What's more, this software update to Turbo.264 version 1.1 includes improved widescreen detection, performance improvements, and a number of bug fixes. Two iPhone presets follow Apple's recommendations; 4:3 source material produces 480x360 pixel video, 16:9 source is encoded as 480 x 270 pixels.

Elgato Turbo.264 1.1 offers more than just two iPhone presets, however. By popular demand, users can set, save, and name their own presets. Users can choose video parameters such as size, aspect ratio, frame rate and bit rate, as well as audio encoding parameters, and save those settings for future exports.

Many DVDs have multiple audio tracks. With Elgato Turbo.264 1.1, the user can choose the main feature and choose the sound track to use in the improved Info dialog. Widescreen format feature films are sometimes encoded on DVD as 16:9 video with horizontal black bars at the top and bottom (letterboxed). The Elgato Turbo.264 update recognizes such content and automatically offers "widescreen" encoding. When this option is active, Elgato Turbo.264 encodes only the actual video information, resulting in smaller files sizes without compromising picture quality, according to the folks at Elgato.

Encoder firmware and software decoder optimizations has lead to improved performance, higher video quality, and improved stability, they add. Auto-detection of 16:9 sources was improved, and some problems decoding 1080i HD sources were fixed.

The Turbo.264 is an encoder in USB Stick format that converts video files to the H.264 (MP4) format for the iPod, Apple TV, and Sony PSP. See our [url=http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/elgato_releases_turbo264_video_hardware_encoder]May 16 review[/url].

Turbo.264 is available immediately for US$99.95. The package includes the USB 2.0 Hardware Encoder, the Turbo.264 software on CD-ROM, a user's guide on CD-ROM, a quick start guide as well as a USB extension cable.