HP m300 User Manual

White Paper

April 1999 [PRT015A/0199]

DVD Software Support for

Prepared by Portables Software Marketing

Compaq Computer Corporation

Contents

Overview.......................................3

Regional Playback

Considerations ............................3

Supported Platforms...................5

Distribution ..................................6

DVD Express Operational

Summary......................................6

A Word about DVD-to-GO...........8

DVD Express Software

Specifications..............................8

Frequently Asked Questions......9

List of Tables

Table 1 - Region Definitions.........4

Table 2 – supported platforms:......5

Compaq Portables

Abstract:

for use with the Armada and Prosignia family of portable computers. This relatively new drive technology represents a significant increase in capacity over read-only CD-ROM media. Increased capacity provides new applications impractical with CD-ROM drives, most notably, playing DVD Hollywood movie titles.

The purpose of this White Paper is to introduce the DVD movie playback software for use on select Armada and Prosignia portables equipped with a DVD drive. Compaq has enhanced the installation process of MediaMatics DVD Express software to combine all the latest drivers and supporting utilities necessary to provide a seamless playback solution on our various Armada and Prosignia platforms. This document will summarize those supported platforms, review the software solution's feature set, and provide additional information on how the software will be distributed.

Beginning in 3Q98, Compaq began shipping DVD drives

Table 3 - Operational Summary...6

DVD Software Support for Compaq Portables 2

Notice

The information in this publication is subject to change without notice and is pro vided “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. THE ENTIRE RISK ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THIS INFORMATION REMAINS WITH RECIPIENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL COMPAQ BE LIAB LE FOR ANY DIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR OTHER DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION), EVEN IF COMPAQ HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

The limited warranties for Compaq products are exclusively set forth in the documentation accompanying such products. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting a further or additional warranty.

This publication does not constitute an endorsement of the product or products that were tested. The configuration or configurations tested or described may or may not b e the onl y available solution. This test is not a determination or product quality or correctness, nor does it ensure compliance with any federal state or local requirements.

Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Compaq, Contura, Deskpr o, Fastart, Compaq Insight Ma nager, Intel Pentium, LTE, MediaMati cs DVD Express, PageMarq, Systempro, Systempro/LT, ProLiant, TwinTray, ROMPaq, LicensePaq, QVision, SLT, ProLinea, SmartStart, NetFlex, DirectPlus, QuickFind, RemotePaq, BackPaq, TechPaq, SpeedPaq, QuickBack, PaqFax, Presario, SilentCool, CompaqCare (design), Aero, SmartStation, MiniStation, and PaqRap, registered United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Netelligent, Armada, Prosignia, Cruiser, Concerto, QuickChoice, ProSignia, Systempro/XL, Net1, LTE Elite, Vocalyst, PageMate, SoftPaq, FirstPaq, SolutionPaq, EasyPoint, EZ Help, MaxLight, MultiLock, QuickBlank, QuickLock, UltraView, Innovate logo, Wonder Tools logo in black/white and color, and Compaq PC Card Solution logo are trademarks and/or service marks of Compaq Computer Corporation.

Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, Windows NT Server and Workstation, Microsoft SQL Server for Windows NT are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

DVDExpressTM Mediamatics, Inc., A National Semiconductor Company Copyright © 1997 National Semiconductor. “DVDExpress” is a trademark of National Semiconductor Corporation. Dolby®” and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

NetWare and Novell are registered trademarks and intraNetWare, NDS, and Novell Directory Services are trademarks of Novell, Inc.

White Paper prepared by Portables Software Marketing Second Edition (January 1999)

Document Number [PRT015A/0199]

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DVD Software Support for Compaq Portables 3

Overview

DVD, which stands for 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 most major movie and music studios.

OTE

DVD Express is only supported under Microsoft Windows 95 OSR-2 or Windows 98. Windows NT 4.0 is not supported, as this operating system does not include the native compon en ts ne cessary to support DVD. Playback of other multimedia video formats such as AVI and MPEG1 are supported under Windows NT 4.0 on Compaq Armada and Prosignia por t a bles.

To meet customer requirements for a complete Digital Versatile Disk (DVD) solution, Compaq has chosen to augment the Armada and Prosignia family of notebook computers with DVD Express, a software playback solution. This industry leading software has been optimized for playback of MPEG2 (Motion Picture Experts Group specifications) encoded video clips as well as encrypted Hollywood DVD movie titles. Decoding digital MPEG2 video is accomplished through software only, eliminating the need for more expensive hardware. Although the software will function on Intel 233-266MHz Pentium II based notebooks, playback quality is reduced since loss of video frames (video images look as though they’re skipping sections of the movie) during playback may occur. Software playback performance on platforms faster than Intel’s 300MHz PII processors may sustain 30 fps (Frames Per Second) on certain titles which approaches the quality of most hardware playback solutions.

DVD Express offers:

A High performance software DVD player for the PC that:

• Supports DVD, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and VideoCD formats

• DirectShow® compatible

• Contents Scramble System (CSS) enabled for Hollywood movie playback

• Decodes -

- MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 video strea ms

- Sub-picture streams

- AC-3 (Dolby Digital®), MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-3, and normal CD audio

• Dolby Level C Certified

• True consumer-quality audio and video playback

• Significantly reduces cost of enabling PCs with DVD capability by avoiding the

purchase of additional hardware components

• Backwards compatible to MCI (older MPEG2 formatted content) command set

• Optimized for MMX®-based processors

Regional Playback Considerations

Playback of Hollywood DVD movie titles involves decoding MPEG2 video, digital AC3 audio and decryption of CSS protected content. CSS (sometimes called copy guard) is the name given to the content protection scheme adopted by the motion picture industry to satisfy a need to protect against unlawful content duplication. DVD Express is able to read movie content encrypted using CSS, which obligates Compaq, as a licensor of CSS technology, to satisfy legal obligations embodied in the CSS license agreement.

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DVD Software Support for Compaq Portables 4

Although the design rules imposed on CSS licensors are many, one rule that is most relevant is playback restrictions on regionalized content. In order to facilitate geographically staggered movie releases, DVD video titles are released for specific geographic regions as defined in Table 1. While DVD movie content may be released for multiple regions, CSS design rules require that any system capable of playing CSS encrypted content must only be capable of playing one region.

ABLE 1

Region 1

Region 2

Region 3

Region 4

Region 5

Region 6

- R

EGION DEFINITIONS

Canada, US, US Territories Czech, Egypt, Finland, France, Germa ny, Gulf States, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, J apan,

Netherlands , Norway, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey , UK, Greece, Former Yugoslav Republics, Slovakia

Burma, Indonesia, South K orea, Malays ia, Philippi nes, Singapor e, Taiwan, T hailand, Vietnam Australia, Caribbean (Except US Terri tories), Cent ral America, New Zealand, Pacific Isl ands, South

America

CIS, India, Pakistan, Rest of Africa, Rus sia, North Korea

China

Furthermore, software applications using CSS encryption technology cannot be distributed via uncontrolled, publicly available mediums like the Web.

Both of these factors present challenges to companies like Compaq selling computerbased DVD movie playback solutions. Challenges not only in distributing software and ensuring customers are able to playback movies from their region, but also providing reasonable protection against unlawful circumvention of CSS encryption.

The initial implementation strategy adopted for Compaq Armada and Prosignia portables allows the user to make a one-time choice of region. Under both Windows 95 and

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