Software Free

Cross-platform media player VLC is often referred to as the "Swiss Army knife of media applications" for good reason: Not only does VLC play nearly any file you throw at it (you even voted it the...

Windows only: Cataloging utility Coollector tracks your movie collection, including flicks you've seen but don't own and DVDs you've loaned to others. Unlike other programs of its ilk, Coollector...

Free A/V website Wirewize takes most of the guesswork out of hooking together your television, DVD player, stereo speakers, and other gear. After a free sign-up, enter in the model and make of each...

Linux only: AcetoneISO2, a free, open-source application for Linux systems, gives you complete control over your disk images and CD/DVD mounting without having to touch the command line once. The...

Nothing spoils the thrill of a new gadget or CD/DVD like the fingernail torture of trying to get glued-on labels and stickers off it. The Gomestic blog suggests a remedy using peanut butter, that...

Windows only: Freeware application Desk Drive monitors your computer for new media—like a new CD, DVD, or thumb drive—then automatically creates a desktop shortcut pointing to your newly...

The Online Tech Tips blog delves into a little-discussed feature of Windows Vista that can turn your spare blank discs into drag-and-drop bins for extra files. The Live File System mounts writable...

I’m a firm believer in the idea that if you pay for hardware, you should be able to make full use of it. However, DRM and content protection mechanisms are increasingly making this difficult for people.

The Tombuntu blog points out that the latest Hardy Heron release of Ubuntu Linux doesn't play nice with multi-platform video/DVD converter HandBrake—at least not the version with a nice...

Windows only: Freeware application AutoGK rips DVDs to hard drive-friendly DivX and Xvid formats for quick, easy, and high-quality backups. It does so by acting as an automating front-end to several...

Windows only: Freeware application bitRipper provides no-hassle, one-click conversions from DVDs straight to AVI video files. Until recently a commercial program, bitRipper handles the decryption and...

Windows only: If you do a lot of DVD watching and ripping on your PC, free, open source application DiscInsert provides an attractive and simple AutoPlay option to Windows that lets you choose...

Whether you want to watch a movie on your iPod or back up your too-easily-scratched DVDs, DVD ripping is a mysterious realm for many. Even those in-the-know find it difficult to keep up with the best...

There was once a time when ripping and backing up DVDs was limited to those with hours to spend weeding through convoluted tutorials and difficult-to-use software. Today, a handful of full-featured,...

Just a quick tip I wanted to pass on today. Have you ever had the issue where you want to eject your CD, but it will not eject...For any new users out there. Here is a quick fix to force the CD to eject