Popcorn 3 debuts: Pause and resume, TiVo
updated 03:10 am EDT, Fri August 17, 2007
Popcorn 3 debuts
Roxio has debuted a new version of their video conversion, recording, DVD duplication and burning tool, Popcorn 3. We spoke with Vito Salvaggio, Vice President of the Mac division at Roxio about the new release, what it means for current users of the program, and how first time users will benefit from its significant changes. Like previous releases, Popcorn 3 allows you to take a Video_TS disc and encode video for the iPod, Sony PSP, and other platforms. Also, like, previous iterations, it allows you to modify the DVD options for disc/video output; you can choose from among the various choices for languages, subtitles, etc, for instance. New in this release, however, is TiVo to Go support, allowing you to automatically convert your TiVo recordings to the format of your choice. It also sports compatibility with Elgato's EyeTV.
Also new to Popcorn 3 is the ability to take one or more videos of various formats and create DVD compilations with menus, etc. The time limit on video content has also been increased. You can now create DVDs that have 4 hours of DVD content. In the past the restriction was 2 hours.
One of the more simple, but most useful features in Popcorn 3 is the ability to pause processing of projects. This lets you put processing on hold, allowing you to perform other operations on your Mac, then go back to encoding/processing later. Salvaggio told us "To be honest, it wasn't the hardest feature to implement, but it really adds a lot to the product."
Also new is a batch mode for converting multiple Video_TS folders into multiple DVDs or individual video files. "H.264 encoding is a slow process," said Salvaggio. "The batch mode allows you to set up several videos for processing overnight."
Popcorn 3 introduces support for Elgato's recently released H.264 hardware accelerator, the Turbo.264. Popcorn will use Turbo.264 to encode video. According to Salvaggio this frees up CPU, meaning that Mac OS X won't appear as sluggish as it might otherwise.
With regard to performance, in addition to enhancements to the Popcorn 3 application itself, the new release utilizes QuickTime 7.2, which purportedly delivers a significant increase in the encoding speed of various file formats. It also increases the quality of exported videos according to Salvaggio.
Popcorn 3 is priced at $50 for new customers, or $30 as an upgrade. It requires Mac OS X 10.4.10 and a PowerPC G4, G5 or Intel-based Mac. It will be available at retail in late August or early September.
Hmm…
08/17, 11:13am reply
I upgraded to newly-released Popcorn 2 couple of months ago. Call me a somewhat disappointed with the short turnover cycle. Roxio is sure milking upgrades here.
ShadowKatana
Junior Member
Joined: May 2001
Not impressed
08/17, 04:58pm reply
I bought Popcorn 2 last summer. I won't be upgrading. It works well for DVD burning but is otherwise limited. Spend the extra $30 for Toast.
surfacto
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Oct 2001
sorry, Roxio
08/17, 05:14pm reply
Roxio has adopted a confusing, customer-milking new/upgraded product differentiation strategy. Brief examples:
Toast 8 added most Popcorn 2 features. Now, Popcorn 3 "steals" TiVo to Go support from Toast 8. Anyone want to bet Toast 9 will incorporate "unique" Popcorn 3 features?
And there's Crunch, essentially a crippled Popcorn 2 product that needn't exist if Roxio were fairer to customers by folding any unique Crunch features (are there any?) into Popcorn and lowering its price.
The way Roxio is releasing these overlapping features in separate products and upgrades seems to be frustrating an increasing number of existing customers who are aware of this mess.
That, combined with poor technical support and other negative factors, has made Roxio one of my least respected Mac developers.
sjk
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2002
Ditto to sjk
08/18, 01:42am reply
Totally agree with you.
Right now, I have Toast 7, Popcorn 1.0 and 2.0. Some of the features from Popcorn 3.0 is nice, but due to how Roxio releasing schedule and milking different new similar products.
I'm not gonna invest on its products anymore.
Kenneth
Addicted to MacNN
Joined: Mar 1999
good for Tivo?
08/19, 12:17pm reply
I've never purchased a Roxio product, but would like to use the TiVo to Go features. Is this $50 product the only thing I need?
malax
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2006