AnyDVD by SlySoft Inc.

AnyDVD allows decoding movies as well as eliminating copy and region restrictions. It supports not only video DVDs but also other types of discs, including audio CDs, HD DVDs, and Blu-rays. This multi-language application hardly ever requires you to interact with it because the program works in the background. However, it can be configured by right-clicking its icon in the System Tray.

AnyDVD simulates hardware specific to a given region that means that it can read video discs that otherwise would be impossible to use on your computer. It can also help you watch video protected by Macrovision technology without the typical distortion. The application can help other video copying tools, such as CloneDVD, to copy movies even if they are using CSS protection. Likewise, it allows you to rip music from protected audio CDs.

Besides its main features related to disc copying, AnyDVD can also let you control the rotation speed of your DVD drive. Moreover, you can use it to prevent automatic program execution. It can also let you configure subtitle transparency and avoid copyright messages. Another advantage is that it can create menus for Blu-ray discs automatically.

In general, AnyDVD is probably one of the best applications of its kind. It supports a wide range of disc types. However, a limitation is that when you are ripping DVD video to a hard disk, there is no way to customize the output format.