Need help please

I have a question and I don't really know which forum to put it in. But I know that there's probably someone here who knows the answer.

So here goes. And if this isn't the place for it, I'll ask it again somewhere else.


I bought a program that converts powerpoint (PPT) files to video files. It can convert to MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, MOV, AVI, and a couple others.

What I am using this for is I have songs which I import into powerpoint and create slides with the lyrics, and automate the slide changing to be in sync with the music. Well, I would like to be able to use this on computers that don't have powerpoint, and even on my iPod video.

I have used the trial version of this software a few times, and you can tell it you are using this for an iPod and it automatically converts it to iPod format (MPeg4). Then I import it into iTunes which goes fine. But when I try to drag it into my iPod, it tells me the file can't be played on the iPod so I can't copy it onto the iPod. Then I could right-click on the file in iTunes and click "convert for iPod" or something like that and it would convert it and then I could copy it to the iPod and it would work fine.

Well, I bought the full version today (because I got tired of it saying "trial version" at the bottom of all my videos.) And I tried it again. I have also upgraded iTunes since the last time I tried this.

Now it does the same thing as before, but when I right-click the file in iTunes there is no longer an option for converting the file.

And the thing is, I don't even know why it converted it, or what it converted it to. Because it started out as an MPEG4 and ended up as an MPEG4. So I don't know what iTunes converted to make it playable by my iPod. But the file type is the same.

I am using a 5th generation iPod Video 80Gb.
I thought this iPod would play many types of video, but I don't know why it won't play these without converting them, and I don't know why I can't convert them anymore.

I have another converter program, but I don't know what to convert them to so that the iPod would accept them.

I sent an email to the software maker of the PPT-2-Video program, but I haven't heard back yet.


Any help would be greatly appreciated.

ORIGINAL: Jonbouy

I think Apple fiercely try to keep their revenue stream flowing by having as much proprietary nonsense attached to their products as possible and as soon as some smart Alec gets around it they patch it up again.

Which is why I wouldn't touch anything with an Apple logo on it any more.

My suggestion would be to choose something which is less fussy about standard formats and doesn't try to hijack your system with DRM hacks.

This board is constantly spammed by people trying to flog these half-baked converters which wouldn't be necessary if people didn't fall for the Apple hype in the first place and at best will only work until iNewformat gets put into place. Apple put the bloody cheek into chic IMO. They make MS look like a fair-trade company.

Well that's what iThink FWIW.

Well, buying a Zune isn't a possibility right now. And other than this one inconvenience I have been very happy with my iPod and even iTunes for the last couple of years.

Thanks for the advice, but I'd rather find another workaround than shell out the dough for a Zune when I already have an iPod. Plus my car stereo and home stereo are both equipped with iPod docks, and not Zune docks.

Now it does the same thing as before, but when I right-click the file in iTunes there is no longer an option for converting the file.

That's probably a Quicktime Pro function, and I remember the last QT update had an important warning some of those might get disabled in existing software after updating.

So I decided not to, since my Premiere Pro also uses QT, works fine, and I didn't want to go through any reinstall hassle.

So that *could* well be your problem, and rolling back to the previous QT version might do the trick.

ORIGINAL: Roflcopter

Now it does the same thing as before, but when I right-click the file in iTunes there is no longer an option for converting the file.

That's probably a Quicktime Pro function, and I remember the last QT update had an important warning some of those might get disabled in existing software after updating.

So I decided not to, since my Premiere Pro also uses QT, works fine, and I didn't want to go through any reinstall hassle.

So that *could* well be your problem, and rolling back to the previous QT version might do the trick.

That's what I was thinking of doing anyway. I just wanted to see if there was another way first. I still have the install file on my harddrive for the previous version of iTunes, but would that revert Quicktime as well, or would I have to do that seperately?
Could I revert Quicktime to a previous version without reinstalling iTunes and get this done?

Like I said, I wish I knew what it was converting the videos to, because I have other programs I could do this with. I just don't know what format the iPod requires. And I don't know if it's just a format, or if it's a resolution or bit rate requirement.
Because I'm fairly sure I'm in the correct format already. MPeg4

ORIGINAL: Jonbouy

Indeed you are correct and I unreservedly apologize for my rant.

I'm still sore at them for what I see as swiping £100 from my daughters xmas money a year ago for something she can't use now.

But it's no excuse for letting a cloud of red mist off on your thread.

No big deal, thanks for the apology.


And incidentally I just figured out what to do.
There is still the converting option in the new iTunes, it's just in a different place. Instead of being in the right-click menu, it's under the advanced menu at the top. Problem solved.

There is still the converting option in the new iTunes, it's just in a different place. Instead of being in the right-click menu, it's under the advanced menu at the top. Problem solved.

Ah, had missed that. Good to see it's solved.

Well I checked and I do have some video files on my iPod that have the MPEG-4 codec. So that can't be it.