | | | | you would like converted, selecting your basic output |
| already own into other viewable formats. | | | | options, and hitting the "Start" button. Check the |
| On the Mac platform, the most commonly used tools | | | | detailed step-by-step guide from |
| for DVD extraction is MacTheRipper. MacTheRipper is | | | | Part IV. Converting Recorded TV Content |
| a simple DVD ripping tool; it does not actually convert | | | | Another type of content that many iPad users will |
| video, but merely extracts it from the DVD. The use | | | | want to convert is content recorded from broadcast |
| of MacTheRipper is relatively straightforward: Simply | | | | television sources, such as over-the-air, cable, and |
| insert a DVD and start the application and you will be | | | | satellite programming. This content can come from |
| presented with a main screen of MacTheRipper. | | | | digital video recording software installed directly onto |
| | | | a Mac, or from an external DVR such as a Tivo, and |
| MacTheRipper defaults to full disc extraction, it will | | | | EyeTV allows for the handling of either. |
| simply extract ALL content from the DVD. To | | | | EyeTV is probably the most popular solution for |
| extract a title from the DVD as a specific file, you | | | | recording TV content on a Mac. Selecting a show |
| instead need to click the "Mode" tab and choose | | | | from the online TV guide will have the advantage of |
| "Title - Chapter Extraction" from the pull-down menu. | | | | ensuring that the particulars of a given recording for |
| The result of this operation will be in MPEG-2 format, | | | | you, and when scheduling a recording, you can also |
| and can be viewed through any software application | | | | tell EyeTV to export to an iPad format immediately |
| capable of MPEG-2 playback, or converted using one | | | | after it finishes the recording. The converted video |
| of the tools discussed further in Part III. | | | | will also be automatically imported into iTunes with |
| Fortunately, there are other end-to-end iPad | | | | the correct name, description and show tags filled in |
| conversion solutions available. DVD to iPad Converter | | | | from the TV guide information, ready to be synced |
| for Mac from iFunia is the second and better option. | | | | to your iPad device. |
| It provides an integrated solution to preform the | | | | |
| extraction of DVD content and conversion to an | | | | |
| iPad-ready format. | | | | Conclusion |
| | | | With the iPad's new release, the number of options |
| | | | | and conversion tools will continue to evolve. This |
| The iFunia DVD to iPad Converter program comes | | | | article is not intended to be a comprehensive guide |
| with an intuitive interface with 3 easy steps. You can | | | | to every single possible tool available, but simply to |
| simply insert a DVD and start the program, it will | | | | provide some information on the more popular tools |
| then read the inserted DVD or DVD folder, then | | | | that are used for the various types of content and |
| select the iPad presets and output destination folder | | | | video conversion projects and provide some |
| and click Start button. That's so easy! You can learn | | | | guidelines on the methods for obtaining the best |
| the detailed step-by-step guide from iFunia's website. | | | | results from these. |