THEBLUENOWHERE  I have used this for a few days now, its very mac like and works like a charm.

The developer seems to be active too, good news!  
(Version 1.21)

THEBLUENOWHERE  I have tried it now, it seems pretty nice. Good that its cross platform too.

I don't have any knowledge to comment on the encryption though, but Wikipedia (the source of all knowledge) suggests Blowfish is good but there is a newer twofish algorithm. So maybe in a next update?  
(Version 1.21)

THEBLUENOWHERE  I've not used this but it's odd that they don't tell you the encryption methods on MacUpdate. So for those who want to know (from their website):

Supported algorithms (Mac) : Blowfish, RC2, RC4, RC5, DES, AES (128,192 and 256-bit)

Supported algorithms (Windows) : Blowfish, RC4, RC5, DES, AES (128,192 and 256-bit)   
(Version 1.21)

THEBLUENOWHERE  There is no PATRELLI LAW GROUP. Unless you mean PEtrelli family lawyers, if not you really ought to get your selves a website.

Or don't spam MacUpdate.  
(Version 1.9.9o)

THEBLUENOWHERE  This is an excellent cross-platform solution to keeping things secure! I have no problems with this and it gives me different ways to encrypt volumes for various tasks eg. From storing my bank details to my plan to take over the world.  
(Version 6.3)

THEBLUENOWHERE  Video encoding uses a LOT of CPU. It will use as much CPU as it can get it's grubby hands on. Especially h.264 encoding. Same with all encoding apps. Any that work faster are giving you lower quality, turn the settings down or use a lower preset to get a faster encode.

Expect 20 hours for a top quality (DVD).mp4 on a 1.66GHz G4. And a lot faster for the new-fangled Intel multi-core thingymabobs.  
(Version 0.9.3)

THEBLUENOWHERE  Video encoding is ALL about cpu. Any encoding programmes will use as much CPU as they can get with only small differences in speed realistically. Especially for h.264 encoding.

When I do a high quality encode into .mp4(h.264) on my Powerbook G4 (1.66GHz) it often takes 20hours+.

It's good that the Handbrake team are coming up with ways to improve ease of use because it can take a tech. savvy person a lot of reading (like it did me) to fully understand all the features and settings of video encoding.  
(Version 1.1)

THEBLUENOWHERE  Excellent idea, good implementation. I use this regularly to keep in touch with the far flung family and friends, most internet cafés have Skype installed so it comes in handy when travelling.

However, the mac version is woeful in video quality, features and general polished-ness (can I use that as a word?) when compared to the windows version. When talking to home in the same country on a broadband connection with 2 fast mac laptops, no firewall and no intermediate peers, the video quality was poor for both ends. But when talking from home to a friend in New Zealand who was on a mobile broadband connection, on a slightly less powerful (processor wise) windows laptop, with the standard built in camera his picture was crystal clear on our computer.  
(Version 2.8.0.659)

THEBLUENOWHERE  I use PhotoRec by CGSecurity. It's free and open source and although it is command line based it is easy to use for the relatively inexperienced. It tries to recover all files not just pictures...

...Wait a minute this sounds a lot like Photorec but is a touch more expensive - $99 for the "expert version". Check out Photorec before you buy, it might save you money.  
(Version 3.1.11.12024)

THEBLUENOWHERE  DOM21, MODEST GINGER gave a real answer. The Serpent-Twofish-AES cascade was right, it just takes a longer time than the individual parts. Hence the bring a sleeping bag reference, It was helpful.  
(Version 6.2a)

THEBLUENOWHERE  Sounds like an OEM disaster. Try searching 'DVD creator mac' to see a classic example of bucket loads of the same s*ite software licensed and branded to different "companies".

I may be wrong though. Don't take my word as gospel...  
(Version 2.6.6)

THEBLUENOWHERE  There are lots of polarised comments on the torrent clients on Macupdate. I don't really care for them much. Try the applications that look most promising for your needs and then keep the best.

Transmission works for me, very mac-like clean interface with some nifty features. :)

They've just added DHT too. Though I don't think you can create trackerless torrents yet.  
(Version 1.70)