HandBrake - 0.9.1

HandBrake is a very good products and it make me happy many times.
But in this version I can't find AVI conversion: onli MP4 and MKV.
What the hell...

I've been a regular visitor to Version Tracker since the late days of system 7 (7.6.1, I think) and just created an account today in order to post this comment. That's how much I think this program rocks.

A reviewer below suggests that HandBrake may be difficult for beginners. I can only imagine that s/he must have been reviewing an earlier version without preset toggles. After downloading this program, you are three to four easy mouse clicks away from having highly optimized video for your iPod, PSP, TV, Computer, or several other preset choices. Variables can be entered manually and there is also a tab for advanced settings, but the presets just about cover it all. A single mouse click will set everything the way it should be.

I'm an idiot when it comes to this stuff. In that past, I've felt lucky to end up with a file that would even play on my iPod with both picture and sound. Sometimes I'd end up with a file so big that my iPod would resent me. When I would come back to it six months later to put new stuff on my iPod, I would spend hours relearning everything. If you don't work with video for a living or do it somewhat frequently, it ain't easy. If any of this resonates with you, then you will LOVE HandBrake.

I downloaded two copies of HandBrake at the same time: One for my Mac and one for my Linux box. I had both computers working on a project within five minutes of the download. I'm not exaggerating. Also, as a daily user of both MacOS and Linux, I am very impressed with the attention given to platform specific detail. All of the features are the same, but the Linux version feels like it was written from the ground up for Linux and the Mac version feels like it was written from the ground up for the Mac (I don't know what's up with the pineapple, but even that looks good in your dock).

I also think HandBrake would be helpful to anyone wanting to learn more about video. In contrast to more difficult programs where you have to navigate six pages of variables and wonder where you went wrong if it doesn't come out right, in HandBrake you can start with a preset and manually manipulate one variable at a time. If it doesn't come out the way you expected, you can go back to the preset and try something else.

Make sure you also download VLC if you don't already have it. I think HandBrake looks to it for help with some DVD related functions.

Excellent. Five stars.