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Convert Quicktime .mov to .avi

After taking some short video clips with my Nikon Coolpix 4300 I wanted to splice them together into a small production. The problem was that my camera only records in QuickTime, and my editing software doesn’t accept that format. So the seemingly simple task of converting the .MOV files to a workable format (such as .AVI) began. I quickly learned that most conversion programs are not free, and the demos typically have a banner at the bottom of the converted file advertising their product. When all seemed lost I happened to stumble across RAD Video Tools, a piece of software that makes the conversion of QuickTime videos to AVI fast and easy. The best part is, it’s free!

The RAD Video Tools consists of a conversion program that will quickly convert QuickTime video to a multitude of different formats, most importantly .AVI. This article will cover:

• a quick overview of how to use this software
• conversion format comparison
• extra features

How To Use The Software

Obviously the first step will be to download the software at RAD View’s Site. Install, and open the application. Here you will be able to enter several file types, but this article is geared towards QuickTime conversion. So select your .MOV file and click ‘Convert a file’.

Now select the ‘Output type’, here we’ll use ‘AVI file’, but the list gives a foretaste of the extra features section.

Then click ‘Convert’. Another window will be pop up requesting the Compressor to be used for the output video. The details of each option will be discussed shortly.

Click ‘OK’ to begin conversion.

Conversion Format Comparison

The original test video I used was 10.2 MB in size, and contained no sound. I then ran the same file through all of the compression types. The compression type, time, and output file sizes are below. Keep in mind that these tests were run on a Toshiba Satellite Laptop with a Pentium III processor, 196MB of RAM, running Windows 2000…not a stellar machine by any standards.

Conversion Ratios:

If you look closely through the list, you’ll see not all of the compression formats are listed. That is because they didn’t work for me, for one reason or another, probably due to missing codecs.

Extra Features

The RAD Video Tools offer features well beyond the scope of this article. A few noteworthy features include:

• Outputing to image files (e.g. BMP, GIF, JPEG, TGA, TIFF, PCX, PNG). Although this process is extremely time intensive, it will convert each frame into that file type. This is a much better approach to retrieve good quality individual frames from a movie, instead of taking a screenshot of a paused video. If you’re only looking for a specific shot, I recommend cutting the video down to the shortest form possible to save on processing time.
• “Tweakability” of the converted video. RAD allows the following features to take place while the conversion is occuring:
  • Cropping of the frame size
  • Selecting the beginning and ending frames
  • Adjusting contrast and brightness
  • Changing the quality of the sound
• Several of the compressions also allowed for a manual quality setting. In the above list some examples are given. This is particularly nice if you want to get an internet/streaming video down to the smallest acceptable size.

Closing Thoughts

While this article only touched the surface of RAD Video Tools’ usefulness, it does give an introduction to one feature that is usually difficult to accomplish with most other software packages. It was accomplished with minimal effort, and had suprisingly good results.

I have no ties with the company that produces this product, but it’s worth mentioning that if you do use the RAD Video Tools application and feel inclined to support it, they do accept donations on their website.

Source: Painintech.com

i-Trek Powered Car Mount for Axim

For $30, this mount is interesting!

Product Description:

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This powered cradle mount keeps PDA and GPS receiver charged at all times with a car charger that can be plugged into your car’s cigarette lighter. When the cradle is plugged into your car’s cigarette lighter, the power indicator light will let you know wheather the cradle is receiving power or not.

Vent clip, windshield pedestal and console disk are included for flexible mounting options.

Features

PDA specific design for easy fit and easy removal

12/24 V removable power cord

RJ-11 GPS port for various GPS receivers (may require optional GPS cable)

Compatible PDA

Dell Axim X50

Dell Axim X50v

Dell Axim X51

Dell Axim X51v

Package Content:

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Powered cradle Mount

Cigarette lighter power cord

8″ windshield pedestal

Vent clip

Console disk

Availability:

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Usually ships the next business day.

GPX06+RJ11-PS/2
Regular price: $39.99Sale price: $29.99Order Here!

 

NewsGator goes Mobile!

Introducing smartRead

SmartRead began as a full blown news reader for Microsoft Mobile Devices a little over a year ago as a predecessor to SmartFeed, my mobile podcatcher. I stopped development on smartRead because there were already several news readers on the market that provided similar capabilities, and more importantly I personally did not find it to be a necessity. I spent the all of my time reading news on my PC?s aggregator. Entering url?s on device and keeping things in sync was too painful. I also was too pumped about smartFeed.

But I still had a pain to solve? what I really wanted on my device was a way to weed through the massive amount of feeds and posts that cluttered my aggregator. When the NewsGator API was announced, the light bulb went off, and I disabled all the pure aggregation functionality in smartRead in favor of dedicated integration with NewsGator. Now, I have a mobile application in smartRead that lets me scan my feeds and mark uninteresting feeds or posts as unread, and I do not have to bother with those items when I get back to my browser and visit NewsGator Online. With smartRead I have a mobile application that adds value!

Download here!

WM Discount Deals

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For all the Windows Mobile powered Pocket PC users out there, this one’s for you. The following is a list of discounts and must have deals on software and hardware that may grab your attention! 

From Handango:
Get 25% off DVD to Pocket PC by Makayama
DVD to Pocket PC allows you to watch not only DVDs, but also home movies, downloaded content and other video files on your Pocket PC.
Use promotion code 25dvd. Offer expires April 15, 2006.

Get 25% off PocketLingo Cultural Literacy
PocketLingo Cultural Literacy is the ultimate family reference software for PDAs to the people, places, and events every American needs to know.
Use promotion code 25lingo. Offer expires April 15, 2006.

Get 20% off eWallet Professional by Ilium
Secure, convenient storage for your most important personal info: credit cards, passwords, PINS and much more.
Use promotion code 20ewallets. Offer expires April, 2006.

From PocketGear:
Spb Backup now 15% off
Spb Backup is an application for creating reserve copies of data on your Pocket PC. It creates self-extracting compressed executables, thus making backup and restore processes very simple and intuitive.
Use promotional code msft32076. Offer expires April 8, 2006

15% off Return to Mysterious Island
Mina, our plucky and adventuresome heroine, has found herself stranded on the shores of a mysterious island!
Use promotional code msft24018. Offer expires April 8, 2006

15% off Championship Poker
Ante up. Play Texas Hold ‘em over the Internet against other players around the world! Enjoy stunning 3D graphics, ring-games and multi-table tournaments.
Use promotional code msft77564. Offer expires April 8, 2006

From MobilePlanet:
Save $100 on an Asus A636 GPS Pocket PC when you subcribe for Audible service
This all-in one Pocket PC features built-in GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. And, with the latest SiRF GPS technology, the PDA enables precise and quick navigation at lower power levels for longer battery life. Save $100 when you join AudibleListner service for 12 months. You’ll get one to two digital audiobooks of your choice each month for one low price. Audible offers best sellers by top authors.You can also download the New York times, the Wall Street Journal, radio shows, comedy, educational programs and more.

Save $50 instantly on the BenQ P50 Pocket PC Phone
Connect to the world wherever you go. The BenQ P50 incorporates the latest WiFi technology into a PDA phone, giving you the benefits of the world’s two most popular wireless networks-GSM/GPRS and WLAN.

Save $50 via mail-in rebate on Pharos Bluetooth GPS for Pocket PC
Turn your Bluetooth enabled Pocket PC into a precision navigation device with a Bluetooth GPS receiver and navigation software. With Pharos’ Ostia navigation software users can perform multiple functions such as intelligent route calculation and voice-prompted, turn-by-turn navigation instructions. Just place your Bluetooth GPS receiver on the dash, and go, door-to-door or point-to-point anywhere in the U.S.

From Semsons.com:

15.00 off all TomTom Bundle, $10.00 off all Bluetooth GPS Receiver.http://www.semsons.com/tombungpspac.html – Coupon code “Tom15″ for $15.00 offhttp://www.semsons.com/bluetgpsrec.html – Coupon Code “BTGPS5″ for $10.00 off

From WebIS:

From now through to March 19, WebIS.net is offering 25% off all its products. To take advantage of the offer