Roxio Crunch is the essential video converter for your Apple TV, iPod, and iPhone. A recently released Mac tool that also works on the PC. Roxio Crunch is an application designed to take video files and shrink ‘crunch’ them down to an iPod or iPhone friendly size. And, err, that’s about it really. That’s what Crunch does. However, it does this in such a simple and straightforward manner that even an adult can use it!Installation is very quick and painless and needs no explanation.When I first started Crunch I had to look at the opening screen clearly, just to make sure that I hadn’t clicked the Toast icon by mistake! The user interface looks identical to Roxio’s Toast, and why not? It’s a nice looking interface with all the information and instructions that you need, without being cluttered with lots of stuff that you don’t need. In fact, Roxio’s Crunch uses the technology developed for Toast and Easy Media Creator, so you know from the start that it’s well tested and proven software.Crunch asks you to insert a DVD by default. However, there is the usual slide out draw to the left that gives you the option of choosing either a DVD, Image file, Video_TS folder, or Video files. After you have made your selection of any of these alternatives, you just drag the file to the Crunch UI, or stick with the original choice and insert a DVD. When you have done this, and BEFORE you press the big red button to start the process, check the device selection menu. This is found by clicking on the green ‘cog’ next to the red button. The default is Apple TV with standard quality and being saved to iTunes. So if that’s what you want to do, then just accept the defaults and press the red button. Other choices are; Video iPod or iPhone. Alternative Quality settings are; High, Fastest and Custom. Whilst Crunch will automatically save your files to iTunes (ready to Synchronise them with your Video iPod etc.), you can change this to your Movies folder, Desktop, or another folder of your choice. With Roxio’s Crunch you can also convert several files all at the same time.Batch ConversionYou can save time by adding multiple video files and have them converted in one step. Mix and match content with both 16:9 widescreen and 4:3 fullscreen aspect ratios.The reading, converting, compressing (‘crunching’), and saving process is very quick, with no interaction needed from the user. Once completed, it then opens iTunes (if that is your choice), where you can then watch your video or just download it to your iPod or whatever.

Minimum System Requirements:

Apple Macintosh:
Intel or PowerPC processor (G4 or faster)
256 MB RAM
Mac OS X v 10.4.9 or later
50 MB of hard disk space to install the software
Up to 15 GB of temporary free hard disk space may be needed while using the software
Apple TV, Video iPod, or iPhone
QuickTime 7.1.5 or later
iTunes 7.1.1 or later

Windows PC:
MS Windows Vista, XP Home, Professional, or MCE (SP2 or later), or Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.
1.4 GHz Intel Pentium 4 or equivalent
256 MB RAM
50 MB of hard disk space to install the software
Up to 15 GB of temporary free hard disk space may be needed while using the software
Windows Media Player 10 or higher
Apple TV, Video iPod, or iPhone
QuickTime 7.1.5 or later
iTunes 7.1.1 or later

This product does NOT copy encrypted or copy protected DVDs. 

USE OF THIS SOFTWARE TO MAKE ILLEGAL COPIES OF MOVIES AND OTHER CONTENT IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED

Roxio Crunch is a specific tool designed to do a specific job. It does exactly that, and does it extremely well. Given that the majority of people will be purchasing Crunch to convert their movies to their Video iPod’s, I know of no better tool for the job, especially as it works equally as well on Windows machines as it does on Mac’s.For the (current) asking price of just £29.99 I think that everyone who owns a Video iPod, Apple TV and/or an Apple iPhone would find Roxio Crunch a very worthwhile addition to the library, I know that I will certainly be making good use of it.For those of you who own other devices, such as PSPs and X-Box 360s, then take a look at Roxio’s Popcorn 3.