Last weekend BBQ let me borrow his Com World Digital Video Converter KDV-500. This is a set top box that looks and feels like an old fashion external modem. This thing is a digital filter and video converter that is designed to turn a NTSC, PAL or SECAN video signal into a NTSC or PAL video signal. You can take a DVD player or video game system from anywhere in the world and hook it up to another TV device from most of the rest of the world.
Now BBQ and I do not have any PAL or SECAM video equipment laying about but this thing has another interesting use. It will strip the Macrovision encoding from a video signal so you can copy any DVD to video tape or DVD-Recorder without any error warnings or video lock out. BBQ uses it to copy DVDs to his VHS VCR and I found out that I could use this to copy a DVD or protected VHS tape onto a DVD+R.
The only real problem is that it reduces the resolution of the signal quite a bit. It really looses something when you copy to a DVD+R but BBQ says that he does not notice care because it looks just as good as regular VHS tape.
They have made a newer version that supposedly works at a higher resolution but they have them listed at 300 bucks. I would love to take advantage of my fair use rights and stick it to the DMCA and the MPAA but I will probably wait for something cheaper or try a software option when I get my iBook with a DVD burner.
cool thing. but waaaaay to expensive.
hope HDTV is the solution for WORLDWIDE STANDARD.
Have you ever tried DVD shrink on the PC? Works like butter.
DVD shrink is "teh g00d!" It is without a doubt the best! Simple to use and fast! brilliant!