drmini in aust wrote:
The film industry divided the world map up into regions to `stop' us (for example) buying DVDs from the US and elsewhere, cheaper. The original DVD players would only play the discs from their own region.
US is region 1 (I think), UK/Europe region 2, Australia region 4.
It all turned to crap when Pioneer and others started building DVD players that were `multi region'. ie they will play nearly anything. Many new ones are like this but not all.
One of the better things the ACCC achieved - they claimed the regions was a restriction of trade or rights or something and ruled that a DVD players sold in Australia have to be able to play any DVD if the owner wished.
Now you have to contend with MacroVision stuffing up the picture if you play it though a Tape player or an older TV. Silicon Chip published a circuit available from Jaycar to overcome this problem (bars and scrolling picture)
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David L
My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!
