IPodMe is a free, open source program that can convert video into MP4 format suitable for iPod or iPhone playback. It is a portable, single executable which contains all the filters and codecs needed for it to do its job.
Want to convert your videos so you could play them on your Ipod or Iphone? iPodMe is a handy little program that can do this for you. iPodME is built around a handful of pre-determined conversion "profiles" designed to make it easy for users to decide on what kind of conversion they want based on 3 parameters: the desired speed of conversion (slow/fast/turbo), and whether to optimize for video quality or for optimal video size. It also offers a "custom" profile for user who, like me, prefer to have more control over what the conversion parameters are.
Note: if you want a simple, short guide for how to make quick, good conversions with iPodMe see my "Recommended conversions" section below.
Here are seven eight reasons why this program is cool:
- The way it deals with video resolution: when making your decision as to the resolution you prefer (640×480, 480×320, or 320×240), iPodMe will automatically resize to the closest resolution to the one you request while maintaining the original aspect ratio, without stretching or distorting or surrounding your video with black lines on top and bottom. If you actually want to stretch and resize your video you can check a box and the program can do that as well.
- Encoders: you can choose from either x264 or Xvid. Both are built in; no need to worry about getting these installed on your system separately.
- Three quality modes: you can either choose to (a) set average bitrate, (b) set a constant quality quantizer, or (c) set Output size, and let the program determine the bitrate. This third one is the most useful in my opinion and makes the program much more practical to use than other similar programs that do not have this option.
- Batch conversions: are possible. Will use the same settings for all selected files, which can be useful if, say, you are converting a bunch of episodes from a TV series and want the same output parameters.
- Portable: a single, self contained file, approx 4 megs. Unzip and run. Note that it requires MS .NET to run.
- The user interface: simple, uncomplicated, straightforward. Doesn’t drown you in options and does not throw unexpected curveballs.
- Can burn subtitles: use an .srt subtitle file with the exact same name as the video you are converting.
- Open source: yes, you can download the source freely
Recommended conversions: here’s what I do to get excellent video conversions for my iPhone every time.
- Resolution: set at 640×480. This is suitable for most recent Ipods/Iphones (5th gen+). If you have an older Ipod you may need to use 320×240. I like this resolution because it plays well on both the Ipod and the PC screens.
- Profile: custom
- Click the "More options" button and set the output folder where you want your converted files.
- Encoder: x264
- Profile: Best Quality. Might take slightly longer than the others, but usually I’m not concerned about that.
- Mode: Output size. Tell it the size of your output file in megs. I usually set it somewhere close to the original or 700 megs to fit a single CD, if that is a concern.
- Check "resample audio track", set Frequency at 48000
- Set bitrate at 160 kbps (which is the max that can be used on an Ipod video).
- Voila. You’re done.
The verdict: a terrific program that does the job brilliantly. What I like about this program is that I can recommend it to people who want to convert videos for their iPods/iPhones knowing that it supports 640×480 resolutions (some Ipod video converters don’t), not worrying about whether they will have the correct encoders installed on their machines, and knowing that they have the option to just set the output video size, instead of messing with bitrates and such.
Also, I have tested this with about a dozen or so conversions and found it to be very reliable. I highly recommend it!
Version Tested: 2.0
Compatibility: Windows XP, Vista. Requires Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 or newer. (This is already pre-installed in Vista).
Go to the program page to download the latest version (approx 3.9 megs).
Nice app.Plz suggest asimilar app for converting for psp(mp4).
Nice!
Could u plz review this one:
http://www.ipodrobot.com/#iPod-Video-Converter
help me to make a choice…
I write for a living. Have for a long time. You instructions area a masterpiece of lucidity. This is a fan letter. Congratulations.
Gareth Powell
(Which is a Welsh name although I live in Australia much of the time.)
This is killer awesome! I only wished that there was a definite “iPod Touch”, “iPhone”, etc. profiles instead of the more unclear resolution sizes.
Great find, thanks for sharing this with us!
@ Gareth: thanks for your kind words, they are well appreciated
@ VicotryX: I had seen the IpodRobot site before and I did not like their converter at all.
@ Anonymous: if you emulate my “recommended recommendations” instructions you should get excellent results for your Ipod touch. That’s what I use for my Iphone.
@ Shontu: try Pazera (http://www.pazera-software.com/products/psp-video-converter/) or AlltoPSP (http://www.alltopsp.com/) . These are not recommendations, as I have not tried these programs, just apps that I’ve come across recently.
I’m sorry, but this one problem I am having is driving me insane and I thought this might be a good place to start asking.
Any wide-screened video that I convert plays well in Windows Media Player on my computer (I get a nice wide view of everything that’s on screen). But when transferred into my Ipod Classic, the video fills to the top and bottom of the screen, thus cutting off part of each side of the video from view. I lose sight of quite a bit of the video because of this.
I’ve Googled around some, but could find nothing helpful, other than some Mac programs (but I’m on Windows…) that supposedly can insert black bars (letterboxing), DVD to Ipod programs (but I’m converting from flv, avi, and mp4…), or that the black bars should show up automatically (how!?).
I suspect this is not the fault of the converter(s), since the converted video itself is still wide-screened. Can you give me any suggestions as to how I can get around this problem? Please? I don’t want full-screen when I should be getting wide-screen.
Thank you in advance for any help that you may provide.
Frustrated and confused,
Monika
Ack, never mind! I found the setting in my Ipod to turn off “Fit to screen”. It was under “Videos” -> “Settings”, and I had “Videos” hidden from the Menu this whole time.
I am such a moron…
Sorry for bothering you!
well done. i have a bunch of video needed to be converted for my new bought ipod. thanks for sharing,i will give it a try.
Pleas, i need help, i have tried to convert i go to ipod touch and all the folders in there, but i just cant klick OK :/ Pleas help
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