Page 1 of Multi Region DVDs - how will they work in future?

I have a collection of DVDs from pretty much all Regions. My main player is bust and being repaired at the moment, leaving me my DVD recorder that only plays Region 2. It struck me that Region 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 DVDs may be unplayable in future once an HD format takes over and multi region standard DVD players are gone. Are both HD format players multi region (even for standard DVDs)?

I`m probably being silly to worry lots of my DVDs will be useless (almost certainly I am, and you`re all about to tell me why! :) )

This item was edited on Monday, 7th January 2008, 23:20

It`s actually a very good question that I`ve never thought about.

I`m actually assuming that your going to need to keep a multi region dvd player for your non region 2 dvds if you get a Region 2 Blu Ray player (looking like the winning format). :/

Although there are bound to be ways to get them multi region, if not now, there will be ways in the future.



My DVD collection

No region encoding on HD DVD, not so BR, however that doesnt`t mean that HD DVD`s function as MR DVD players.

There are murmerings of firmware upgrades for Toshiba, that make them function as MR SD DVD players, not that I have tried one of these on mine yet.

I don`t think there`s going to be any big issues with playback in the foreseeable future as yet DVD ROM\Writers are CAC ATM for a PC & normal "hackable" players can be had for £15 - £20.



I consider myself an optimist, albeit an optimist with cynical tendencies and a dark side that Lucifer himself would find a little creepy. (Perhaps you've noticed.) You don't normally associate cynicism with an upbeat pov. But I have exactly that combination and will defend it.

I hate answering the phone at work - It disturbs my sleep.

I`ve just PM`d you papanez.

floyd

Standard DVD will be around for some time yet. I wouldn`t hold your breath for multi-region Blu-ray though. Here are some of the things BD+ can do:

* examine the host environment, to see if the player has been tampered with. Every licensed playback device manufacturer must provide the BD+ licensing authority with memory footprints that identify their devices.
* verify that the player`s keys have not been changed.
* execute native code, possibly to patch an otherwise insecure system.
* transform the audio and video output. Parts of the content will not be viewable without letting the BD+-program unscramble it.

If a playback device manufacturer finds that its devices have been hacked, it can potentially release BD+-code that detects and circumvents the vulnerability. These programs can then be included in all new disc releases.