| It gets rather complicated when trying to describe the | | | | be done? What does it mean? |
| differences between Broadcast systems and Video | | | | By licensing agreement no manufacturer of DVD |
| systems so let stick to those video systems found in | | | | players are permitted to make a region free player. |
| VCRs, camcorders, DVD and Blu-Ray Disc players | | | | Each must be set to a specific region. They can be |
| etc. | | | | PAL-NTSC both but the REGIONAL CODE must be |
| Those are the basic standards and none are | | | | specific to a certain region. The USA is Region 1... and |
| compatible with each other. Sometimes the A/C Hertz | | | | here are all of them: |
| are 50 MHz (220 volt countries) and sometimes | | | | Region codes and countries |
| 60Mhz (110 volt countries) and this changes the | | | | Region code Area |
| scanning results of an electron tube, LVD or Plasma | | | | 0 Informal term meaning "worldwide". Region 0 is not |
| etc. 60Mhz, used in the USA for example, renders the | | | | an official setting; discs that bear the region 0 symbol |
| image smoother, virtually no discernible flicker. With line | | | | either have no flag set or have region 1-6 flags set. |
| doubling and quad-doubling (100 and 220 MHz and then | | | | 1 Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, United States |
| 200 and 440 MHz). | | | | and U.S. territories |
| Line doubling actually interlaces the picture into a single | | | | 2 European Union, Albania, Andorra, Bahrain, Bosnia |
| scan that reveals the entire frame and doubling again | | | | and Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Faroe Islands, French |
| increased the scan lines providing for an even finer | | | | Guiana, Georgia, Greenland, Guernsey, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, |
| resolution and there a better sense of reality to the | | | | Isle of Man, Israel, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kosovo, |
| human eye. Technically it takes the original two-field | | | | Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, |
| frame and creates a progressive scan (single | | | | Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Oman, Qatar, |
| non-interlaced frame) output. This produces a higher | | | | San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, |
| resolution picture both brighter and smoother. | | | | Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey, United Arab |
| Some 3rd party Line-quadruplers can upscale to | | | | Emirates, Vatican City State, Yemen |
| resolutions: 1365x1024, 720P, 1080i 852x480, | | | | 3 Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, |
| 1024x1024, 1024x768 and 1365x768 and even higher. | | | | Taiwan |
| When the newest technology in video images hits the | | | | 4 Caribbean, Central America, Oceania, South America |
| world we will be seeing NHK images of more than | | | | (except French Guiana), Mexico |
| 6000 lines, up from the maximum of 1080P today. | | | | 5 African countries not explicitly included in other |
| If they then begin to Line-quadruple an image like that | | | | regions, Indian subcontinent, countries included in the |
| who knows what the mind might achieve if plugged | | | | former Soviet Union, Belarus, Mongolia, North Korea |
| directly into the motherboard of the future. Perhaps an | | | | 6 People's Republic of China (except Macau and Hong |
| enlarging and enhancing of human vision will be needed | | | | Kong) |
| in the order of 1,000 eyes, 360 degree views both | | | | 7 Reserved for future use (found in use on protected |
| laterally and longitudinally, 100,000,000 lines of resolution | | | | screener copies of MPAA-related DVDs and "media |
| all far outpacing current human ability. | | | | copies" of pre-releases in Asia) |
| Back to PAL-NTSC for a moment. | | | | 8 International venues such as aircraft, cruise ships, |
| These many video systems were created due to | | | | etc.[1] |
| incompatible electrical standards such as the Hertz, | | | | ALL Region ALL discs have all 8 flags set, allowing the |
| due to economic exigencies and even political | | | | disc to be played in any locale on any player. |
| motivations (for example, a country didn't want its TV | | | | ALL Region ALL discs have all 8 flags set, allowing the |
| to be seen by another countries citizens nearby lest | | | | disc to be played in any locale on any player. |
| they get "ideas"! | | | | So is it against the law to modify a DVD player and |
| With the advent of DVD disc players Hollywood | | | | make it CODE FREE? |
| producers decided to take advantage of the new | | | | No, it isn't at all. Many places such as PLANET OMNI |
| electronic potential inherent in this new groundbreaking | | | | have been selling them for years. The quality of the |
| technology to better market their movies. | | | | modification rarely varies, it is generally a perfect mod |
| With movies released in VHS VCR tape versions but | | | | so that any and all DVD movies will play but you'll need |
| in 5-6 different and non-competing systems the | | | | a PAL-NTSC TV or a video standards converter to |
| release of movies worldwide could be staggered | | | | see both PAL and NTSC DVD movies. |
| according to best marketing practices so rake in as | | | | Remember that a DVD movie is NOT a DVD-R or |
| much profit as possible from every country. A movie | | | | DVD+R disc even though it may be a movie that has |
| released in April in the USA didn't have to be released | | | | been recorded. |
| until the right time in South America and the idea of | | | | Most DVD Codefree players will play most DVD-R |
| people in Argentina (PAL-N) wishing to buy the film | | | | & DVD-RW, DVD+R & DVD+RW |
| from a US retailer was virtually a useless plan as the | | | | homemade discs. |
| Argentine would have no VCR and no TV of the | | | | 99% also play CD discs for regular music playback |
| correct system to play and display the images with. | | | | and many play a wide variety of other formats such |
| PAL-N and NTSC simply do not display correctly on | | | | as MP3, WMA, DVD-Video, Video CD, DVD-Audio, |
| the wrong systems, even the speeds of recording and | | | | SACD, CD, audio CD-R & CD-RW, WMA, & |
| playback are different. This means an NTSC movie | | | | JPEG and JPEG and Kodak JPEG. |
| seen on a PAL or other standard would usually be in | | | | So, a REGION FREE DVD player can play all regions |
| black and white, have terribly vertical scrolling problems, | | | | and both PAL and NTSC discs, IE every known type |
| have a horizontal skew at the top of the picture and | | | | of DVD movie on earth, but what if you don't have a |
| be in the wrong speed so even the voices were too | | | | PAL-NTSC TV or a video standards converter? |
| fast or too slow. It's a mess! | | | | Besides the fact that you can buy those items there |
| Until the Japanese VCR (and at one time even Sony's | | | | are also CONVERTING Region free DVD players. |
| BETA) makers came out with Multisystem VCRs! | | | | Some can convert a PAL DVD movie to NTSC and |
| Most could only play the tapes from various standards | | | | some can do both that and converter a USA NTSC |
| but to display them you'd also need a TV that was | | | | disc to PAL. |
| multisystem as well, or 2 TVs, or even 3 each being of | | | | And some can do both but if you ever get a |
| the appropriate system you were outputting from the | | | | PAL-NTSC TV you can turn OFF the conversion and |
| VCR. | | | | then see everything, all DVD movies from all countries |
| To get around the need of buying a multisystem TV | | | | in all standards on any the TV in the ORIGINAL |
| Panasonic came out with the incredible AG-W1 model | | | | PICTURE quality. Again, on-line shops such as Planet |
| which had a built-in digital converter which could play, | | | | Omni carry this type as well. |
| record and convert to/from all of the world five | | | | These Codefree, Converting players can be even the |
| current systems. It was $4,000 but was a great | | | | most advanced units with all the latest bells and |
| device producing excellent results, albeit not for | | | | whistles certainly including things like DTS STEREO, |
| broadcasting purposes. | | | | Dolby Digital, HDMI and DVI output, 5.1 and higher |
| Many people got around having buy the AGW-1 (and | | | | stereo channel output, Progressive scan and so forth. |
| its subsequent progeny AGW-2 and AGW-3) by | | | | But now let's consider what this means as regards the |
| buying a Planet Omni Tenlab Digital systems converter | | | | Blu-Ray Disc players that are Multi-region. |
| at a fraction of the cost of the AGW-1 and using it | | | | As HD DVD is dead as a Hi-Def format we consider |
| with a multisystem VCR. In this way the image quality | | | | that Blu-Ray Disc players and movies on Blu-Ray |
| was the same or better and the price when way | | | | discs are here to stay until the next leap into the future |
| down to the consumer. | | | | hits us which may happen around 2012 with the entry |
| Soon AIWA came out with the much cheaper MX-1 | | | | of the latest 6,000 Line Super-Hi Definition TVs, some |
| converting multisystem VCR which wasn't a digital | | | | 6 x more realistic and 3D appearing than Blu-Ray and |
| type but used analog converting methods which are | | | | 1080P technology. |
| much inferior, then Samsung, GoVideo and a few | | | | As with DVD region Blu-Ray discs and players also |
| others. Samsung was the actual manufacturer for the | | | | have regions, called Region A, B and C. |
| Panasonic AGW-1 and 2 and under their own brand | | | | These are non-compatible regions which include |
| they came out with a wide variety of models such as | | | | PAL-SECAM-NTSC and all other systems. |
| the SV-3000W, SV-5000S, SV-7000W (with the | | | | The beauty of a Region A or B Blu-Ray disc when |
| unique French Secam-L tuner built-in). | | | | played in a Multi-region Blu-Ray disc player via the |
| Planet Omni still has some of the Panasonic, Aiwa and | | | | HDMI output (that is a single cable combining all audio |
| Samsungs left for sale. None have been made for 2-3 | | | | and video signals) is that the TV doesn't have to be |
| years and with the death of the VCR they never will | | | | Pal-NTSC-Secam or anything specific at all. As long as |
| be made again. People worldwide with old home | | | | the TV has an HDMI input all Blu-Ray Disc movies |
| movies should consider having them transferred to | | | | from Regions A and B will play in their full glory and, |
| DVD discs which can also be converter from PAL to | | | | depending on the maximum resolution possible of each |
| NTSC or NTSC to PAL. All countries using any | | | | TV, in the highest quality possible. Pal and NTSC no |
| system but those two will find that their tapes can be | | | | longer exist in the HDMI world, the problems of Hertz, |
| converted to PAL and will display perfectly on their TV | | | | government controls and so forth, Gone with the Wind! |
| even if the TV isn't strictly PAL. | | | | However, there are still Regions A, B and C. |
| People in an NTSC country can utilize converting | | | | For the Hollywood production companies these 3 |
| services such as Planet Omni's and convert tapes or | | | | Regions are still important, but not as once they were. |
| DVDs to PAL or visa-versa to NTSC rather than | | | | Do know that a Blu-Ray Disc movie output thru the |
| buying PAL-NTSC DVD recorders (which exist) and a | | | | regular component, S-Video or composite (A/V RCA |
| TENLAB converter. | | | | cables) still requite the proper standard to view movies |
| Since the Hollywood producers were rather OK with | | | | with, PAL for a PAL disc and NTSC for an NTSC |
| the incompatible VHS video standards worldwide it | | | | disc. But in TVs there are no regions so any |
| was a new problem with DVD disc movies. | | | | PAL-NTSC TV can display any PAL or NTSC DVD. |
| As all SECAM countries are also PAL countries as far | | | | In the case of the Sony BDP-S300 multi-region version |
| as their TVs being multisystem go and the same for | | | | available now (110 volt version) you can pop in any |
| PAL-M (Brazil) and PAL-N (Argentina, Paraguay and | | | | Blu-Ray Disc movie from the A and B countries seen |
| Uruguay) countries, this meant that DVD movies only | | | | below and on any TV with an HDMI input you can see |
| had to be either NTSC or PAL and they could be | | | | the entirety of any library. |
| seen worldwide. | | | | The Sony BDP-S300 multi-region player has been |
| This wasn't very good for Hollywood filmmakers | | | | highlyrated by many including reviews such as: "I am |
| however as too many countries could then buy discs | | | | delighted with my Sony BDP-S300 Blu-ray Disc Player. |
| from another country and see movies straight from | | | | It has excellent audio and visual definition. The |
| their first release on disc which sometimes predated | | | | crystalline clarity of 1080p Blu-ray Disc movies and |
| even the movies official theatrical release in theaters. | | | | DVD upscaling brings your DVDs to the highest |
| This meant that a citizen of a PAL country such as | | | | resolution possible. Purchase this product and you will |
| Italy could buy a new movie from a New Zealand | | | | not be disappointed." |
| (PAL) source and see the movie (with subtitles if | | | | The Blu-Ray Disc Regions are as seen here: |
| needed) perhaps months before the film was actually | | | | A/North America, Central America, South America, |
| released theatrically or on DVD in Italy. This infringed on | | | | Japan, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong, |
| the natural markets of established theater owners and | | | | and Southeast Asia. |
| retailers in Italy. | | | | B/Europe, Greenland, French territories, Middle East, |
| Generally when a European country gets a movie on | | | | Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, plus all of Oceania. |
| DVD it is also available at the same time in other Euro | | | | C/India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mainland China, Pakistan, |
| countries, but not always. But then an English speaking | | | | Russia, Central, and South Asia. |
| person in Australia could buy the movie from a UK | | | | The future of Blu-Ray Disc type technology? |
| source and see it in English on his PAL TV. | | | | In January 2007, Hitachi previewed a 100 GB Blu-ray |
| Again, not very good for business men and bean | | | | Disc, which has four layers containing 25 GB each. |
| counters. | | | | Unlike TDK and Panasonic's 100 GB discs, they Hitachi |
| So a new technology was embedded into each | | | | claims this disc is readable on a standard Blu-ray Disc |
| Hollywood movie shipped out to the various countries | | | | drive a firmware update is the only requirement to |
| around the world. This is called REGIONAL CODES. | | | | make it readable to current players and drives. |
| They divided the world, as best as they could, into 6 | | | | Many other iterations and variations of the Blu-Ray |
| regions based on film release protocols. | | | | milieu are popping up including such novel notions as |
| These regional codes are built-in to both the DVD | | | | BD9 / BD5 Blu-ray Disc, AVCREC, Blu-ray Disc |
| players and the DVD movie discs as well. | | | | recordable, HD DVD/Blu-ray Disc hybrid discs, HD |
| 6 regions, 2 video standards (PAL-NTSC) making | | | | VMD/Versatile Multilayer Disc (new low-profile |
| things fairly complex. | | | | competitor) AVCHD, Digital Multilayer Disk - the |
| For example, Europe is PAL and REGION 2 but Japan | | | | successor technology to Fluorescent Multilayer Disc, |
| is NTSC and yet is REGION 2! | | | | Enhanced Versatile Disc (EVD), Forward Versatile |
| This means that a Japanese DVD disc would play on | | | | Disc (FVD) - Taiwanese backed red laser format, |
| a Japanese DVD player fine but even though it is | | | | Fluorescent Multilayer Disc, Holographic Versatile Disc - |
| REGION 2 it would not play on a European PAL TV | | | | standards with 200 and 300 GB storage are under |
| even if you took the Japanese DVD player to Europe, | | | | development 3D optical data storage - a |
| raised the voltage from 100V to 240V and then tried | | | | next-generation technology expected to provide |
| to play it. The disc would spin, the player would play it | | | | TB-capacity discs, Protein-coated disc, Tapestry |
| but the TV could not display it...UNLESS the TV was | | | | Media, Ultra Density Optical LS-R - a "layer selection" |
| also an NTSC multisystem TV. | | | | technology allowing the stacking of very large numbers |
| So how to get around these video standards and | | | | of DVD-like data layers in a single disc, Professional |
| regional codes? | | | | Disc for DATA (PDD or ProDATA) and much more. |
| The invention of a REGION FREE DVD player (aka | | | | Will there still be Regions? Who knows but there will |
| Codefree, code free, regionfree, all zone, universal, all | | | | always be a better genius to overcome them. |
| region etc). But is that against the law and how can it | | | | |