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60 Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About DVD<br />
English-only soundtracks with BBFC censoring. D2 and D3 identify European<br />
DVDs that are not sold in the United Kingdom and Ireland. These often<br />
contain uncut or less cut versions of films. D4 identifies DVDs that are distributed<br />
throughout Europe (region 2) and Australia/New Zealand (region 4).<br />
What’s Firmware and Why Would I Need to Upgrade It?<br />
DVD players are simple computers. Each one has a software program that<br />
controls how it plays discs. Because the software is stored on a chip, it’s<br />
called firmware. Some players have flaws in their programming that cause<br />
problems playing certain DVDs. In order to correct the flaws, or in some<br />
cases to work around authoring errors on popular discs, the player must be<br />
upgraded with a replacement firmware chip. This usually has to be done in<br />
a factory service center, although some players can be upgraded simply by<br />
inserting a CD. Refer to “Why Doesn’t Disc X Work in Player Y?” for more<br />
on compatibility problems.<br />
Can Discs Help Me Test, Optimize, or Show Off My<br />
Audio/Video System?<br />
A few DVDs are designed specifically for testing and optimizing video and<br />
audio playback, and some demonstrate special DVD features:<br />
• AVIA Guide to Home Theater by Ovation Software (extensive video<br />
and audio test patterns and setup tutorials, www.ovationsw.com)<br />
• Video Essentials by Joe Kane Productions (the original system optimization<br />
disc, from the master, www.videoessentials.com)<br />
• Ultimate DVD Series by Henninger Interactive (examples of many DVD<br />
features, plus test and demo material, www.henniger.com)<br />
• DVD Demystified demo disc (examples of almost every DVD feature,<br />
plus demo material, dvddemystified.com/disc.html)<br />
Here are a few movies that work especially well for demonstrating DVD’s<br />
video and audio quality:<br />
• Dinosaur Direct-to-DVD digital transfer gives sharp, clear images,<br />
with good bass on footsteps and fights.<br />
• The Eagles: Hell Freezes Over Outstanding 5.1-channel music<br />
(DTS only and Dolby Digital tracks are 2-channel).<br />
• The Fifth Element Excellent video, especially in beginning desert<br />
scenes, with stellar audio as well.
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