| A DVD player is a device for playing | | | | technology (Sony, Philips, Toshiba and |
| discs produced under the DVD Video | | | | AOL Time Warner) as well as for MPEG-2 |
| standard. Most hardware DVD players have | | | | licenses. To avoid these fees, China has |
| to be connected to a television set; | | | | developed the EVD standard as an |
| there are also some small portable | | | | intended successor of DVD; as of 2004, |
| devices which have an LCD screen | | | | EVD players were only being sold in |
| attached. A DVD player has to complete | | | | China. |
| these tasks: | | | | Software DVD players are programs that |
| Read a DVD disc in ISO - UDF version 1.2 | | | | allow users to view DVD videos on a |
| format | | | | computer with a DVD-ROM drive. Some |
| optionally decrypt the data with either | | | | examples are the VLC media player and |
| CSS and/or Macrovision | | | | MPlayer (both free software), as well as |
| decode the MPEG-2 video stream with a | | | | WinDVD, PowerDVD and DVD Player. [1]. |
| maximum of 10 Mbit/s (peak) or 8 Mbit/s | | | | Successors |
| (continuous) | | | | There are two successors to the DVD |
| decode sound in MP2, PCM or AC-3 format | | | | player: the HD DVD player and the |
| and output (with optional AC-3 to stereo | | | | Blu-ray Disc player. Neither format is |
| downsampling) on stereo connector, | | | | dominant over the other in terms of |
| optical or electric digital connector | | | | consumer adoption as of January 2007. |
| output a video signal, either an analog | | | | Portable DVD Player (commonly |
| one (in PAL, SECAM or NTSC format) on | | | | abbreviated as P.D.P.'s) is the name |
| the composite, s-video, or component | | | | given to any portable device that plays |
| video connectors, or a digital one on | | | | DVDs. Most PDPs have an LCD screen |
| the DVI or HDMI connectors | | | | attached to them. The most common PDP |
| Most DVD players also allow users to | | | | screen size is 7", although some are as |
| play audio CDs (CDDA, MP3, etc.) and | | | | large as 12". |
| Video CDs (VCD) and include a home | | | | Price Range |
| cinema decoder (i.e. Dolby Digital, | | | | Prices of portable DVD players vary |
| Digital Theatre Systems (DTS)). Some | | | | depending on the screen. They usually |
| newer devices also play videos in the | | | | retail for about $80-200 USD. It was |
| MPEG-4 ASP video compression format | | | | invented so that people could bring it |
| (such as DivX) popular on the Internet. | | | | anywhere they go with out a fuss. |
| As of 2005, retail prices for such a | | | | Screen Quality |
| device, depending on its optional | | | | The biggest complaint users have is the |
| features (such as digital sound or video | | | | current video quality of the LCD |
| output), start between 30 and 80 USD | | | | screens. Many believe new technologies |
| euros. They are usually cheaper than | | | | are being developed including portable |
| VCRs. | | | | HD-DVD players and portable Blu-Ray |
| By far the largest producer of DVD | | | | players that would have High Definition |
| players is China; in 2002 they produced | | | | screens attached to them. The biggest |
| 30 million players, more than 70% of the | | | | challenge is to put the same High-Def |
| world output. These producers have to | | | | quality images one could find on a 50" |
| pay about US$20 per player in license | | | | screen onto a smaller screen. |
| fees, to the patent holders of the DVD | | | | |