GCOGHILL  If you just want to get a reference movie file into iTunes, open the movie in QuickTime and then do a Save As… and select the 'reference movie' option. Add this new reference movie file to iTunes.

Install the Perian plugin for Quicktime to play additional movie formats.

You'll have to set all the info manually, so VideoDrive might help here. Also helps with automating the procedure.  
(Version 1.6.4)

2SHAE  I seriously have no regret ever buying this app and it's great to see that it's being tweaked all the time.

It has made my Frontrow experience so much better.  
(Version 1.7.4)

ESTNYC  I've used this app for several months now, and it's very, very handy. I have a "hacked" Apple TV which can play .avis just fine, as long as the file's embedded within the appropriate wrapper, to fool both iTunes and ATV to play it just fine.

It's getting better and better, but I have two major headaches with it that prevent me from giving it more than three stars. First of all, the Hot Folders feature has never worked for me. I think it's got something to do with my keeping my iTunes folder on an external HD. I can live with that, I don't mind manually queuing up files (although I'd much rather have it done automatically). The biggest drawback for me is that it's just not very good at finding metadata -- that is, the correct names of shows, episode titles, etc. Often it's wrong in what it finds; sometimes hilariously so. It's kind of irritating to be babysitting a conversion process which should run just fine untouched by human hands.

I just figured finding the right info was hard, and I'd just have to put up with it. And then Boxee came along! Boxee does a GREAT job of identifying movie, show, episode information; much much better than VideoDrive. So, I have to wonder, as I yet again change the hilariously misnamed mess VD makes of "House," if Boxee can do it, why can't VideoDrive?  
(Version 1.9.4)

HAGAR06  Great tool, can't wait for better image quality of the covers!  
(Version 1.7.6)

T_TOBY  I use this tool regularly and like the new regular updates. Stability and features have been improving steadily. Too bad there still is nu automatic update function.  
(Version 1.6.8)

TOM08  Works great on my 64bit Snow Leopard installation. Online metadata did work anymore, but an update was released the same day. Nice customer support!.

My only complaint is the quality of the downloaded images: they are ok, but not the best.  
(Version 1.11.3)

ANDREW SCOTT  I've come to rely on VideoDrive quite a bit since setting up my media centre. I routinely use it seek out cover art for my video collection as well as adding useful metadata.

It does, however, have its idiosyncrasies, mainly to do with the metadata functions. For example, it has a distinct penchant for turning up "Doug's 1st Movie" for many automatic metadata searches. (It did this just now when searching for "Citizen Kane"!) If you re-type the movie title and search again it usually finds the correct movie.

The other thing is an unfortunate interface arrangement. There is a "Set Metadata" button for starting a search on your iTunes selection(s) and below it a "Preferences" button. If you want to switch between manual and automatic metadata you have a trip to the preferences ahead of you. If you just hit the "Set Metadata" button there is no cue to what you'll get—you have to remember what you set your preferences to last time you used it. Surely it would make more sense to have a few more buttons at this top level such as "Auto-set metadata" and "Manually set metadata" (with a brief summary of the settings that will be applied)?

In summary, it's a bit rough around the edges but it's better than doing everything manually in iTunes and I gladly keep using it.  
(Version 1.6.8.01)

IJULIA81  The app is improving with every release. I've had problems with a previous version and the developer fixed it within hours. Again.

I collect TV shows and have more than 800 episodes, my two 500 gig external drives are almost full. Even though I could create the reference files myself, I am glad VideoDrive does it for me because it gets REALLY tiresome really soon. In addition, the feature to add the metadata is helpful when tagging episodes with all the necessary information.

The app is fast, stable and highly customizable, depending on what you want. I just need reference files, which are put in my iTunes library which is on an external drive; the originals remain in place on other external drives. It works beautifully.

As to the other comments: The developer never said that every file works on the mobile devices, he even states on the first page on his website: "Reconversion may be required."

And like I have described above, my iTunes library and the files are spread over three (3 !!!) separate drives, soon it will be four. It handles shortcuts without problems, as long as you don't move your files around. Even iTunes itself doesn't like that.

Overall, I think this app is great for everyone who doesn't want to go through the tedious procedure of creating reference files and who wants full metadata on self-added (non-iTunes purchased) files.  
(Version 1.6.8)

PAUL69DRV  Great app! Love the new hot folders!  
(Version 1.6)

MIKE360  This app is absolutely the best. Works great to manage large video collections. Drag videos to the app and they appear in iTunes, completely tagged and with an image!!!

Great support too: I had some questions and they answer back within a couple of hours. My feature suggestions appeared in a new version only 2 days later.

One cool feature, that would make it a killer app is hot folders. They mailed me back saying it will be added soon. Can't wait!!  
(Version 1.5.10)