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May 30, 2008 6:18 AM PDT

Rip DVDs to your PC, iPod, Zune and more with free Xilisoft DVD Ripper Ultimate (today only)

by Rick Broida
(Credit: Rick Broida)

Last month, freebie-software site Giveaway of the Day offered a great DVD-ripping utility. If you missed it (or didn't like the program for some reason), here's your chance to score one that's arguably even better: Xilisoft DVD Ripper Ultimate.

Normally priced at $55, DVD Ripper Ultimate promises to rip discs to just about any video format. It includes preset profiles for iPod, iPhone, PSP, Zune, Zen, and dozens of other devices. It can also rip DVD audio, great if you want to turn, say, a concert DVD into a batch of MP3s. Plus, there's a video editor for splitting and merging clips, adding effects, and so on.

As with previous Giveaway of the Day offers, there's absolutely no catch: The software is free to download and use, though you have to grab it (and install it) before midnight tonight. If you miss it, there's always HandBrake, an open-source DVD ripper that's long been my go-to utility.

Here's the link to the download page.

And here's where Download.com users gave the program generally high marks.

Rick Broida, a technology writer for nearly 20 years, is the author of more than a dozen books. In addition to writing CNET's The Cheapskate blog, he oversees BNET's Business Hacks. Rick is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CBS Interactive. Disclosure. Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers. Follow Rick on Twitter at cheapskateblog.
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Add a Comment (Log in or register) (13 Comments)
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by macguy2000 May 30, 2008 6:55 AM PDT
How does it handle DRM?
Reply to this comment
by rickbroida May 30, 2008 7:23 AM PDT
From what I've seen so far, just fine and dandy.
by j_a_s_p_e_r June 1, 2008 7:09 PM PDT
Giveawayoftheday.com has a new download free for 24 hours, when the clock runs out you have to pay
by Jimmy Jen May 30, 2008 7:35 AM PDT
I checked the website and it's not free !
Reply to this comment
by Jimmy Jen May 30, 2008 7:36 AM PDT
I checked the website and it's not free !
Reply to this comment
by kasrhp1 May 30, 2008 8:22 AM PDT
It looks like only a trial version....awful free giveaway for the site
Reply to this comment
by j_a_s_p_e_r June 1, 2008 7:09 PM PDT
Giveawayoftheday.com has a new download free for 24 hours, when the clock runs out you have to pay
by rickbroida May 30, 2008 9:01 AM PDT
Make sure you click the proper link, folks, the one that takes you to Giveaway of the Day, not Xilisoft. The software is indeed free (today) and is the full version, not a trial.

Again, the proper link to click is the one near the bottom of the post (or just go to giveawayoftheday.com).
Reply to this comment
by caseystanley May 30, 2008 11:15 AM PDT
THIS IS NOT FREE.
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by caseystanley May 30, 2008 11:19 AM PDT
I stand corrected . . . I didn't enter the registration info . . .
Reply to this comment
by NYCgoalie May 30, 2008 1:42 PM PDT
The only problem with HandBrake (that I'm aware of at least) is that you can't rip just the audio portion of a DVD. So if you use HandBrake to rip a concert DVD, you need another app to convert the audio into MP3, WAV, OGG, etc.

The only catch with this download is that if you reformat your PC and try to reinstall this piece of software, it won't work. There's no way to make a backup of it. They expect you to pay for the latest version if you need it in the future.

I'd be happy to put this on a CD or a USB drive so I can run it no matter what happens to my PC.
Reply to this comment
by fwdracer May 31, 2008 2:09 AM PDT
read the, read me file... tis free
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by gycafesor October 23, 2008 8:25 PM PDT
Does it better than Daniusoft DVD Ripper?
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About The Cheapskate

The best things in tech are cheap. "The Cheapskate" scours the Web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets, and all the other tech stuff that makes life worth living. Send your own cheapskate tips to thecheapskate@gmail.com. Rick is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure. Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers.

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