Like many similar apps, Free iPod Video Converter is a spiffed-up front end for codecs that transforms your digital video files into an iPod-compatible format. But to give the program some credit, it is easy to use, and of course it's free. It works with AVI, MPEG, VOB, WMV, and RM files and supports batch conversion. You can specify the video and sound quality and have the program automatically shut down the computer when it's finished. There's nothing groundbreaking here, but Free iPod Video Converter's reasonably good looks, decent functionality, and free price make it a solid competitor.

Although this version of Stoik Video Converter Pro disables a few of the paid program's features, it still makes a perfectly functional choice for simple video conversions. This app's interface isn't its strong point. For example, adding files to transform isn't as intuitive as it could be, and the wording often can be confusing; it took us a few minutes to discover that the Record icon was how to begin converting a clip.

Though the demo is a bit buggy, this video converter is simple, effective, and flexible. RER Video Converter's interface is logically constructed, with a list of files to convert, a view pane, and simple conversion selection buttons. In fact, novices will convert videos seconds after loading this application. Converting to Windows Media (WMV) offered 18 formats, but the program succinctly explained each option.

This freeware video-to-iPod converter aims to be the ultimate in desktop iPod and iPhone accessories. It can take just about any video format, smoothly output it in either H.264 or MPEG-4, and download YouTube videos. It has some drawbacks, but nothing that outweighs the benefits of owning this superb converter.

Lightweight and effective, this program is a great way to convert video files from Flash formats into something useful beyond Web pages. Specializing in formats meant for portable devices, Free FLV Converter also supports AVI and can download embedded SWF or FLV vids directly from the Internet when you punch in the URL.

It tells you something about how competitive the PSP-video-conversion market has become that even a free, perfectly functional program such as PSP Video Express doesn't grab our attention. That's not to say it has any serious problems. It does a decent job converting AVI movies to a format suitable for viewing on your PSP. On top of that, it supports other popular formats such as WMV, MPEG, and RMVB. After converting a movie, you can immediately transfer it to your portable device. The interface is sadly cluttered, and customization options are slim, but you can choose resolution and video quality. You also can select and convert fragments of video. Nevertheless, you can easily find other freeware PSP-conversion programs that offer more features. PSP Video Express isn't a bad piece of software; it just lacks pizazz.

This video converter is made by Red Kawa, the same folks who now make the popular Videora iPod video converter. Although both programs are plagued by rampant advertising, the situation is much, much worse in this one. The ads take up much more screen space than they do in the iPod video converter, and the ones for the PSP include shrill voices excitedly informing the user that you have won not one but two, yes two, iPod Nanos. And judging from the included images, they're old Nano models at that.

Plato Video to 3GP Converter is an idea program for anyone. It enables you convert almost all kinds of video files such as rm, divx, xvid, avi, wmv, asf, mpg, mpeg, vob, mov, qt, mp4, flv, swf, nsv to Cellphone 3gp video. Now you can enjoy the versatile movies on your cellphone wherever and whenever. Simple settings, high speed, and friendly interface.

This video splitter, merger, and format converter has an interface that looks like it hasn't aged since 1997. Fortunately, it's been laid out in a clean, legible manner, and that goes a long way toward usability.

This nothing-fancy utility converts RM files to MP3s and WAVs, though some may find the demo's limitations unreasonable. We should note that to use RM to MP3 Converter, you must already have RealPlayer installed on your computer, as this program needs to access some of its files to function. It handles its main job without a hiccup, supports batch conversions, extracts audio from RM videos, and also can convert WAV files to MP3s (and vice versa). The interface is self-explanatory and lets you specify the output file's bit rate and quality level, as well as encode songs in the space-saving VBR mode. Unfortunately, the trial version only lets you convert 30 seconds worth of audio, which may put some users off. Folks with this simple need might find RM to MP3 Converter is for them, but those with more varied audio collections will want a less-restrictive program.