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XStudios Clone DVD Review
- CloneDVD is available as a free download which you unlock using a paid for serial number for $69.95
- A CD-ROM version can be mailed to you for an extra $9.95
- Easy to use DVD copying application
- Multiple copy modes
- 1 click copy functionality
- Compress a standard dual-layer DVD-9 movie disc onto a single-layer DVD-5 blank disc
- Split a dual layer movie to two standard DVDRs
- Worldwide most popular DVD copying software
- Removes copy protection from backup DVDs
- Synchronize with PSP or iPod
- Backup a whole DVD to an image file on your hard drive
- Remove the region code from your backup DVD
- Copied discs are playable on standard DVD players
- Converts to a format compatible with most portable devices
- Decide which parts of the DVD to include in your copy
- Easy to use interface
- Supports PAL or NTSC
- Free updates
- Limited functionality 14 day trial version available
- Windows based PCs only
XStudios CloneDVD is a very useful and well designed application for copying DVD movies. It automatically removes region coding and copy protection on your backups so that they will play on any DVD player and can do it all in only one click. It doesn't have quite as many features as some of its competitors but is still well worth a look if you are thinking of backing up your DVD collection.
CloneDVD by X studios should not be confused with the rather similarly titled product by Slysoft which ranks elsewhere in our top ten. Although the two applications have the same name, do the same things and do indeed look very similar they are two different products by two different companies. We aren't sure who copied whom, but it certainly wouldn't hurt the marketing departments to get a little more creative in naming their products!
However, CloneDVD is still a worthwhile piece of software and provides all the functionality you need to make good quality backups of your DVD movie collection. Amongst other things it can condense down a dual layer DVD to be backed up onto a standard DVDR with very little loss in quality. This is very useful if, like many people, you haven't got a dual layer DVD burner installed in your computer as most movies these days come on dual layer discs. There is also a copy option which allows you to decide which parts of the DVD you want to include - so for example you could make a compilation of your favourite Simpsons episodes quite easily. One thing that CloneDVD does lack, however, is the ability to make copies of HD movies that some of the products further up our top ten list provide.
On the plus side, unlike some other products in our top ten, you don't have to download any extra tools to be able to copy protected DVDs. CloneDVD will simply remove all protection and region coding automatically leaving you with a backup that will play in any standard DVD player. This seems to work pretty well for the most part and X Studios provides regular updates when new copy protection methods come into play.
Another useful feature of CloneDVD is that you can convert movies from a DVD into a format compatible with most popular portable video players. The process is extremely simple and the resulting movie file looked great on the screen of our iPod. We like the fact that CloneDVD includes this facility in its main product while some other companies force you to buy an extra add on if you want to create mobile movies.
The user interface for CloneDVD is very intuitive, but might perhaps overwhelm beginners with the amount of settings shown on the main window. Once you realise that you don't have to bother with most of the settings it's fine, but the inclusion of a beginner mode or a wizard style interface might have been useful. However, there is always the one click copy option if you can't be bothered messing around.
CloneDVD is a well made and useful DVD copying application. It doesn't have the full extent of customization options that some other products provide, but it gives you the ability to create portable device compatible movies instead. The product blurb and support sections on the website let it down a bit due to the poor English which can make a company seem a bit unprofessional, but if you can get past that CloneDVD is a product deserved of your attention.
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