Convert Your Video With iTunes

[Jeff Campbell]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/07/ipad-101-the-easy-way-to-get-high-def-videos-onto-iphone-or-ipa/' target='_blank'>http://www.tuaw.com/2010/04/07/ipad...-iphone-or-ipa/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Even though the iPad has that HD feel, there are plenty of HD files it can't stomach -- the maximum resolution for videos to sync via iTunes is 720p, and anything higher (1080i or 1080p) simply won't transfer. On the iPhone and iPod touch, the upper limit is even tighter; those devices can only handle 640x480 videos, meaning that a 720p file will stall out."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1270989820.usr1.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>If you have simple needs and don't have or don't want to use a video converter program such as Handbrake or&nbsp;<a href="http://www.applethoughts.com/news/show/97690/ifunia-a-video-converter-for-all-your-apple-products.html" target="_blank">iFunia</a>, you can simply use iTunes under the Advanced tab to convert your files to something you can view on your iPad or iPhone/iPod Touch. Simple solution although it does take longer to covert the files according to the article.&nbsp;</p>

[Joe Johaneman]

I'm actually quite fond of Videomonkey for stuff like this. It isn't the fastest converter, but it works with a lot of different formats, and it is free.

http://videomonkey.org/Video_Monkey/About.html

One of the things I like about it is that it can help you fill in the metadata automatically.

[Dyvim]

The latest version of Handbrake is very nice. You can finally encode videos just like recent anamorphic offerings from the iTunes store. i.e. encode 16:9 video using a custom anamorphic setting so that it's encoded at 640 x 480 but displays at 853 x 480 (when the source DVD is encoded at 720 x 480 but displays at 853 x 480)- that's the maximum resolution that will work with all iPod touch and iPhone models (as well as video-capable iPods). More resolution than you need on those devices, but the highest common denominator if you want to use the same files for AppleTV, your computer, and/or TV-out via component cables.

(On an aside, SD video offerings from iTunes have quietly improved over the past year or so. Whereas 16:9 video used to play back at 640 x 360 and be encoded at about 1.5 Mbps, newly encoded releases play back at 853 x 480 (anamorphic encoding of 640x480) and are encoded at about 2 Mbps; much closer to DVD quality.