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DIY (Do It Yourself) For Entertainment Geeks is a periodical how-to feature that covers a variety of topics relating to technology. If you're seeking a more hardcore DIY culture, you'll probably want to frequent a site such as Instructables.com or even Gizmodo.


Unlike many peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing programs BitTorrent is very peculiar. It is both a file sharing protocol and a client (or program). In simpler terms, BitTorrent is way to share data (a protocol) and the name of a separate client that can access the BT protocol. For the sake of clarity this guide will use the term BitTorrent when referring to the protocol, not the aptly named client. So what makes BitTorrent different programs such as LimeWire or a straight download through an internet browser? It all has to do with the way the files are shared. If you really want to know the technical details this Wikipedia entry should suffice. Are you all still with me? Good.

The best way to learn to use BitTorrent is to show how it works by example. I'll start with two downloads, episode 216 of BLEACH and episode 2 of Guin Saga. Before you can begin downloading BitTorrent files you'll need a client. There are ton of programs to choose from, including the original BT client, BitTorrent. I personally use BitComet, but if you can't decide on what you want Wikipedia has compiled a list of clients, including their strengths and weaknesses. I don't particularly recommend using one client over another. Still, when choosing a client and downloading files, beware of spyware, viruses and other types of malware. Picking trusted sites to download your client and your torrent files can go a long way to ensure that you don't pick up unwanted Malware when using BT.

Once you have your client every BitTorrent download first starts with a link to a torrent file on a web site. The torrent file itself is very small but accessing it through a web browser opens your BitTorrent program. In my case I'm using BitComet to handle my torrents files. Now, let's get started with that Guin Saga file.

Sometimes a writer may rarely practice what he or she "preaches" when tedious tasks are involved. In my case, I wrote an article about the need to recycle old electronics in a day and age where people don't recycle--especially in Philadelphia. Roughly a year later, I find myself with an old CRT monitor that I no longer need, a busted cell phone, and an iPod Nano with no battery life. Being busy and all I could easily go the hypocritical route and toss them on the curb for trash collection-- but I won't. Instead I have loftier plans for my old wares, donation and perhaps some recycling. If you find yourself in a similar position here are some relatively painless ways to get rid of those electronics without sending them to a landfill. Besides, who wants to be responsible for sending off hazardous waste that may end up back in the environment?



When it comes to electronics, you only need to be concerned with reuse and recycling. In fact, it's best to reuse old electronics rather than recycling them first. Reuse of an old item guarantees that it will make it to the end of its life cycle before being reduced to raw materials. After all, if it's not broken and can be fixed, why not use it again? If you're looking to make a bit of profit, selling your old working monitor, cell phone, or gaming console on places like Craigslist and eBay may be best. However, if those items are just too old to sell quickly (or at all), donation is another option.

Non-profit technology groups can be found just about everywhere. They will often accept old computers, and monitors for use in community centers, training, thrift stores and other opportunities for low income communities. If the computers are simply too old to be reused, they'll be recycled instead. Helping out others and finding use for your old computers is always a win-win situation.



If your electronics are too old to be reused or don't work anymore then recycling is your best option. Broken electronics are demanufactured for their parts and are used in the production of new products. Doing so cuts down on the amount of raw materials needed for new electronics. Many manufacturers and retailers have extensive recycling programs where you drop-off or even mail your unwanted electronics to be disposed of. Even Apple will take back broken iPods, cell phones and computers free of charge. If going to the store to recycle old electronics isn't your style, your city or town government should have its own hazardous waste removal program in place.

No matter how you choose to get rid of your junk, doing so needn't be a waste. So the next time you have a computer, iPod, cell phone or whatever, that you no longer need or want, think twice before trashing it. Not only will you do the environment a favor, but you may do someone else or even your wallet a favor. Captain Planet will certainly thank you by not ramming his foot into your crotch.

Every so often I have one of those, "I could do better moments," when reading articles from major publications. Usually my annoyance is reserved for local columns such as the Philadelphia Inquirer's online gaming section, "Press Play." But, on one late August day a how-to download and convert video from a YouTube wiki on Wired.com caught my eye. I read the article, found that I was already doing what it suggested, and felt disappointed that some of my favorite free programs didn't make the list.

Sure, Wired had touched upon using DownloadHelper to grab videos from sites like YouTube, but why bother with free video downloaders if the conversion programs weren't also free? I doubt anyone would want to pay $30 just for the sole purpose of converting YouTube video to playable format on the iPod or PSP. The article's original author then went a step further, and suggested that free programs that easily converted flv or flash video, to other formats were difficult to find. Ridiculous! The wiki has since been updated and the remark was removed, but many of the programs listed are still trial versions.

As an alternative, I give you some of the programs that I use to download and convert YouTube video for use on my PSP. Not all of these free programs are completely flawless, but hey, free is free, right? Of course, the simplest solution to downloading and converting video would be to download already converted video, using a variety of methods.

Downloading Video:

There's no way around it, if you're a Firefox user you should have DownloadHelper installed. If you don't have it, get it, it's more than worth it. With this add-on anyone can easily download video with a right-click of the mouse.

DownloadHelper works with just about any video site, as long as you click outside of the Flash area. Take that, Adult Swim!

Now my video can be saved directly to my hard drive.

+ A small add-on that doesn't take up much space
+ Integrates with Firefox and works with a simple right-click
+ Works on both PCs and Macs
- The video conversion function is spotty at best, avoid at all costs
- Doesn't always detect video to download


For the majority of people not using Firefox, YouTube Downloader works quite well. There is also a program for Mac users with a similar name. YouTube Downloader uses the URL from video on many streaming sites in order to download files directly to your hard drive.

YouTube Downloader can even save video from places like Veoh. 

It's just a good as having the ability to right-click to save, just don't use the built-in video converter.

+ Nice alternative for users not running Firefox
+ Can be used with other streaming sites besides YouTube
- The built-in video converter doesn't always work
- Doesn't work on every streaming site


Converting downloaded video:


When it comes to free video conversion programs, no one should overlook PSP Video 9. Its main use is to convert and manage video files for the PSP, but it also converts flash video quite easily.

Since PSP Video 9's built in video downloader doesn't work, you'll have to use an external downloader. 

The video conversion process can be done manually, or by using the VideoWizard.

When the device manager detects the PSP, transferring files is a very easy process.

PSP Video 9 can also convert video for a myriad of other devices.

+ Manages media on the PSP, iPod, iPhone, Apple TV, DS, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 (or so it claims)
+ Gives users the choice on how much or how little quality they want from their converted files
+ Automatically generates thumbnails for converted video
- Converted avi and mov video files don't always work on the PSP
- Video conversion is slow
- Doesn't always detect and sync with the connected device
- Doesn't have a queue feature to allow for multiple conversions at once
- The YouTube downloader feature doesn't work at all


NCH's Prism Video Converter is another good choice for converting video for both PC and Mac users. Not only is it free, but it converts video for a variety of devices. As an additional bonus, it is one of the fastest video converters that I've used.

Always make sure that you adjust your settings for the desired device!

Converting video is a simple task.

+ Fast loading, simple interface
+ Converts video quickly
+ Compresses video for smaller file sizes, usually half of what PSP Video 9 does
- Doesn't create thumbnails
- Having the ffdshow audio and video codec may cause it to crash sometimes
- Doesn't have a feature to download video

Now, the programs I mentioned don't even begin to scratch the surface of the amount available freeware out there. If none of these programs suit your tastes, there are always other places to search and review various programs.