While the Apple iPod isn't the first portable device to support digital video playback, it's probably the one device that will push portable video into the mainstream. Of course, a key draw of the iPod as a portable video player (PVP) is the fact that its complementing software, iTunes, offers a cheap, easy, and legal way to get content that will play on the device. But what if you already own the video files you'd like to watch but don't play back on the iPod? You could use Apple's simple QuickTime Pro tutorial (you'll need the $29.99 QuickTime Pro 7), but then you'd be limited to the file types that QuickTime supports. If you want the ability to convert from the full gamut of video file types, check out the tutorial below.

Before you start, you'll need to gather these elements:

AVS Video Converter (free to try, $29.95 to buy; Windows only)

Video files, almost any size, shape, or format

Video-capable iPod

Follow these simple steps

1.Download AVS Video Converter.

You can try out the Windows-only Video Converter for free, but a watermark will appear throughout your video. If you're serious about converting video, purchase the program for $29.95; the variety of supported file formats makes it worth it.

2.Launch AVS Video Converter.

3.Select output file type.

Click the To MOV button along the top of the interface. When creating a video for the iPod, always select the QuickTime file format (MOV).

4.Choose video file.

Click the uppermost Browse button on the right. Navigate to the location where you keep your video files, and select the video that you would like to convert. Click Open.

5.Select the output location.

Click the bottom Browse button on the right. Choose the location where you would like to save your converted video file. Click Save.

6.Adjust the settings.

Click the Edit Profile button on the right and fill in the following information:

• Name: QuickTime--for iPod

• Description: Video: MPEG-4, FrameRate: 30 fps, Frame Size: 320x240, Audio: AAC LC - 128, 44100, Stereo

• Comment: (optional)

• Video Format: MPEG-4--high quality

• Frame size: 320x240

• Audio Format: MP2/4(AAC LC) 128Kbps

• File Type: MOV

• Framerate: 30fps

• Width: 320

• Height: 240

• Frequency: 44,100Hz

• Channels: Stereo

7.Convert video.

Click Convert Now and step away from the computer (processor performance will be seriously affected during conversion). If you want to watch the progress while you convert, click the Advanced button until the viewing screen pops out of the bottom.

Note: AVS converted our original 22-minute MPEG-4 file at a rate slightly faster than real time on an Intel 2.8GHz P4 system with 1GB of RAM. Our source file was 224MB, and our resulting iPod-compatible file was 199MB.

8.Transfer video to the iPod.

Open Apple iTunes and drag the newly converted video file to the library window. If you have selected "Automatically update all videos" for the video preferences for your iPod, the new video will automatically transfer when you connect the player. If you have selected "Automatically update the selected playlists only," make sure that you drag the new video to one of the selected playlists.

Note: You'll probably want to update the information of the video when you move it to the iTunes library. To do this, select Videos from the left-hand column and go to list view. Then, click the file for which you want to edit info and select Get Info from the File menu (or simply right-click). You can edit the boxes found under the Info tab.