Comments on: Shrink DVDs down to size with Amok DVD Shrinker http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/ Freeware reviews and downloads, featuring the coolest, best free software Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:02:04 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Four Mini Reviews: SimplyZip, DP MediaInfo, IndexMaker, and UPXG - review & download link | freewaregenius.com http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-130592 Four Mini Reviews: SimplyZip, DP MediaInfo, IndexMaker, and UPXG - review & download link | freewaregenius.com Tue, 29 Jul 2008 20:03:53 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-130592 [...] with the Amok group, who have their own site full of good freeware programs. (See my review of Amok DVD Shrinker; also noteworthy is Amok CD/DVD [...] [...] with the Amok group, who have their own site full of good freeware programs. (See my review of Amok DVD Shrinker; also noteworthy is Amok CD/DVD [...]

]]> By: Henry8 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-105984 Henry8 Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:52:08 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-105984 Firstly, it's not malware. Secondly, it seems to be faster than DVDShrink - at least with my computer. I'm used to 45-60 minutes with DVDShrink, but Amok did Pearl Harbor in 30 minutes. It's really no big deal, since I usually shrink DVDs in the background, while doing something else... what's 15 minutes in a hobby? But still, of course, fast is nice. The quality was quite good. I'm a photographer, and a highly visual person, so I count what I see. The audio part must be judged by someone else. If you start to use it, it really needs an additional .dll in order to encrypt movies. Since it seems to be somewhat illegal (?), I won't name it here, so as not to put Samer in any trouble. In my view, it's a good Shrinker, and it's quite safe. The outcome is of good quality, and thus, I can recommend it. Firstly, it’s not malware.

Secondly, it seems to be faster than DVDShrink – at least with my computer. I’m used to 45-60 minutes with DVDShrink, but Amok did Pearl Harbor in 30 minutes. It’s really no big deal, since I usually shrink DVDs in the background, while doing something else… what’s 15 minutes in a hobby? But still, of course, fast is nice.

The quality was quite good. I’m a photographer, and a highly visual person, so I count what I see. The audio part must be judged by someone else.

If you start to use it, it really needs an additional .dll in order to encrypt movies. Since it seems to be somewhat illegal (?), I won’t name it here, so as not to put Samer in any trouble.

In my view, it’s a good Shrinker, and it’s quite safe. The outcome is of good quality, and thus, I can recommend it.

]]> By: Samer http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-81932 Samer Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:04:44 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-81932 @Warning: I doubt very much that Amok DVD Shrinker is malicious. The programmer behind the Amok prodcuts - Dirk Paehl - is well known and has contributed a lot to the freeware scene. In my mind it is much more probable that what you have on your hands is a false positive than the program being malicious. Especially when I tried and reviewed the product and it caused no adverse reaction from my battery of security programs or any adverse effect on my system. I have had multiple scares with false positives reported on a number of programs that I reviewed, and after investigation none was proven to be the case. I believe this is another such case, but will investigate further and write more about this. @Warning:
I doubt very much that Amok DVD Shrinker is malicious. The programmer behind the Amok prodcuts – Dirk Paehl – is well known and has contributed a lot to the freeware scene. In my mind it is much more probable that what you have on your hands is a false positive than the program being malicious. Especially when I tried and reviewed the product and it caused no adverse reaction from my battery of security programs or any adverse effect on my system.

I have had multiple scares with false positives reported on a number of programs that I reviewed, and after investigation none was proven to be the case. I believe this is another such case, but will investigate further and write more about this.

]]> By: Warning http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-79754 Warning Sun, 20 Apr 2008 02:33:37 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-79754 However. Amok DVD Shrinker 1.2 is a green download. THIS IS A CROCK !! IT contains a Trojan Virus! Ue at your own risk! It's NOT adware either... it's a TROJAN! However. Amok DVD Shrinker 1.2 is a green download.

THIS IS A CROCK !! IT contains a Trojan Virus! Ue at your own risk!
It’s NOT adware either… it’s a TROJAN!

]]> By: Warning http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-79752 Warning Sun, 20 Apr 2008 02:27:32 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-79752 THIS PROGRAM CONTAINS A TROJAN VIRUS ! Found by Trend Micro... not adware or spyware but a TROJAN!! Be forwarned, it's all on you. THIS PROGRAM CONTAINS A TROJAN VIRUS !
Found by Trend Micro… not adware or spyware but a TROJAN!!
Be forwarned, it’s all on you.

]]> By: konstantinos http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-65398 konstantinos Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:18:08 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-65398 very nice very nice

]]> By: Shrink DVDs down to size with Amok DVD Shrinker Review & Download Link | freewaregenius.com http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-59599 Shrink DVDs down to size with Amok DVD Shrinker Review & Download Link | freewaregenius.com Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:51:00 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-59599 [...] Shrink DVDs down to size with Amok DVD Shrinker Review & Download Link | freewaregenius.com Performance: in my test, Amok DVD Shrinker successfully compressed a 6 gig DVD into 4.7 gigs in 20 minutes (with the quality/speed slider pushed past the mid-point to favor quality over speed, and the preview window enabled). The Amok site states that Amok DVD Shrinker is faster than the well known DVD Shrink, and although I did not scientifically compare these two under the same conditions I remember that DVD Shrink, hitherto the freeware standard bearer for this kind of task, typically took hours to process anything, not minutes. [...] [...] Shrink DVDs down to size with Amok DVD Shrinker Review & Download Link | freewaregenius.com Performance: in my test, Amok DVD Shrinker successfully compressed a 6 gig DVD into 4.7 gigs in 20 minutes (with the quality/speed slider pushed past the mid-point to favor quality over speed, and the preview window enabled). The Amok site states that Amok DVD Shrinker is faster than the well known DVD Shrink, and although I did not scientifically compare these two under the same conditions I remember that DVD Shrink, hitherto the freeware standard bearer for this kind of task, typically took hours to process anything, not minutes. [...]

]]> By: sniping_dreamer http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-57649 sniping_dreamer Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:53:45 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-57649 Website seems kinda fishy; McAfee Sitadvisor marks it as yellow. http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/amok.am?domain=amok.am&ref=safe&client_ver=FF_26.5_6256&locale=en-US&premium=false&client_type=FF&aff_id=0 "4 yellow downloads In our tests, we found downloads on this site that some people consider adware, spyware or other potentially unwanted programs." However. Amok DVD Shrinker 1.2 is a green download. Website seems kinda fishy; McAfee Sitadvisor marks it as yellow.

http://www.siteadvisor.com/sites/amok.am?domain=amok.am&ref=safe&client_ver=FF_26.5_6256&locale=en-US&premium=false&client_type=FF&aff_id=0

“4 yellow downloads

In our tests, we found downloads on this site that some people consider adware, spyware or other potentially unwanted programs.”

However. Amok DVD Shrinker 1.2 is a green download.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-56566 Anonymous Sat, 16 Feb 2008 03:29:23 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-56566 In my experience, DVD shrink is way better in comparison to this. In my experience, DVD shrink is way better in comparison to this.

]]> By: IsaacJ http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-55542 IsaacJ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:20:04 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-55542 I did try it on the highest quality setting. My DVD was only slightly over sized, so the software wouldn't have to work very hard to reduce it. It still took about 30 mins. I was going to try one more DVD. The fact that you obviously loved the results gives me a 2nd reason to do so. But it's starting to sound like several of us didn't have as much luck as you. Maybe there is some quirk in the disks that is creating this behavior? It would be good if others could try it and let everyone know how it did for them. IsaacJ I did try it on the highest quality setting. My DVD was only slightly over sized, so the software wouldn’t have to work very hard to reduce it. It still took about 30 mins.

I was going to try one more DVD. The fact that you obviously loved the results gives me a 2nd reason to do so. But it’s starting to sound like several of us didn’t have as much luck as you. Maybe there is some quirk in the disks that is creating this behavior? It would be good if others could try it and let everyone know how it did for them.

IsaacJ

]]> By: Samer http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-55461 Samer Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:42:33 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-55461 @IsaacJ, This is interesting feedback. I actually cannot imagine a bad result, simply because I peformed a test for this review and the results I got were excellent. The only thing I can add is try it on the highest quality level and see if that makes a difference. @IsaacJ,
This is interesting feedback. I actually cannot imagine a bad result, simply because I peformed a test for this review and the results I got were excellent. The only thing I can add is try it on the highest quality level and see if that makes a difference.

]]> By: IsaacJ http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-55460 IsaacJ Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:34:18 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-55460 I just tried it. The results were quite bad. For my first attempt, the quality seems at least as bad as DVD Shrink on single pass mode. :-( It did not seem to be any faster than DVD Shrink on single pass mode would be either. So far, the program is a dud for my purposes. I may try it again just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. IsaacJ I just tried it. The results were quite bad. For my first attempt, the quality seems at least as bad as DVD Shrink on single pass mode. :-( It did not seem to be any faster than DVD Shrink on single pass mode would be either.

So far, the program is a dud for my purposes. I may try it again just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.

IsaacJ

]]> By: Fred Thompson http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-55224 Fred Thompson Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:05:44 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-55224 DVD Shrink and this thing are requantizing the MPEG2 stream. MPEG video compression works by periodically using full frames then calculating those in-between base on differences from the surrounding frames. These apps reduce the amount of information that represents the "differences." The same process is used with a lot of digital television. DVD Shrink (which begeat Nero's shrinker) has a high-quality mode which does 2-passes. The first pass analyzes the complexity of the image so more busy parts of the video will have more data. Amok DVD doesn't do that which means the result cannot be as good as a 2-pass DVD Shrink operation. If you like to strip contents with DVD Shrink, consider using PGCEdit and Vob Blanker to get rid of extra junk because they are more complete than the simple editing of DVD Shrink. The most popular app for automating DVD-9 to DVD-5 with actual re-encoding is DVD Rebuilder. There is a free version and a commercial version. Depending on the source material and the filtering used, it's actually possible to get a higher quality DVD-5 from a DVD-9 original if the source is a low quality transfer. DVD Shrink and this thing are requantizing the MPEG2 stream. MPEG video compression works by periodically using full frames then calculating those in-between base on differences from the surrounding frames. These apps reduce the amount of information that represents the “differences.” The same process is used with a lot of digital television. DVD Shrink (which begeat Nero’s shrinker) has a high-quality mode which does 2-passes. The first pass analyzes the complexity of the image so more busy parts of the video will have more data. Amok DVD doesn’t do that which means the result cannot be as good as a 2-pass DVD Shrink operation. If you like to strip contents with DVD Shrink, consider using PGCEdit and Vob Blanker to get rid of extra junk because they are more complete than the simple editing of DVD Shrink. The most popular app for automating DVD-9 to DVD-5 with actual re-encoding is DVD Rebuilder. There is a free version and a commercial version. Depending on the source material and the filtering used, it’s actually possible to get a higher quality DVD-5 from a DVD-9 original if the source is a low quality transfer.

]]> By: Alek Davis http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-55149 Alek Davis Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:45:50 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-55149 Neat! I've never heard of this tool. It looks promising. Thank you. Neat! I’ve never heard of this tool. It looks promising. Thank you.

]]> By: jsanderz http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-55142 jsanderz Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:16:29 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-55142 I have been using DVD shrink for a few years and sometimes find the quality poor. Does anyone know how Amok DVD compares? Regards. I have been using DVD shrink for a few years and sometimes find the quality poor.
Does anyone know how Amok DVD compares?
Regards.

]]> By: Joe http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-55117 Joe Tue, 12 Feb 2008 19:44:57 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-55117 A couple more notes in comparison to DVD Shrink: I just tried it, and it wasn't faster than DVD Shrink on a DVD I shrank last night - it took 43 minutes with the slider at the middle (default) setting. The simplicity is great, but I prefer DVD Shrink's options to eliminate audio and subtitles or reduce the menu and extra quality in order to maximize the quality of the main movie without re-authoring the disk. @Chris This just shrinks to an ISO, with a minimum size setting at 2.5 GB. You'll have to use something like HandBrake to transcode into your AVI. A couple more notes in comparison to DVD Shrink:

I just tried it, and it wasn’t faster than DVD Shrink on a DVD I shrank last night – it took 43 minutes with the slider at the middle (default) setting.

The simplicity is great, but I prefer DVD Shrink’s options to eliminate audio and subtitles or reduce the menu and extra quality in order to maximize the quality of the main movie without re-authoring the disk.

@Chris

This just shrinks to an ISO, with a minimum size setting at 2.5 GB. You’ll have to use something like HandBrake to transcode into your AVI.

]]> By: Chris @ ComicHacks.com http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-55097 Chris @ ComicHacks.com Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:32:16 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-55097 Nice one, Samer! Does this just shrink the files to DVD format only or does it rip it to an AVI format of 700 megs if I want? Thanks! Nice one, Samer!

Does this just shrink the files to DVD format only or does it rip it to an AVI format of 700 megs if I want?

Thanks!

]]> By: Joe http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/comment-page-1/#comment-55096 Joe Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:31:51 +0000 http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/02/12/shrink-dvds-down-to-size-with-amok-dvd-shrinker/#comment-55096 Since DVD Shrink started having trouble with newer DVDs, I've been using DVDFab's free HD DVD Decrypter http://www.dvdfab.com/free.htm and then DVD Shrink, which sounds like the same process that this requires. DVD Shrink seems to work much faster on a decrypted folder than it ever did on an encrypted DVD (though it never took hours for me). I think 20 minutes is about the average now. Still, it's nice to know that there's an alternative that's actively being developed AND is portable. Since DVD Shrink started having trouble with newer DVDs, I’ve been using DVDFab’s free HD DVD Decrypter

http://www.dvdfab.com/free.htm

and then DVD Shrink, which sounds like the same process that this requires. DVD Shrink seems to work much faster on a decrypted folder than it ever did on an encrypted DVD (though it never took hours for me). I think 20 minutes is about the average now.

Still, it’s nice to know that there’s an alternative that’s actively being developed AND is portable.

]]>