What is DVD?
. DVD once stood for digital video disc or digital versatile disc, but now it just stands for DVD — the next generation of optical disc storage technology. DVD is essentially a bigger, faster CD that can hold cinema-like video, better-than-CD audio, and computer data. DVD aims to encompass home entertainment, computers, and business information with a single digital format, eventually replacing audio CD, videotape, laserdisc, CD-ROM, and video game cartridges.
DVD, which once stood for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc, is the next generation of optical disc storage technology. It’s essentially a bigger, faster CD that can hold video as well as audio and computer data. DVD aims to encompass home entertainment, computers, and business information with a single digital format, eventually replacing audio CD, videotape, laserdisc, CD-ROM, and perhaps even video game cartridges. DVD has widespread support from all major electronics companies, all major computer hardware companies, and about half of the major movie and music studios, which is unprecedented and says much for its chances of success (or, pessimistically, the likelihood of it being forced down our throats). It’s important to understand the difference between DVD-Video and DVD-ROM. DVD-Video (often simply called DVD) holds video programs and is played in a DVD player hooked up to a TV. DVD-ROM holds computer data and is read by a DVD-ROM drive hooked up to a computer.
DVD uses optical disc storage technology and is essentially a bigger, faster CD. It can hold cinema-like video, better-than-CD-quality audio, and computer data. DVD aims to encompass home entertainment, computers, and business information with a single digital format, eventually replacing audio CD, videotape, laserdisc, CD-ROM, and video game cartridges. Some of the features of DVD-Video are: • Over 2 hours of high-quality digital video. • Support for widescreen movies on standard or widescreen TVs. • Up to 8 tracks of digital audio, each with as many as 8 channels. • Menus and simple interactive features (for games, quizzes, etc.). • Instant search to title, chapter, music track, and timecode. • Durable (no wear from playing, only from physical damage). • Not susceptible to magnetic fields. • Resistant to heat. • Compact size (easy to handle, store, and ship; players can be portable). • Language choice (for selection of video scenes, audio tracks, subtitle tracks, and menus).
