To copy web videos from sites such as YouTube and Funny or Die to your iPod, PSP or mobile phone, all you need is the free conversion software Free Studio.
Download this program from
DVD Video Soft but say no to the optional toolbar during installation.
Launch the software, click the Internet button on the main screen and then choose either 'Free YouTube to iPod and PSP Converter' or 'Free YouTube to iPhone Converter', depending on which device you want to copy videos to.
Next, open YouTube or another video site in your browser and copy the URL of the video you want to transfer. Click Paste and then click Output Name to give the file a memorable title. Click the Devices drop-down menu, choose your iPod or phone from the list and click Download.
Your PC is a finely balanced machine. Even a standard off-the-shelf computer will have a unique configuration of hardware and software that has probably never been tested for interoperability. With Windows Update installed, you'll be alerted about essential Windows fixes but, over time, many of your device drivers (the software that makes products integrate with your operating system) will become out of date and may clash with other hardware and software. Thankfully, manufacturers of PC components regularly release new versions of these drivers that can fix problems and even improve features.
The downside is that it's a chore to keep checking for updates and manufacturers rarely inform you of them, even if you have sent off a registration card. So software like Driver Genius is potentially very handy indeed. It works by scanning your computer and making a note of any drivers it finds. It then compares the age of these to its regularly updated list of current drivers. Any that are out of date can be downloaded and installed directly. The process is quick, easy to control and very efficient.
For additional safety, the program will keep a back-up of any drivers that have been installed so, if something does happen to the computer, there's no need to go through the process of downloading and updating everything again.
Convenience, however, comes at a price. You could do everything that
Driver Genius does simply by making a list of the drivers on your PC and checking them manually, either directly with the manufacturers or at websites like Driver Guide (www.driverguide
Download
This take on an old version of Windows Media Player boasts many modern twists.
Don't be fooled - this isn't a Microsoft product. However, Media Player Classic is an attempt by open-source developers to make a revised version of the Windows Media Player and take it back to a time when it wasn't such a pig to use.
Looks wise, the developers have succeeded in turning back the years - firing up Media Player Classic feels like being transported back to Windows 98-era computing, so spare is the interface. However, the program boasts modern playback capabilities, being able to cope with virtually all the latest video and audio formats. On the downside, the program's old-school Favorites menu and management is less welcome - it's just too limited to be useful.
