I have a feeling Auto Rip n Compress is going to be everyone’s next “must-have” add-in for Windows Media Center. The add-in allows you to easily rip DVD or Blu-ray movies from your couch using only your remote. Of course, you’ll need to have some software pre-installed on your PC — like AnyDVD HD, Handbrake, ImgBurn, Haali Media Splitter, etc. — and a free account with Get Digital Data (aka GD3) to get the whole experience going. But after that, though, you’ll be in ripping nirvana making compressed or uncompressed movie copies complete with metadata and cover art. By the way, if you like Auto Rip n Compress, consider making a PayPal donation to the developer — it’s good karma. [via] MORE »

This quick guide (geared more towards Linux users) leverages two free open-source command line tools that will rip the contents of your DVD movie to your hard drive, unencrypt the files in processes, and then creates an ISO disc image that you can use for playback on your PC or digital media adapter (if it supports ISO playback of unencrypted images). The main reason you would want to follow this process is: 1) you want to backup your movies to your PC in minutes instead of hours; 2) you want an unencrypted copy of the movie that can be played back in its original quality (with DVD menus) from your hard drive; 3) you’d like to have an original digital copy that can be easily transcoded to a single video file for use on other devices. MORE »

Ever wish backing up DVDs to your PC were as easy as placing a disc in the drive and then having a program auto-rip the content with your preferred video presets already in place? Well, now you can with a nifty little app called AutoBrake — which (as the name implies) leverages the popular HandBrake application and automates the whole process. AutoBrake is compatible with Windows XP / Vista and can be installed on Windows Home Server as a standard application via Remote Desktop. Note: AnyDVD or DVD43 will also be required, if you plan on backing up copy-protected DVD movies. Download AutoBrake here. [via] MORE »

I’m sure there were a few of you out there who were digging the Movieplex DVD movie manager we covered last week for Mac OS X. Well guys… KavaMovies ($35) is another worthy competitor to look at. As of version 1.2, KavaMovies now includes a wizard that lets users import movies from their “Movies folder, iTunes collection, and other programs” and then provides an interface to assign the right movie data to each title discovered. What’s more, users can launch selections for playback directly from the application, as well as, acquire additional movies for their collection via Amazon, iTunes, and even BitTorrent. Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg of what this program can do. For complete details and tour of its feature, click here. MORE »

Sure there are plenty of people out there who have a large collection of ripped DVD movies stored on their computers, but how many of those are leveraging a movie manager like Multiplex that lets them search their library, attaches movie metadata, provides high-resolution cover art, and wraps it in a mac-inspired management interface? I’d say probably not many – and that’s a shame. Because for $35 ($25 if you buy v1.0 now) you can get the features mentioned above, plus you can look forward to getting full-screen, stadium, cover-flow, and grid views, as well as, LAN based movie streaming functionality compatible with Boxee, PS3, and other UPnP devices / platforms in coming point release updates (all of which are free upgrades). [via]

Aside: Need help with DVD ripping on the Mac? Macworld has put together an excellent resource guide you can check out here.

The title pretty much says it all. So, Brian Binnerup has been busy adding new features and squashing bugs on his road to the official, non-beta release of My Movies for Windows Home Server. The two stand-out features in v1.02 users now get to play with is support for FLAC lossless audio CD rips and MPEG-2 DVD rips compatible with Media Center Extenders. Interestingly, in regards to DVD rips, users will now have four options to suit their needs: ISO file, VIDEO_TS Folder, MPEG-2 File, VIDEO_TS Folder and MPEG-2 File. Note: a copy of AnyDVD is required to perform DVD rips. Full change log below. MORE »

Wired.com is reporting that federal judge, Marilyn Hall Patel, has decided to place an indefinite ban on Real Networks’ RealDVD software which the MPAA claims violates the DMCA — even though Real defends that its software in no way circumvents DVD encrpytion and in fact makes a bit for bit digital copy of the contents of a DVD disc to a users hard drive (details on how RealDVD works and its usage). Patel reaffirmed: “I’m not satisfied that in fact this technology is not in violation of the DMCA.” What’s worrisome is that the judge appears to agree with the MPAA attorney that fair use (or the right for people to make digital backup copies of their purchased media) is no defense to DMCA circumvention violations. In other words, the law trumps personal freedoms. (So, again, ask yourself… Who really owns your digital media collection?) Wired.com adds that it’s not likely that a final judgement will come until after the holiday season. [via]

Related: EFF.org — Why MPAA Should Lose Against RealDVD

Ian Dixon at TheDigitalLifeStyle.com teased readers over the weekend by posting screenshots of the unannounced My Movies add-in for Windows Home Server (My Movies was originally designed for Windows MCE 2005 and now works with Vista). As of right now the add-in is not presently available, but we’re learning that it will include a fully automated Disc Copier and store disc meta-data in a way that’s compatible with Microsoft DVD Library, Niveus Movie Library, Open Media Library, Media Portal, and XBMC. Stay tuned to The Media Center Show where Ian will soon be posting his podcast interview with My Movies developer Brian Binnerup.

UPDATE: My Movies for Windows Home Server Now Available

Here’s another reason to look at VidaBox’s line of Digital Home products when you’re considering making your next purchase. The guys at VidaBox have custom built a mini, near silent extender client for their VidaBox Server called RoomClientHD. The funny thing is that it’s really a mini Windows Vista PC running Home Premium. However, what’s not funny, but seriously cool, is that it’s capable of streaming Blu-ray movies from the server at full 1080p and can upscale DVDs to HD. Further details provided in the press release below. MORE »

Dell is bringing the big screen to the PC screen, making it easy for users to build a personal digital library of their favorite Hollywood blockbusters.

Dell and Sonic Solutions have teamed to make downloading and recording DVD movies easy with the first PC-based Qflix™ drives. Using an intuitive application, Roxio® Venue, movie collectors can search and select from a variety of major Hollywood hits available from CinemaNow, download them on their PC, transfer them to multiple digital devices in their home, and then create a permanent and portable DVD-format copy on Qflix DVD media. MORE »