Avidemux is one of the most popular media converter software on Linux machines. It is available for Windows users as well. You can get the software in the current LFYDVD. The installation is, as usual, pretty simple. (Just keep clicking those Next buttons! I still find software installation on Linux to be much easier-not so many 'click-nexts'! You can try that once you migrate to Linux. You already have the Mandriva 2009 DVD accompanying this magazine, why don't you give it a try? And don't blame me if you also start using Linux from there on. It's addictive; trust me.

Now, you can find an Avidemux launching the program. Here, you can see several options. Select the file you want to convert and you will see it in the preview windows. The next step is to choose the format you want to convert your video into. Here, we will tell you how to convert your video into a format playable on your iPod. For selecting the video format, click on the Copy option under the Video section and choose the format you want to convert your video to. In case of the iPod, select MPEG-4 ASP (laavc).



Now, select the audio format for an iPod, we will select AAC (FAAC). The next step is to select the format of the file, so check MP4. Now, click on Save and select the location you want the video to be saved. While giving the name of the file that it should be saved as, you will have to add the corresponding extension, in this case xxx. mp4. Now, click on Save and you will have your video saved in the desired format.

Avidemux also allows you to edit your videos. You can crop the screen size, increase/decrease brightness and contrast, and even add subtitles. There are many such filters that make Avidemux a very powerful converter. Well, Avidemux is installed on your PC, right? So please start playing with it because I've run out of the allotted word¬limit.