Moved: DVD-R software and iDVD incompatability

Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
I recently purchased a LaCie DVD-R drive (the so-called SuperDrive, though not Apple's SuperDrive per se) and it shipped with a CD that contained 3 PC apps that were basically iDVD equivalents (i.e. content makers for dummies for burning DVDs) but only Toast Lite for Mac, which is fine for burning files/folders to DVD, but obviously won't support iDVD like features such as menus and prepping for play in a DVD player.



As this was completely unacceptable (i.e. no mac version of content creation app), we ordered from Apple the iDVD 2 CD (which ships with superdrive equipped macs). I was under the impression that being a firewire DVD-R from a reputable vendor, iDVD would support it. Then I discover that iDVD 2 only supports Apple's superdrive, and attempting to run it without one installed results in an error dialog and the app terminating.



Apple is getting more like MS every day. Does anyone know of any good DVD content creation apps like iDVD that work with 3rd party devices? DVD Studio Pro is supported, but is not only too expensive and overkill, but is terribly complicated.



We are looking for something simple just to make some DVDs of quicktime movies/iMovies of graduations and skiing trips.



Does anyone have any good suggestions/solutions/ideas? We are pretty miffed at getting this drive and then having no apps to use it.



There was a blurb in the docs that came with the LaCie that said that Toast Lite allowed for DVD creation. However, I was under the impression that it burned DVDs, but only in the files/folders format, not in a playable form. Is this the solution I am looking for, or am I way off base?



Please help this is driving us crazy!



Thanks in advance!



The topic can now be found <a href="http://forums.appleinsider.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=7&t=001353"; target="_blank">here</a> as answers in the Current Hardware forum were a bit lacking. (Plus it's really a Genius Bar question anyway )



-alcimedes



[ 07-29-2002: Message edited by: alcimedes ]</p>

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 18
    aslanaslan Posts: 97member
    Bumping this up a little....



    For the love of god, is ANYONE burning DVDs?



    Is there ANY app besides iDVD for doing DVD preparation that doesn't require rocket science (a la DVD Studio Pro...)?



    Thanks for ANY reply (even a flame at this point! )
  • Reply 2 of 18
    defiantdefiant Posts: 4,876member
    you could search a crack for iDVD in carracho
  • Reply 3 of 18
    aslanaslan Posts: 97member
    Alright! Thanks for the post...



    I didn't realize there WAS a crack available!

    Can anyone confirm or debunk the existence of the aforementioned crack (i.e. iDVD for non-Apple SuperDrive crack)?



    Heading to Limewire to sniff around right now....



  • Reply 4 of 18
    paulpaul Posts: 5,278member
    if you have a tower. you could just mount the drive internally...
  • Reply 5 of 18
    defiantdefiant Posts: 4,876member
    [quote]Originally posted by Paul:

    <strong>if you have a tower. you could just mount the drive internally...</strong><hr></blockquote>



    of course, that's possible too
  • Reply 6 of 18
    pyr3pyr3 Posts: 946member
    On the topic of iDVD cracks, is there a crack to allow you to make more than 1hr ( or 1.5 hr) of DVD video? I heard that there is a limitation on iDVD movies since Apple wants people to buy DVD Studio Pro if they are making feature length movies.
  • Reply 7 of 18
    aslanaslan Posts: 97member
    Ugh... a time limit on iDVD film lengths? THat is preposterous! DVD Studio Pro's learning curve is pretty damn steep.



    For the sake of conversation, the machine in question is not a tower... it is a TiBook (the drive is a Firewire LaCie SuperDrive)



    Apple is really starting to piss me off.



    <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
  • Reply 8 of 18
    In the software forum I recently posted a question about Formac Devideon software that comes with their version of the Superdrive. I am not sure if the software is available separately. My question is if anyone has tried this software (doubtful it would be as easy and nice as iDVD2). The Formac site is very light on information about the Devideon software.
  • Reply 9 of 18
    mimacmimac Posts: 872member
    ...and therein lies the catch

    Apple wants you to buy a "Superdrive" Mac.

    Simple as that.

    If you want to burn DVDs with another burner other than that which Apple deems proper to factory fit (Pioneer DVR 104) then a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth is deemed necessary
  • Reply 10 of 18
    defiantdefiant Posts: 4,876member
    did you find a crack yet ?
  • Reply 11 of 18
    mimacmimac Posts: 872member
    [quote]Originally posted by pyr3:

    <strong>On the topic of iDVD cracks, is there a crack to allow you to make more than 1hr ( or 1.5 hr) of DVD video? I heard that there is a limitation on iDVD movies since Apple wants people to buy DVD Studio Pro if they are making feature length movies.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I'm nearly 99.9% certain that the "Superdrive" will not burn a DVD over 4.7Gb anyway, so the "crack" will almost certainly be useless unless you have an industry standard burner and the discs specifically designed for it which costs thousands of $$$.



    Anyway, the following site has a lot of useful info as regards all DVD burning...



    <a href="http://www.dvdwriters.co.uk/"; target="_blank">http://www.dvdwriters.co.uk/</a>;
  • Reply 12 of 18
    matsumatsu Posts: 6,558member
    It took iTunes a while to get around to properly supporting other drives. I think Apple will probably get around to supporting other drives in iDVD aswell, just give a little time.



    Perhaps they could just open it up a tad so that drive vendors can write their own support as a plug-in or something???
  • Reply 13 of 18
    defiantdefiant Posts: 4,876member
    [quote]Originally posted by Matsu:

    <strong>It took iTunes a while to get around to properly supporting other drives. I think Apple will probably get around to supporting other drives in iDVD aswell, just give a little time.



    Perhaps they could just open it up a tad so that drive vendors can write their own support as a plug-in or something???</strong><hr></blockquote>



    /off topic:

    my cd-burner still isn't supported. is there another way to add support for it ? changing some files, maybe ?

    /off topic
  • Reply 14 of 18
    aslanaslan Posts: 97member
    No I haven't found a crack (that will allow Superdrives other than Apple's factory Pioneer model) yet on any "piracy" service such as Gnutella, Hotline or Carracho....



    Hoping one will show up someday...



    Matsu, you have a point about support to come later... Apple has been playing that game a lot lately. Holding hardware functionality over the heads of consumers to sell Apple hardware.



    Honestly, I am really upset at Apple for some of their design decisions as of late. It is one thing to sell differently priced versions of hardware based upon the offering, but lately I have seen Apple DISABLE and HANDICAP perfectly functional hardware because it is in the "middle" tier of cost, i.e. they disable already present features of the machine you purchased so to make the fully-enabled ones more attractive. Screw that shite. I can smell the Microsoft and feel the Dark Side in it all....



    Anyhow... If anyone sees a crack for iDVD that will allow use with other players besides the Pioneer from Apple, please post info/link or at least get my email address to send the info if you have qualms about posting it here....



    Oh... a quick aside... The main reason I am REALLY pissed about this iDVD crap is the fact that all iDVD really does is put all the video into a properly formatted folder for burning to a DVD. Interestingly enough, I have been told that if you prepare a well-formed folder of data that will fit on a normal CD-R and burn it up, then that CD-R will play like a DVD in a player (albeit only for the 20 minutes it can hold). This plainly illustrates my point previously. If you can "make" a DVD with a normal CD burner, how in the HELL can Apple get away with disabling it from working with other DVD-Rs! AARRGGG!



    sorry for the rant <img src="graemlins/embarrassed.gif" border="0" alt="[Embarrassed]" />
  • Reply 15 of 18
    pbg4 dudepbg4 dude Posts: 1,611member
    I have iDVD on my PBG4 (no DVD-R drive at all) and I am able to do everything with it except burn. Can you do anything at all with your version of iDVD?



    Anyway, send me a PM.
  • Reply 16 of 18
    leonisleonis Posts: 3,427member
    For those who want to use iDVD 2.1 with eMac, PowerBook etc here is a good news.



    Other World Computing is now selling the external Firewire DVD-R drive with iDVD 2.1 enabler for $400.
  • Reply 17 of 18
    bungebunge Posts: 7,329member
    Aslan,



    I sent you a private message if you need the patch for iDVD2.



    [ 07-29-2002: Message edited by: bunge ]</p>
  • Reply 18 of 18
    alcimedesalcimedes Posts: 5,486member
    Moving to the Genius Bar. Hopefully you'll get more complete answers there.



    -Alcimedes
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