ESCAPE ARTIST While ripping music CDs is a feature available in many freeware applications, the ability to strip the audio of its protection requires something a bit hardier and this is where TuneBite steps in.

Style and Features
The latest release of TuneBite has a slick visual style, with complementary red and black colors. The user interface makes it easy to convert both audio and video offline and online files. The main screen has two tabs Convert Files and Capture Streams. To unprotect or convert your audio file, simply drag and drop it into the display list. Alternatively, you can add files using the hot key [Ins] and entire folders using [Ctrl]+[lns]. Next, choose the end format desired from the drop down lists and press 'Start'. All the converted files will then appear in the right side panel, where you can listen to the results of the conversion process using the playback tools, modify the ID3 tags and categorize them.

TuneBite also includes an option wherein you can choose to convert only the audio element of the file. Capturing streams also works in a similar manner-browse to a website and play the streaming media file, then open up TuneBite and hit the 'Activate' button and whatever is being played will either be downloaded or converted and saved on your hard drive. Since there is support for a ton of formats, syncing with your MP3 player, generic or iPod, creating ringtones and burning CDs is no major issue.

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Performance
TuneBite 5 frees audio and video files from DRM fetters with just a click. It's important to note that a valid local playing license is a prerequisite. The tool converts music files that are protected by Microsoft's DRM or Apple's FairPlay in a DRM-free format with up to 27 times the normal speed using a virtual sound card driver. An MPEG2 codec for direct conversion of protected video files in a DVD-compliant format is missing. Besides, the transfer process of videos eats up too many resources and is limited to the playing speed. A stream ripper that also rips Internet videos according to the manual turns out to be a mere audio ripper for Yahoo Music Radio and MusicLoad. When confronted, the manufacturer explained that he would be adding the ability to rip the audio off Internet videos in a free update.

Finally, in spite of the number of built-in device profiles, TuneBite is only partially suitable for the role of a multimedia converter for mobile devices. For example, it does not come with a H.264 codec to efficiently code videos for Apple iPod or Sony PSP. We also missed the AMR-NB/WB audio codecs to play on older cell phones that do not have AAC. Plus, the program comes with a burn function that is restricted to audio and data CDs, batch processing, ID3 tag editor and a simple generator for mobile ringtones.

VERDICT: While TuneBite 5 scores well in the category of converting DRM-protected audio files, the remaining functions are slightly disappointing. FOR: Strips your protected media files efficiently and easily. AGAINST: No support for a lot of websites.