JurassicJon’s Blog

Since I got my iPod, I kept looking for a way to transfer my DVD movies to the iPod compatible format so I could watch them on the go.  So I thought I would share this with you.  A word of caution to anyone that reads this, you should look into the laws of your area, because even though you might of bought it, disabling the encryption my lead to prosecution.

I am going to tell you how to use the mac version right now, but you can do this on a Windows and Linux Box. At the moment I am not sure how to do this because for Windows and Linux have different ways of handling the decryption then the Mac OS, but I will do a new blog post for the Windows and the Linux version when I find out.

1) you will need to get the lastedt version of VLC and HandBreak. HandBreak is the ripping software that will rip the DVD and will also convert the video to the iPod, and VLC holds the codec you need to decrypt the
movie so you can convert it, which will again, will brake laws.

2) install the programs. VLC has to be installed into the main applications folder as I have heard that it does not work any other way. HandBrake will automaticly pic up The codec from VLC when in the main applications folder, and will start using it on lunch.

3) when you lunch the application it will bring up the open dialog box for you to select were the information is stored. Navigate to the DVD drive that you have the DVD in, and then go into the folder called “VIDEO_TS” and click open. It should start scanning the dvd to figure out all the information about it.

4) Once it is done scanning the DVD, look over to the side, and there should be a list of pre-set options for you to select from.  Open the Apple selection and there should be a list of options of Universal, AppleTV, Quicktime, iPod , iPhone/iPod Touch, and so on.  Select which one you would like to convert to and then click start  at the top of the window and off you go.

The rest is what you would normally would do to add video from your hard drive to your iPod.  The quality is really nice on the iPod Touch I have to say.

JurassicJon

I got an iPod Touch for Christmas, so I have been trying out different apps (free ones that is). I would like to try some of the paid apps, but that can wait till I start getting an income to do that.

I thought I would give the wordpress app a try since it is Ine of the free apps out. Blogging from the iPod Touch isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. This would make it so much easier to blog if I can’t get access to a computer, but still have access to my iPod and a wifi network.

Using a desktop or a laptop would be a lot better choice to use, but for portable device, this is perfect. I am probably going to use my iPod for doing posts when I am in the car going some where or when I don’t have Internet access (since I can save drafts localy).

JurassicJon

OK, for the past three to five months, I have been getting a lot of problems connecting to wireless networks using Mac OS X 10.5.3 and up.  The problems range from, wireless network signal strength drops to 0%, new wireless devices kicks off, and so on.  I know it isn’t my wireless router is because It has not done that to both my Xbox 360 with the wireless adapter, Zonbu Notebook, and also a lot of people where/are having a lot of problems with this.

But with the advent of Mac OS X 10.5.6, some of the problems have fixed when I have updated, but the problem I found was that there is a lot of wireless network around my area.  And I have found the more wireless networks, the more the mac gets confused to as which one it is supposed to connect to which Windows has not given me a problem with.  But I have found that if you change some settings in you’re network settings page, it will give you a more fighting chance to stay on your wireless network and not get disconnected.

How I have managed to fix this that most people where saying that works is to first open the System Preferences page.  From there, go to your “Network” section, and at the very top of that section, open tab that says “Automatic”, and then click on “Edit Locations”.  Click the “+” simble to add a net location and then name it to what ever you want (Mine is named Jurassic :P) and then click “Done”.  Now it is time to set up the network stuff like you have done before, and you are set.

Since I have done that, I have not had any problems with my wireless network.  I have a D-link router and I have heard there was some problems with the routers with OS X from 10.5.2 on words.  But also there was an update in the 10.5.6 that was supposed to fix some of the problems with the Airport wireless, but I have no idea if that includes the D-link wireless problems, but so far my wireless is stable and that’s all that counts :D.

*Update - Also, just remembered now, there is also another way to improve wireless connectivity but it does require reboot and an account with admin (or root according to the Unix part of the system).  To do this, open a new finder window and go to the boot drive, then go to the folders “Library -> Preferences -> SystemConfiguration”, then backup and delete the file “com.apple.airport.preferences.plist”.  From there, go to the “Utilities” and open up “KeyChain Access”.  From there, delete anything associated with Airport under the “login” section of Keychains on the side bar.

JurassicJon

I got to give props to Colin Munro, for making a Mac OS X driver for the Microsoft Xbox 360 Controller.  I have installed it onto my Mac OS X 10.5.5 install and it works perfectly, just install the drivers, plug in the controller, and off you go.  I just had to post about this and give a link to Colin Munro’s personal website where he has posted the drivers for the 360 controller and also the PS3 controller for those who are interested in that.  To get to his website, Click Here.

JurassicJon