RealNetworks Unveils DVD Ripping Program

Program Lets Users Copy DVDs To Their Computer Hard Drive

(CNET)  RealNetworks will soon let users rip DVDs to their hard drives -- legally. The company will be unveiling the RealDVD software at Monday's DEMOfall conference in San Diego, but CNET got an early look at the software. Our hands-on impressions follow:

Operation is simple and straightforward. Once the RealDVD software is installed, just pop a DVD into your PC, and the program will copy the entire disc to your hard disk. Depending on the read speed of your computer's DVD drive, the operation will probably take 15-20 minutes (for dual-layer discs that house 7 to 8.5GB of data). You can copy as many as your hard drive will hold, and the program's browsing screen gives you the cover art and relevant metadata (cover art, stars, directors, plot summaries, ratings).

Whether you're at 37,000 feet or you're accessing the program on a home theater PC hooked up to your TV, you need only click on the movie you want to watch, and it'll start straight away. (We say "movie," but RealDVD works just as well for TV shows on DVD as well.) The files are uncompressed, and include everything on the disc--all the extras, and all of the surround sound and alternate audio tracks. Videos can only be watched in the program's built-in software player, but you can toggle to full-screen viewing, and videos autoresume wherever you last left off.

Savvy PC users will ask, "What's the big deal? I've been ripping DVDs to my PC's hard drive for years." Fair enough, but RealDVD adds some relevant bullet points to the equation. First off, it's legal: That's because the program retains the DVD copy-protection, and even adds a further layer of DRM to the files. (Real is standing on the precedent set by the Kaleidescape's 2007 court victory.) So you shouldn't have to sweat a prison term for copyright violation next time you're toting your laptop through airport security. Secondly, it's transportable: you can rip the discs to an external USB hard drive and watch them on up to 4 other PCs on which you've installed the program. (OK, you can do this and more with underground DVD rippers, but the point is that RealDVD is offering a reasonable degree of viewing flexibility, instead of locking the movies onto just one computer.) And thirdly, the software is easy to install and use--anyone familiar with, say, iTunes should have no problem ripping DVDs with RealDVD.

RealDVD is a completely standalone program--it's not integrated with or related to the company's RealPlayer software or Rhapsody subscription music service. It will cost $40-50 (the software will be available as a download and, later, as a shrinkwrapped offering), but Real will be offering it at an introductory price of $30 for a limited time. Additional licenses (for watching movies ripped to your external hard drive on up to 4 other computers you own) will be $20 a pop. It's Windows only right now, but Real says it's looking into a Mac version as well.

In case you're wondering how RealDVD verifies that you're ripping DVDs that you legally own, the answer is: it doesn't. Effectively, you're on the honor system. Aside from an admonition on the splash screen that reminds you to not rip discs you don't own, there's nothing preventing you from archiving DVDs you borrow or rent.

Is it worth the price? During our quick hands-on shakedown cruise with a beta version of RealDVD, we found that it mostly lived up to Real's billing, but it wasn't without issues. For instance, the software didn't seem to find the cover art for many recent movies. And we noted that it can only import copy-protected DVDs--if you've got a disc that's DRM-free, it assumes it's an illegitimate copy, and refuses to import it. (We assume the first issue is just a reflection of the software's pre-release beta status, but the latter seems to be an intended "feature.") Still, for frequent travelers or those looking to backup or share their movie collection throughout the household, it looks to be a feasible option--and the price is certainly low enough to hit impulse buy territory.

Of course, if Real can extend and expand RealDVD as a standardized platform, things could get a lot more interesting. Imagine RealDVD-certified set-top boxes, game consoles, or TVs, where you could just plug in a USB hard drive that houses the bulk of your movie collection and have instant access. Or RealDVD-compatible portable devices, onto which you could drag and drop movies to watch on the go. Those are the sort of features that could make RealDVD into a must-have product. Of course, if this it catches on, RealDVD might just be the first of a series of legal DVD ripping products to hit the market as well.

[dronemonk]

"sweat a prison term for copyright violation next time you''re toting your laptop through airport security" We''re a fascist/authoritarian nation now. You can''t be too careful...

[panton41-2009]

I severely doubt many users will shell out $50 for what is available for free elsewhere. Most users simply don''t care about having permission of the copyright holder and see DRM is a Bad Thing that inhibits their ability to use their computer as they see fit.

[cdfoxtrot3]

I didn''t see anything in the article about the DVD zoning issue. If the DVD is for use in a region other than the US, will the software handle it? A good journalist would have thought of this issue, as it''s a constant pain in the a$$ for those of us who go beyond Hollywood fare for our movies.

[jjp735i]

How much spyware was added? Most people remove RealPlayer when they first set up thier pc.

[sly_64]

Once you buy a media once, it should flow down to all new medias. example: Album, Cassette tape, CD, mpg

Why buy the same product over and over just because they come out with a new way to use it ?

[twohares]

There are still unreasonable restrictions with this software. The Fair Use Doctrine allows you to copy content you LEGALLY OWN to use it as you see fit, on as many machines YOU OWN, in any format (off your hard drive, home network, portable video player, etc.) so long as you don''t re-distribute it. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act made even fair use illegal as DMCA makes "breaking encryption" illegal. You''re allowed to copy a DVD, so long as you don''t break the encryption... a catch-22.
Buy AnyDVD at slysoft.com. It''s an offshore website that will sell things US websites can''t.
It''s only 49 Euros. For 30 Euros more you can also decrypt Blue Ray and HD-DVD content. You can also remove region code restrictions (and ironically, remove that 2-minute long FBI warning you can''t skip past, LOL!).
The DMCA is a crock of poo pushed through into law by the recording industry because they don''t like the fact we could get around copyright due to Fair Use laws. We''re treated like criminals even before we''ve done anything wrong.
Funny thing is, it''s just like gun control.
Gun control makes it next to impossible for a law-abiding citizen to obtain a gun. Meanwhile, the REAL criminals can get one as easily as you can buy a quart of milk.
The tighter the copyright laws are, the easier it''ll be for anyone who actually WANTS to pirate a DVD.
Meanwhile, law-abiding citizens that just want to rip the movie to their home entertainment network and view it privately on their network-enabled HDTV can''t.

[cdfoxtrot3]

Gun control makes it next to impossible for a law-abiding citizen to obtain a gun.
twohares

What planet do you live on?

[hypnotoad72]

I''d pay. I''d like to use my PC in place of my set-top DVD player, especially as set-top technology quality has gone overall downhill the last couple of years.

Of course, 8GB per DVD, I''d hope this Real stuff can compress... :) 1TB, after formatting to OS specifications, would hold up to maybe 80 dual layer discs...

[griking]

Every Real product I''ve ever seen has been bloatware and in some cases spyware. If the program keeps a task running in the background even when I''m not using the program then I''ll never even install it.

Oh, and I agree. This article is nothing more than a poorly disguised ad.