Nero Move it: The Rosetta Stone for digital media?

(Credit: Nero)

It's fairly easy to use iTunes to get music, photos, and video onto your iPod. But what if you've got a video that you didn't buy on the iTunes Store? Or you want to get those files onto a PSP--or a Nokia phone? How about getting 6-megapixel photos from your camera to your Sony Ericsson Walkman phone? It's for those sort of digital back-and-forths that Nero's created Move it. The new Windows software lets you transfer most digital photos, audio, and video files between a variety of portable devices using your PC as the middleman.

According to Nero, Move it will offer compatibility with a wide range of devices including the iPod and the PSP. The aim is to make transfers as close to plug-and-play as possible--to that end, the software will automatically convert and transcode files to preoptimized formats and resolutions as necessary. Also of note: Move it can interface with online social networks and sharing sites such as MySpace and YouTube. (Nero is pledging free downloadable updates that will add interoperability with more devices and services.)

Notably, Move it is only compatible with DRM-free files. Don't expect to use it for ripping DVDs or transferring iTunes Store videos to non-Apple products.

There are plenty of commercial and freeware programs around that do exactly the same sort of thing. (Check out Format Factory, for instance.) But Nero's hoping that Move it's ease of use and wide-ranging compatibility will set it apart in the mass market. The software will soon be available in two forms: as a shrink-wrapped box in stores for $50, or as a download for $40.

My questions to you: Would you consider Move it as a worthwhile addition to your digital toolbox? Perhaps more importantly: do you think Move it would be recommendable to your non-techie friends? Or do you have a suggested freeware alternative?

[Ordonator]

Don't get me wrong, as a technically minded person, I find iTunes or Zune software deplorable. I would much rather employ my own hands in managing my media devices. Yet despite their flaws and shortcomings, they work well to circumvent one from having to resort to this, which seems to be a waste of money. I always tell my non-techie friends and family to bite the bullet and purchase a Zune or iPod. Chances are, if they truly are non-techie, they won't use it for much more than play music or videos anyway.

[megmscott]

I would totally use it!..... if it didn't cost $40. Yes, iTunes kind of sucks, but frankly, it's free. That's just the truth. Now, if it were say, $15, that would be a little more tempting.

[Ryan_R]

Yeah the price is a little high - include it with the Nero 9 bundle and I'd probably use it for video conversions. It would have to allow manual conversion settings as well. I like using VLC but it's sometimes a hit & miss game trying to get the settings right

[Wolfpup3]

Guys, this dosen't replace iTunes (or the Zune software, presumably). This is just a (hopefully) well designed commercial transcoding utility from a well known company. This would replace FREE applications that do similar-not iTunes or the Zune software.
Personally I'm glad to see someone do something like this, and hope it's well made.

[cdrknowledge]

I actually did buy it on line for $27.99 after reading this review. My family has iPhones, iPods, PSP, and a host of other devices. And iTunes is free and farily good, but does not play with the PSP or my own Samsung phone. I like a product that my 8 year old son can use with very little learning curve, or my wife is hates computers (because our daughter is on it all the time). I would say its worth its cost just in the time its saved me having to personally move content between on the devices my family has. Before this, I was thinking of going with all Apple devices to try and resolve this issue, now I don't have too.