This page relates to a hardware device used to play DVDs. For the Microsoft Windows software program, see DVD Player (Windows). For the Apple software program, see DVD Player (software).

A DVD player is a device that plays discs produced under both the DVD-Video and DVD-Audio technical standards, two different and incompatible standards.

Technical Details

A DVD player has to complete these tasks:

• Read a DVD disc in ISO – UDF version 1.2 format
• optionally decrypt the data with either CSS and/or Macrovision
• read and obey the DVD's Regional lockout codes and display a warning if the player is not authorised to play the DVD
• decode the MPEG-2 video stream with a maximum of 10 Mbit/s (peak) or 8 Mbit/s (continuous)
• decode sound in MP2, PCM or AC-3 format and output (with optional AC-3 to stereo downsampling) on stereo connector, optical or electric digital connector
• output a video signal, either an analog one (in NTSC, PAL or SECAM format) on the composite, S-Video, SCART, or component video connectors, or a digital one on the DVI or HDMI connectors

CD/DVD/RMVB playback

Additionally, most DVD players allow users to play audio CDs (CDDA, MP3, etc.) and Video CDs (VCD). A few include a home cinema decoder (i.e. Dolby Digital, Digital Theater Systems (DTS)). Some newer devices also play videos in the MPEG-4 ASP video compression format (such as DivX) popular in the Internet, as well as the RMVB video compression format.

Output

Most hardware DVD players have to be connected to a television set; there are also some small portable devices which have an LCD screen attached.

Portable DVD Player

Portable DVD players that are capable of playing DVDs. Most have an LCD screen and stereo speakers and are usually powered by lithium ion batteries. Portable DVD players are often used for long road trips and travel.

Prices

As of 2005^[update], retail prices for such a device, depending on its optional features (such as digital sound or video output), start between 30 and 80 USD/Euro. They are usually cheaper than VCRs.

Manufacture

As of 2002^[update] the largest producer of DVD players is China; in 2002 they produced 30 million players, more than 70% of the world output. These producers have to pay US$15–$20 per player in license fees, to the patent holders of the DVD technology (Sony, Philips, Toshiba and Time Warner) as well as for MPEG-2 licenses.^[1] To avoid these fees, China has developed the Enhanced Versatile Disc standard as an intended successor of DVD; as of 2004^[update], EVD players were only being sold in China.

Online Retailers

Online Retailers / Online stores (E commerce sites) are used in order to sell products online and it is one of the Strategies that companies utilize to Market their products throughout the Internet. It is known as Internet Marketing and it is one of the fastest growing industries in terms of advertising the products. Internet Marketing is outperforming TV & Print Media with its substantial reach of diversified audience. DVD Players are easily available online and it helps the customers to order the same with just a click away. More discounts are provided on the internet than on the stores as the dealers don’t have to carry any inventory with a much bigger targeted audience.^[2]

Software

Software DVD players are programs that allow users to view DVD videos on a computer with a DVD-ROM drive. Some examples are the VLC media player and MPlayer (both free software), as well as WinDVD, PowerDVD, Fluendo DVD Player and DVD Player.^[3]

History

The first DVD players were introduced in Japan and also Canada in November 1996, and DVD players were first available in the United States in March 1997. The first commercially available dvd player in the United States was the Sony DVP-S7000 in 1997 produced at Sony's Terre Haute Indiana plant, the cost was $970 USD.^[4]

Successors

There are successors to the DVD player: the HD DVD player and the Blu-ray Disc player, utilizing two incompatible technologies that reproduce higher quality video images than standard DVD. On February 19, 2008, Toshiba, creator of the former technology announced it would cease production on all HD DVD products leaving Blu-ray as the high definition successor to DVD players. Also, upscaling/upconverting DVD players have been offered to the public since the release of HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc. These devices offer a cheaper solution to viewing near high definition video. These DVD players typically feature an HDMI output, and rarely a DVI output, which when connected to an HDTV, upscale standard DVD video from 480p and 480i to 1080p, 1080i, and 720p.