ieXbeta Board > New Wrinkle in Movie Swapping

Full Version: New Wrinkle in Movie Swapping

Singh400

Jun 3 2005, 22:48

A group of anonymous programmers has released a new software tool online that threatens to raise the stakes for Hollywood studios fighting Internet movie-swapping.

Dubbed RatDVD, the new software crunches video from movies into small packages, while creating a single file that keeps intact DVD "extras"--alternate endings, outtakes, director's commentary and the like. Because it retains all these extra features, allowing them to be burned back onto a DVD or browsed on a computer, the software is already being discussed in video-focused Net circles as a potential successor to the most popular formats used for trading movies online today.

On their Web site, the programmers say they created the software because most movies available online were little better than digital VHS tapes, without the additional features that made DVDs interesting. Reached by instant message, one of the lead developers said the software could be used for archiving purchased movies on a home PC, but that people likely would use it to swap movies online as well. "I don't know what people will use it for; that's an individual decision," said the programmer, who asked to remain anonymous. "I don't think the program does anything illegal, although it certainly could be used illegally."

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View: RatDVD Homepage
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View: Full Article
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News source: C|Net News

Singh400

Jun 3 2005, 23:09

Interesting, can anyone say DVD Shrink?

QUOTE

...ratDVD takes a full featured DVD movie and puts it into a highly compressed .ratDVD container format file - while preserving all the features of the original DVD such as:

-Full anamorphic picture, seamless branching, multiple video angles, multiple audio channels, subpictures, etc.
-Keep movie versions (Directors Cut, Theatrical version, etc.), Alternate story endings, making of, video commentary , cut scenes, etc..
-Keep complete menus, navigation and features
-Reliable high quality, valid check-summed container.

You can also convert a .ratDVD file back to DVD format, burn it to a DVDR and watch the movie using a regular DVD player.

ratDVD does not support encrypted DVDs. They need to be decrypted before they can be used with ratDVD. For decrypting the regular DVD movies, download DVD Decrypter. For more detailed instructions, please read our ratDVD guide.

ahh bummer.

Neil

Jun 3 2005, 23:12

reminds me of DVD 123 or was it DVDxCopy? anywayz i can't argue with it if its FREE!

Cyfun

Jun 3 2005, 23:23

QUOTE(Singh400 @ Jun 3 2005, 15:48)

On their Web site, the programmers say they created the software because most movies available online were little better than digital VHS tapes, without the additional features that made DVDs interesting.

Pfff, a 2-CD Xvid and AC3 encoded movie looks fine. Additional features are nice, but most of the time I could a flying fluck. I have a feeling that they only put that stuff on there because they have all that extra space on the DVD and they can also jack up the price cause of all this lovely extra stuff.

Having said that, it does sound like pretty cool technology and I can't wait to see if it lives up to the hype.

Illrigger

Jun 4 2005, 00:41

QUOTE(Singh400 @ Jun 3 2005, 16:09)

QUOTE

ratDVD does not support encrypted DVDs. They need to be decrypted before they can be used with ratDVD. For decrypting the regular DVD movies, download DVD Decrypter. For more detailed instructions, please read our ratDVD guide.

ahh bummer.

One word: AnyDVD

Singh400

Jun 4 2005, 01:11

QUOTE(Illrigger @ Jun 4 2005, 01:41)

QUOTE(Singh400 @ Jun 3 2005, 16:09)

QUOTE

ahh bummer.

One word: AnyDVD

Thanks - but I use a combination of DVD Shrink & DVD Decrypter.

Heart_Attack

Jun 5 2005, 05:26

it works quite nicely. i'm 4% done with pirates of the caribbean and it is going smoothly. it is quite the pig though, using 100% of my cpu, but at least it lets the programs i start using have their fair share. It was nice though to be able to take out languages, or even menus that i didn't want in this copy, so i say it's a great app to have.

Illrigger

Jun 6 2005, 18:24

QUOTE(Singh400 @ Jun 3 2005, 18:11)

QUOTE(Illrigger @ Jun 4 2005, 01:41)

QUOTE(Singh400 @ Jun 3 2005, 16:09)

QUOTE

ahh bummer.

One word: AnyDVD

Thanks - but I use a combination of DVD Shrink & DVD Decrypter.

But for how long?

Of course, AnyDVD may be joining it in a short while....

Singh400

Jun 6 2005, 18:43

Ah shut it. **mumbles**

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