How do the Flip Video's work?

How do i convert the flip mino videos into format to work on imovie '08?

• the flip video format i guess is somehow in mpeg-4 form which is fin but its also in .avi somehow as well?well im trying to find a way to convert the video into right format, but i try and download a converter and it just sits and does ****** nothing!iv spent hours tryin to just put one small clip onto imovie and cannot convert the flip video cuz i cant download.can someone show me a link?and dont sed me one that wont download, actually try to see if it works first, im soo frustrated...

• Answer:

  The older 'Flip Mino' records in 640x480 pixels and encodes the video using an MPEG-4/Part2 codec, saving everything in the .avi container format. Only the 'Mino HD' models create .mp4 files with video encoded using the MPEG-4/Part 10 codec (also known as AVC and H.264). Apple offers instructions on how to import .avi files from the Mino into iMovie, but it involves purchasing the commercial 3ivx codec component for QuickTime (the free trial version works only for 30 days...), see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1989 and http://www.3ivx.com/download/macos.html I don't have a Flip to test it, but instead of the commercial 3ivx codec, you should try installing the free Perian codec package first while following the rest of Apple's instructions. http://perian.org