DiscRipper may not rip all your discs, but it should handle most of them.
(Credit: Rick Broida)Giveaway of the Day is a site that offers a different software freebie every day of the week. It may sound too good to be true, but trust me, I've grabbed some real gems over the years.
Today's giveaway is an app for anyone looking to archive their DVDs or convert them to a mobile format. The aptly named DiscRipper normally sells for $29.95, but if you download and install it today, it's free.
Let me repeat that: The only catch is that you have to download and install the program before 12:00 PST tonight.
After downloading DiscRipper, be sure to read the instructions contained in the readme file. They're quite simple, but I'm always amazed by how many people report that a GotD freebie "doesn't work" or is "not the full version"--because they didn't follow the instructions.
I'll help out: Copy the license key from the readme file, run the program, click the Buy Now button, and then click Enter License Key. Paste in the key and you're good to go.
The program is a pretty basic ripper: Insert your DVD, choose an output folder and format (it supports everything from AVI to WMV), tweak any other settings you want, and then click Rip.
In my quick, informal test, it worked just fine on a new-release DVD, but I ran into trouble ripping a much older DVD. Your mileage may vary.
Either way, it's still a free DVD-ripping utility. I know some commenters will find a way to complain about it, but I say don't argue with free.
Backup deal: Speaking of freebies, Amazon Video on Demand is offering a free rental (by way of a $4 credit) when you enter code AVODGIFT. Today's turning into a free-nanza!
StarBurn can rip and decrypt DVD and Blu-ray discs.
(Credit: Rick Broida)If you're looking for a Nero-like utility that can rip, burn, and author just about any kind of optical media, look no further: StarBurn v.10 supports everything from CD-R to DVD+RW to Blu-ray, and it's free--today only--from Giveaway of the Day.
Interestingly, there's a freeware version of StarBurn that's available every day, but the Giveaway-of-the-Day version includes features found only in the $495 Network Edition--namely, DVD and Blu-ray decrypters and network burning capabilities. While StarBurn doesn't actually copy protected BDs and DVDs, it can create image files (ISOs) from them, which you can then turn around and burn to blank media. (It doesn't produce iPod-ready video files, either--for that, look to a program like HandBrake.)
Like previous Giveaway of the Day offers I've mentioned, the only catch here is that you must download and install StarBurn today. With that done, it's yours to keep. (When you install the program, make sure to disable all the "additional tasks" except the first one.) Based on what I've seen so far, StarBurn is a powerful utility that's definitely worth downloading.
(Credit:
Yaoming)
Freebie-software site Giveaway of the Day serves up another gem today in the form of A-one DVD Tools, which includes separate utilities for copying and ripping DVDs. It normally sells for $51.95, but if you download and install it before midnight today (June 7), it's free and clear.
A-one DVD Copy promises to duplicate even protected DVDs in as little as 30 minutes. A-one DVD Ripper will convert your DVDs to just about any format, including Divx, AVI, iPod, PSP, Zune, and 3GP. You can learn more about the two programs at developer Yaoming's site, but remember to click the Giveaway of the Day link up top to get the freebie. (Also, note that this download has two registration numbers instead of the usual one. You'll find them in the readme file.)
A-one DVD Tools is compatible with most versions of Windows. (Vista isn't expressly mentioned, but it seems to be working fine at my end.) If you miss out on the giveaway, there's always freeware superstar Handbrake, which also makes quick work of ripping and converting DVDs.
(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.
(Credit:
Rick Broida)
Remember Giveaway of the Day, the site that offers one commercial software program free of charge every day? They've got a gem today: Aplus DVD Ripper (Windows), which lets you back up your movies to your PC and/or convert them for viewing on your iPod, Zune, cell phone, or other portable device. It normally sells for $39.99.
Remember, there's a catch: You have only until midnight tonight (ET) to download and install the program. After that, it's gone (though GotD does occasionally repeat its giveaways). But that's the one and only catch, so if you have even the slightest interest in archiving or converting the DVDs you own, grab this program before the day is out.
I'm in the process of copying The Iron Giant (an under-appreciated classic) to my iPod Touch; so far the program is working like a champ. It's a snap to use and offers plenty of control over video and audio settings. And, hey, if it doesn't work out, so what? Didn't cost me a cent.
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