Handbrake is an open source video transcoder available for Windows, Mac and Linux and comes equipped with various conversion setting presets. Handbrake can convert a single video file, a queue of video files or a DVD video in a few simple steps:

1. Select the source video file or DVD title/folder
   
2. Select a destination for the converted file
   
3. Select a conversion preset or configure the specific audio/video settings
   
4. For a single file conversion click the Start button or click Add to Queue if you wish to convert multiple files. Click Start once you have added all videos to the queue
   
5. The conversion process will start and notify you once all videos in the queue are complete

Note: For greater compatibility with iTunes, enable the ‘Use iPod/iTunes friendly (.m4v) file extension for MP4′ setting

Handbrake is by far the best free MP4 video transcoder that I have come across. Let me know your opinions or alternatives that you may use in the comments.

MP4Cam2AVI allows you to convert and/or join MP4 or MOV files to AVI in four easy steps:

1. Browse to the location of the video file/s you wish to convert.
2. Select the video file/s from the listing.
3. Select the appropriate action to perform on the video/s (Join or Batch Convert).
4. Select the Output directory and start the conversion.

The resulting video file/s can now be imported into Windows Movie Maker.

The application can convert a video in three easy steps (using default settings)…

1. Add the video file/s
2. Select the video conversion profile
3. Encode the video/s

The following is a detailed guide to the above steps:

1. Add the video file/s:

• Press the ADD VIDEO button.
  
• Browse to the location of the video/s that you wish to be converted.
• Select the video/s and press the Open button.

2. Select the video conversion profile:

• Select Flash Video Movie (*.flv) from the Profile: drop-down menu.
  

3. Encode the video/s:

• Press the ENCODE button and wait for the process to complete.
  

Initially I was sold on the idea and thought it was great. Then I saw it in use… The setup works but can be quite “buggy” In my experience this would not sit well with teachers who are very tight for time and would not be helpful if half the in class time was spent troubleshooting. I think the system would be more targeted at small businesses would who would not necessarily be using the system all day everyday and would not need the precision that educational institutions require.

A proprietary interactive whiteboard, such as SMART Board or Promethean, are a much better option for educational institutions. These boards provide greater stability, ease of use and support. The boards are much more user friendly for techers as they provide their own software package designed to work with the purchased board.

I will still be purchasing the required hardware and downloading the software to test the WiiMote Whiteboard for myself:

Hardware:

• Projector
• WiiMote
• Bluetooth Dongle (or inbuilt Bluetooth)
• Voltage tolerant IrDa pen

Software:

• WiiMote Whiteboard (available here)

I will post more once I have a WiiMote Whiteboard of my own up and running…

Direct blog link: SMART Boards – How to…?
TIGS Intranet Link (login required): SMART Boards – How to…?