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Get a free DVD-to-iPhone converter

Have you heard the news? A recent court ruling says it's not illegal to rip your own DVDs, as long as you're not violating copyright law (i.e. sharing or selling the DRM-freed content).

So let the ripping begin! All you need is the right software. From now until Aug. 9, you can get iSkysoft DVD to iPhone Converter for free. Available for both Windows and Mac, it's regularly $29.

Don't let the name fool you: although the utility includes presets for all iPhone models (from the original on up to the iPhone 4), it also … Read more

War of the browser updates

This week, we report back from the annual Black Hat conference held in Las Vegas. Among the news is word of the newest features coming to the Mozilla Firefox 4 beta. Aside from tabs on top, new add-on features, HTML5, and a new JavaScript engine, the foxy browser incurred some important security repairs. The most notable fix is a decade-old vulnerability that affects browsers universally. Also, we give you some tips on how to use Firefox' new App Tabs feature.

In more browsing news, Safari added an extension gallery in its latest update, and Chrome--already well-known for its extensive … Read more

Netflix delights studios with big checks

LOS ANGELES--Netflix probably won't get a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame anytime soon, but the Web's top video rental service has recently become a blockbuster hit with film industry chieftains.

Just nine months ago, sources in the film industry told CNET that Netflix's long string of Wall Street-wowing earnings reports hadn't gone unnoticed at the studios. With all that money rolling in, many studio decision makers weren't happy with their cut--especially when it came to the company's blossoming streaming-movie service.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has apparently solved the problem--at least for now--by … Read more

Former Senator Bob Kerrey to lead MPAA

Robert "Bob" Kerrey, a former U.S. Senator and governor from the state of Nebraska as well as a Vietnam war hero has agreed to steer the Motion Picture Association of America.

A high-level film industry source confirmed a report in the blog, The Wrap. According to The Wrap, which broke the news, all the parties have agreed in principle but have yet to sign a deal.

There's little technology focus in Kerrey's background but his resume is impressive nonetheless. He is a former unsuccessful candidate for U.S. President (1992) and during his Vietnam service … Read more

Warner Bros. expands DVD-to-Blu-ray program

Warner Bros. has expanded its DVD2Blu program, a service that offers customers the opportunity to send in a DVD copy of a movie and receive back from the studio a Blu-ray version.

Citing Blu-ray's success, Warner Bros. said consumers can now choose from 90 of the company's "most popular titles to upgrade." The available movies include several well-known titles like "The Aviator," "A Christmas Story," and "Get Smart."

Although I haven't tested it out, the process of using DVD2Blu seems painless. Customers can go to the site and select … Read more

Let 'er rip

For many people, a media player like iTunes or Windows Media Player can handle day-to-day media ripping and burning tasks. Users with slightly more demanding needs, however, may seek out a separate application for this kind of work. Astroburn Pro is a simple program that gives users a handful of features for working with digital media. It's nothing fancy, but it's a straightforward set of tools made especially to handle CDs and DVDs and their contents.

Astroburn Pro's interface is plain and fairly intuitive, although the way things are organized takes a little getting used to. A … Read more

Convert movies for iPhone

DVDRemaster is a handy utility for working with DVDs. The app lets you recompress movies (for example, to fit them onto a standard, single-layer DVD) and quickly convert DVDs for viewing on your iPod, iPad, Apple TV, or other device, along with advanced features such as the capability to retain surround sound and multiple language tracks.

DVDRemaster gives you a clean, tabbed interface for remastering, exporting, and extracting DVDs, although novices may feel overwhelmed by the terminology and number of options, including settings for recompression module and removing UOPs. Fortunately, even inexperienced users can navigate the most simple tasks, thanks … Read more