Australian PC User contributing editor
RockPod 2009 arrives in November 2008 issue of PC User
RockPod 08 was one of the most popular tools we developed last year so we’ve taken the opportunity with the release of the new Apple iPhone to add in new reader-requested features and come out with the next version – RockPod 2009.
You’ll find it in the November 2008 issue of PC User, which goes on sale nationally on Wednesday (subscribers will likely already be receiving their copies now).
My motto is “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it” so we’ve kept the user interface as similar to RockPod 08 as we could and still incorporate the new features.
The most important of those features is batch-encoding. You can now load up RockPod 2009 with as many files as you like and it will encode them all for you. The only thing you need is time on your hands and enough hard drive space to store all the files in.
What’s important about the way we’ve implemented batch encoding is that there’s no limitation on any of the encoding options – each file in the batch can have its own individual encoding settings. Basically, whatever factor you can set when encoding a single file, you can choose when encoding multiple files.
We’ve also incorporated support for more devices including all of the Apple iPods and the new iPhone.
You’ll find a huge Portable Video Masterclass in the pages of the November 2008 issue of PC User as well as an exclusive video tutorial and the software on the cover disc.
So if you enjoyed using RockPod 08, you should love RockPod 2009.
Similar Posts:
- Problems with DVD-HD 2009 and VOB files?
- November 2009 issue of PC User – what’s coming up?
- Q&A – Which are the best free Windows video encoders on the internet?
- Coming up – November 2008 issue of Australian PC User
- RockPod 3 Update 513 – fix for Windows 7 64-bit error
- On deadline…
- Apple issue fix note for iPad Wi-Fi connectivity issues
- Running RockPod 2009 on a Linux system
- Q&A – Where’s the RockPod 3 download?
- PC User RockPod 3 Update 513 – available here
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| Print article | This entry was posted by Darren Yates on September 29, 2008 at 10:36 pm, and is filed under Darren's software, PC User - what's coming up, PC User software, Portable media players. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |
about 1 year ago
You know, Rockpod is the only app for iPod conversion that does a decent job, and thanks to Darren and PC User, I’ve converted loads of music videos over for my iPod touch.
Thanks a lot!
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darren Reply:
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Thanks for the comments, Drew.
If you enjoyed RockPod 08, you should find RockPod 2009 even faster now with its batch file-encoding!
Cheers,
Darren.
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about 1 year ago
Darren,
I am having audio sync issues with RockPod 09.
How do I fix this. Everything I convert is out of sync.
cheers
jason
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darren Reply:
October 24th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
That’s unusual. In fact, I’ve not heard of any other reports about this. There’s little I can suggest from the encoding side because there’s no way you can change anything really.
However, here’s what I’d try and do:
1) Check the original file is in sync.
2) Try encoding the file into different formats and seeing if they’re all out of sync.
3) Take the encoded files to another computer and see if they’re crook there.
If it’s not the original file and everything you encode is out of sync during playback on more than one computer, see if FFDshow makes any difference. This is a video filter/codec pack that basically uses the same library that RockPod 09 uses to encode them.
You can get it from http://www.afterdawn.com – just search for FFdshow.
Cheers,
Darren.
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about 1 year ago
Hi Darren,
Firstly, wonderful job of Rockpod 2009!
I have a quick question regarding the new feature of batch encoding. Is there a way to run it from a command prompt to convert an entire directory of movies?
I am slowly going through clicking one by one but if I could just set it to go on a folder would be very handy!
Thanks in advance,
Kris.
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darren Reply:
November 14th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
No, not at the moment but it’s a great idea and one that I agree is needed.
RockPod 2009 source code is basically the batch encoding section bolted on and meshed into the RockPod 08 code and the whole thing is starting to get a bit unweildy.
What I’ll probably do is create a new app that allows you to select a folder, create a fixed set of encoding specs and then it encodes the lot to that setting.
It’s not as intricate or as versatile as RockPod 2009 in some ways but it’ll be easily to bulk encode everything in a folder to the one file type without having to manually load in each file one at a time.
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about 1 year ago
rockpod 2009 crashes on my laptop when i select the output file, its annoying me !!!
i have toshiba satellite with windows xp pro sp3
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darren Reply:
November 21st, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Pete Buzz, I don’t mean to be rude but you’ll likely get a better result from me by giving me a bit more information. Your comment is a bit like emailing a doctor telling him it hurts when you cough.
Things that would help to know are:
* what appears on the screen when it “crashes”
* have you selected a codec first before choosing the output file
* what settings are you using when it crashes
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about 1 year ago
Hello. I’m also experiencing very bad audio syncing problems after copying the DVD to disk with DVD Decrypter (3.5.4.0) and encoding the resulting VOB file. The picture is great on my 3rd generation Nano, but the files are unusable due to the audio problem. Encoding was done on a Toshiba 1.73GHz dual core laptop running Vista. Cheers
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darren Reply:
November 23rd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Andrew, are you sure that your original vob file is in sync? If it’s not, there’s little RockPod 2009 can do to fix it. If the original file is in sync, then RockPod 2009 may be the problem.
To be sure, given the fact you’re using a Nano, try encoding with the other option (there are two – MPEG4 and H.264) and see if it’s still out of sync.
Cheers,
Darren.
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Andrew Clark Reply:
December 16th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Hello Darren
I’ve been playing around with this program for a few weeks now and am not having much luck with the original audio syncing problem. There is definitely a problem ocurring somewhere as the discs I’ve tried are all original shop-bought DVDs and play just fine. I’ve used two computers to do the encoding and now the syncing problem remains. I’m a little disappointed as the MPEG picture is noticably sharper than other encoding programs on the nano and the interface is good. I have found H.264 to be unusable due to the pixilated picture. I’ll look out for next version and hopefully have better luck.
Regards
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about 1 year ago
My coverdisc doesn’t work! :-(
Going to buy another copy… hope this one works.
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about 1 year ago
Hi,
I just installed this after buying both a iPod Nano a(6th Gen) and an iPhone for the hubby. I’ve got a problem in which the video files I converted to H.264 codec can’t be imported into iTunes 8. I converted them using te default setting for iPod Nano 6th Gen, and I’ve tried the drag/drop method and the File > Add File to Library methods with no joy. Any ideas?
Whrn I get around this little issue, I’m sure it’ll be a great little app. Thanks Darren.
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about 1 year ago
I’m also having the audio sync issue. VOB file plays perfectly but is badly out of sync after encoding to MP4 with Rockpod. I’ve tried almost every audio and video encoding combination in Rockpod with no success.
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about 1 year ago
Sounds like a great converter for once. How do I get my hands on a copy!
Is this freeware?
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darren Reply:
January 13th, 2009 at 8:54 am
At the moment, you can only get it by buying a copy of the November 2008 issue of PC User magazine. Back issues are available at pcuser.magshop.com.au.
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about 1 year ago
Hi Darren,
I though that I used to be able to use your software to convert .flv files (from YouTube)to MPEG.
Am I wrong?
RockPod does not seem to let me do that, nor the 2009 Ripping and Burning Tool.
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Darren Yates Reply:
May 10th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Peter, at this stage, no – but that’s more an oversight than anything else. I’ll look at adding it in shortly.
Cheers,
Darren.
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about 7 months ago
I get an error after rockpod 09 updates:
Something about illegal base64 call. The pre-update is OK, but after the update it’s fubar.
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about 7 months ago
Hey,
sorry I must be having a few blonde moments, but I cant seem to get it to work correctly, its just creating empty files, no size to them like 1 kb.
Do you have a list of instructions I can get anywhere I have lost the mag, moving sucks at times.
Thanks for your help
Brian
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about 6 months ago
Hey Darren,
I’m encountering problems when converting AVI files to MP4 files for iPod Touch. I’ve tried both formats for it but the program crashes and Windows pops up the “This program has encountered a problem and needs to close.” with the Send and Don’t send error report buttons. Do you have any idea of what’s going on?
Lawrence
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