14 DAY TRIAL // VortexBox 1.7 has been released. The big new feature for the latest release is the possibility of ripping DVDs along with audio CDs for streaming. This feature has been highly requested and is now included in VortexBox 1.7. The new version also brings an updated SqueezeBox Server 7.4.2 along with the usual array of fixes and smaller updates.
"We are pleased to announce the release of VortexBox 1.7. One of the most common feature requests we get is for the ability to rip DVD movies," Andrew Gillis writes.
"VortexBox users have already ripped their large CD collections to VortexBox now they want to add their DVD collections as well. VortexBox delivers!," he announced.
The addition of DVD ripping significantly expands the capabilities of VortexBox and turns the music streaming distro into a media streaming server.
The ease of use that has characterized VortexBox is also applied to DVD ripping, just insert the disk in the drive and the software will do everything else.
"VortexBox can now autodetect CDs or DVDs and rip accordingly. All you need to do is insert a DVD movie into the VortexBox and it will be auto ripped to MKV format. This is great for all the new media players such as Logitech Revue, Boxee Box, Windows Media Center, and XBMC," Gillis explained.
About VortexBox
VortexBox is a Fedora-based Linux distribution that turns any computer into a media streaming server or jukebox.
It automatically rips Audio CDs to MP3 and FLAC files and fills in ID3 tags and cover art. The ripped files can then be streamed to a network player such as Logitech SqueezeBox, Linn or Sonos, and even to a Windows or Macintosh system.
As of VortexBox 1.7, it can also rip DVDs as MKV video files. For installation, VortexBox requires an empty hard drive, it doesn't work on a hard disk partition.
VortexBox 1.7 is available for download here on Softpedia.