Xilisoft, iSkysoft, Aimersoft, Wondershare, etc

[distantstorm]

Hi,

I'm looking into ripping a load of DVDs to MP4 and looking at the various options. Handbrake is an obvious choice but a lot of the DVDs are TV shows and therefore have multiple episodes that I would rather not do one by one. I'm happy looking at various stuff till I get the app that's best so I'm not really looking for a recommendation as such. While looking, though, I've come across software by the companies in the subject and they look to me as if they are all pretty much a rebranding of the same software. Does anybody know if that's correct? When I google the multiple names I seem to get reviews that all recommend one slightly over the other while ignoring Handbrake etc. It all seems pretty dubious to me to be honest.
So, are they all inter-related? Is one the "original" that I should try and the others imitations? Any insight appreciated. Thanks.

Steve

 

[sr55]

These kind of apps are almost always front ends to the open source ffmpeg project.
There isn't really an original one. There are tens of dozens of these front ends to ffmpeg kicking around.
A number of them are listed http://ffmpeg.org/shame.html


HandBrake is open source, thus free.

 

[usher]

same question ...
not fully trust upon them ...
also heard of imtoo magic winx ...
highly doubt whether thier stuff ...
even free things they offered on the website...
considering send a message to thier tech support...
somehow wish they can reserve all my dvd content and resolution...