DVD Demystified

DVD Comparison
transparency on motion video with hardware-rendered transition effects
such as dissolves, wipes, slides, and scrolls. Text overlay can be generated
on the fly, including up to 32 stored subpicture streams, memory-resident
pop-up menus, and real-time graphics. A computerlike graphic interface
with an onscreen cursor is controlled by a wireless remote control.
CD-i features are impressive. On the other hand, a DVD designed for use
in a PC or video game console can exceed the level of interactivity and video
quality provided by CD-i.
Availability and Support. CD-i hardware and software was almost
entirely produced or funded by Philips and Korea’s LG Electronics with a
handful of independent hardware and software licensees on the side. About
half a million players were sold in the United States and about 2 million
worldwide.
More than 70 manufacturers produce DVD-Video players, not counting
hundreds of manufacturers of DVD-capable computers. Hundreds of companies
and independent developers are creating interactive DVD-Video
titles despite the format’s limited capabilities.
Advantages of DVD-Video over Video CD
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Features. The DVD-Video format includes the same basic features as
Video CD (menus, pause, search, freeze, slow, fast, scan) and adds seamless
branching, parental control, multiple camera angles, and more. Not all discs
include these features, but they are part of the basic DVD format.
Capacity. Programs on DVD can be over four times longer than on Video
CD. A single-layer DVD-Video holds over two hours of material per side,
and a dual-layer disc holds over four hours. A Video CD holds 74 minutes
and has only one side. Both DVD and Video CD support still frames with
audio, but DVD has the potential for hundreds more pictures and hours
more surround sound.
Convenience. Since Video CDs cannot hold much more than an hour, the
disc must be changed one or more times during a movie, unless the player
holds more than one disc at a time. A DVD-Video can easily hold a fourhour
movie on one side.
Audio. DVD-Video has up to eight digital audio tracks. Each track can
hold uncompressed audio with quality better than audio CD or compressed