DVD Overview
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Digital video disc (DVD) represents the next generation in optical disc storage technology for video and audio computer data. Essentially, a DVD is a compact disc (CD) that provides increased storage capacity, faster data access, and superior playback quality. A DVD holds 4.38 gigabytes (4.7 billion bytes) of data on each side — enough for a movie more than two hours long. Each side can hold two layers of information, allowing a single DVD to hold up to 15.9 gigabytes (17 billion bytes) of audio, video, and other types of data. A CD-ROM of the same physical size holds 650 megabytes (682 million bytes) of data.
DVD aims to provide a unified solution for home entertainment, business, computer storage, and computer multimedia with a single digital format. Eventually, DVD aims to replace audio CD, videotape, laser disc, and CD-ROM technologies. Currently, DVD has widespread support from all major electronic companies, all major computer hardware companies, all major movie studios, and many major music studios. Thus, DVD technology has an excellent opportunity to revolutionize the distribution of media.
A DVD title can offer simultaneous multilingual support, parental control mechanisms, menu options, chapter searching, and varied viewing through multiple camera angles.
Note To use DVD playback with the Windows Media Player control, you need to have Microsoft Internet Explorer 5, the Microsoft Windows 98 OEM Service Release (OSR), or Microsoft Windows 2000 installed.
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