HD DVD Players: An Introduction

If we take a look at the way the home videoThese VCDs could be played on VCD players and
technology has progressed over the years, we willcomputers. A video CD can hold VHS-quality video of
be amazed at the extent to which it has changed in74 minutes and has a CD-quality sound using MPEG-1
such a short period. The VHS (Video Home System)compression. The VCDs were very popular in the
technology brought motion pictures into our livingAsian countries due to their affordability factor, but
rooms and bedrooms. It was followed by the CDs,did not get much popularity in the U.S. or Europe.
VCDs, and SVCDs that were more expensive, butThe low cost of media resulted in rampant
provided excellent quality and utility. This wasunauthorized copying of movies and was hence not
followed by the DVDs and DVD players that tookwidely supported by the United States entertainment
the market by storm and became the mostfraternity. The Super Video CD introduced later using
preferred mode for recording and viewing of movies.the MPEG-2 compression was of better quality, but
Most recently however, the latest technology thatits playing time got diminished to 35 minutes. A DVDV
has joined the race is HD DVD (High Definition Digitalor double VCD had also been designed, in which, a
Video Disc), that has much higher storage capacityregular CD was 'Over-burned' to incorporate 100
and enhanced quality attributes.minutes of video.
Correspondingly, there has been a similar evolution inDVD and HD DVD
the digital data storage and handling industry. ThisThe DVDs came into the market in 1997 and were
journey started with the floppy, followed by thean instant success. This was mainly because of the
CDs, the laser discs, the DVDs, and then the HDreason, that even their cheapest version was capable
DVDs. Data storage and handling are a field by itselfof giving a better picture and sound quality than a
and has grown at a phenomenal rate.VHS, and could process information much more
VHSeffectively than CDs. With a DVD played back on a
The first step towards home theater was the VideoDVD player, a consumer could have a much better
Home System (VHS), introduced in September 1976.home entertainment experience. DVD players have
It was developed by JVC along with some licensingbeen designed to play multi region DVDs, and can
agreements with Sony. The VHS is a recording andplayback any TV standard like NTSC, PAL or SECAM.
playing standard for the Video Cassette Recorders,The DVD players are compatible with a wide range
well known all over the world as the VCRs. The VHSof media such as CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW,
could record and play back all the analog televisionMP3, DivX, and many more.
signals in existence at the time it was devised. ByRiding on the success of the DVD market, the HD
today's standards, it is one of the poorest qualityDVD or High Definition DVD was introduced in 2005
video formats. The video recording cassette beingand was an adaptation of the existing basic structure
big, its recording camera was also big andof the DVD. The HD DVD has a greater storage
cumbersome. This led to problems of handling andcapacity and can provide better audio and video
transportation.quality as compared to a DVD. All this is achievable at
The VHS-C is the Video Home System-Compact,a marginal cost increase, mainly because the HD DVD
which is the same in quality as compared to thecan be manufactured using the existing manufacturing
standard VHS, that is, half inch size and 240 lines offacilities for DVDs. This affordability factor is a great
resolution. But as the name suggests, it is morecontributor to the success of HD DVDs. The HD
compact and allows for the video camera to beDVDs are available in ROM, readable and re-writable
lighter, smaller, and more convenient. The VHS-C hasformats. The HD DVD players are designed using all
to be placed in a regular VHS sized case to enable itthe features provided in the DVD players. The HD
to be played on the VHS player. The 8mm VHSDVDs are integrated with a state-of-the-art content
tapes are smaller in size and are very convenient toprotection technology which is unique to this medium.
use in recording cameras, but are not compatible withThe storage capacity is 15 GB for single layer, 30BG
the regular VCRs and cannot be played directly onfor dual layer, and 45GB for a triple layer HD DVD.
the VCRs.Also it uses highly sophisticated compression
CD and VCDtechniques using MPEG-4 for increased capacity. A 15
The Compact Disc (CD) is an optical disc that is readGB HD DVD can store a full movie and incorporate
by a laser. It is a polycarbonate disc designed toadditional features, with space to spare. Whereas as
store data, music and video formats. These were30 GB HD DVD can store three movies of 150
played on CD players and were of the CD-R andminutes each and provide the high definition quality of
CD-RW type in particular. It was designed by Philipsplayback. These features make HD DVDs a favored
and Sony in 1988. In 1993, Matsushita, Philips, Sony,medium for storage and viewing of movies. With the
and JVC introduced a CD format that could hold awidespread support from the entertainment industry
full- motion video. It was called the Video CD (VCD)leaders and the high quality service provided by HD
or the compact disc digital video and had a standardDVDs, they are certainly poised for a highly
digital format for storing video on a compact disc.successful stint.