The program will set up a cache file to store all the converted media. Then just launch iTunes, click on "Movies" and drag-and-drop the converted movies into iTunes (see image below). Watch them within iTunes or, when the iPhone is connected, Sync the iTunes movies to your phone. The Videora's default resolution is widescreen.

Red Kawa isn't going to be getting you out of legal trouble for downloading new movie releases and using Videora to convert them (the required agreement absolves the company). However, the conversion of your own movies and content should fall well into the legal realm.

The Written Word
Finally, the first batch of iPhone commercials hyped up reading The New York Times online, but going through the front page on the iPhone can be kind… of… slow. Ditto for the New York Post or any other graphic-intensive newspaper Web site. Wi-Fi browsing is okay, but using AT&T's default EDGE network is nearly unbearable.

There is also the frustration of accidentally tapping on one item when you actually meant to jog to another—something very common on the busy Times Web site since there really isn't a resting place for your finger. It's clear the Times site wasn't built for something like the iPhone.

Fortunately, we now have Leaflets, a free third-party app and portal that turns the iPhone into a big RSS feeder. It aims to improve the Web experience by optimizing applications for the iPhone's often-limited access speeds.

Leaflets gives several reading options from the get-go including the The New York Times, Major League Baseball scores and Newsvine, a news aggregator that collects the best items from the Web. The popular bookmarker del.icio.us is also available, so all your favorite Web sites can be reached quickly and easily.

The New York Times RSS feed is smooth and efficient. A bulk of the screen is the main story. A small left-hand column highlights all the major sections of the New York Times, such as Frontpage, U.S. and Technology. Of course, all parts of the display can be tapped and stretched for more detail. The streamlined topics, vertical layout and text-focused design make the Times feed much smoother than the original Web site.


The New York Times in Leaflets

About the Author
Damon Brown wrote the "Pocket Idiot's Guide to the iPhone" (Alpha/Penguin Books), the first book on the iPhone, available at Amazon or your favorite bookstore. Damon also writes for Playboy, SPIN and The New York Post.