about video

Do you have a home theater system? Once reserved for the rich, they're more common than ever now that the technology behind them has come down in price. At the very least, you'll need some kind of television or projector, an audio system and something on which you can play some movies.

You could end up forking over quite a bit of money, depending on what you buy. But before you get started, just how much do you know about home video and DVD systems? Today's equipment is far more sophisticated than a simple analog television set hooked up to a coaxial cable connection and an old videocassette recorder. Now you can record shows on your digital video recorder (DVR) -- a TiVo for example -- and watch them on your own schedule. Are you a frequent flier? You can catch up on your favorite TV shows over the Internet with your Slingbox, which lets you control your DVR, your TV tuner and your DVD player.

Our home video and DVD library will teach you about all these technologies, and more. You'll learn how movies are written onto a DVD disc. You can find out about copy protection measures designed to prevent illegal copying and distribution of movies, including Flexplay, a DVD that becomes blank after a certain period of time, keeping you from having to return movies to the video store. If you're less tech-savvy, we'll show you what all those connectors are on your DVD player so you can get it hooked up right. And don't be surprised to see us tackle some of the more cutting-edge home video and DVD topics, such as Blu-ray discs, which have taken movies to the next level of high-definition technology. So catch up on home video and DVD technology on HowStuffWorks.

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Get the home video & DVD information about setting up the right technology for you and your family here at HowStuffWorks. Read about Blu-ray technology, DVRs, TiVo, Netflix and more.

Featured Article:  How VCRs Work

How can six hours of video fit on a $2 tape? What happens after you slide that tape into the slot? The VCR may be on the way out, but it's still a mechanical marvel. Take a look inside! See more »

How are movies stored on DVD discs?

How are movies stored on DVD discs?

Even though the storage capacity of a DVD is huge, the uncompressed video data of a full-length movie would never fit on a DVD. In order to fit a movie on a DVD, you need video compression.

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How does copy protection on a video tape work?

How does copy protection on a video tape work?

How do VHS tapes prevent you from bootlegging a copy of a movie? Find out here!

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How DVDs Work

How DVDs Work

It wasn't too long ago that VHS tapes dominated the home video market, but now, DVDs have all but wiped them out. Learn how a DVD player reads a disc, see what to look for when buying a player, and read up on a little DVD history.

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How DVR Works

How DVR Works

Digital video recorders may be the future of television. If you've heard the DVR catchphrase -- "Pause live TV!" -- you may be wondering just how this is accomplished. Learn all about digital video recorders.

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How Flexplay DVDs Work

How Flexplay DVDs Work

The EZ-D DVD is disc that automatically blanks itself after a certain period of time. It's a movie rental that takes late fees and return trips to the video store out of the picture. Check out the science at work.

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How Netflix Works

How Netflix Works

Close to 10 years after opening its virtual doors, Netflix has nearly 6.8 million subscribers. Learn how Netflix delivers discs and decides which movies to recommend to you.

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How Slingbox Works

How Slingbox Works

Most of us don't even consider the possibility of viewing our cable TV, DVR or DVD player when we're away from home, but with a Slingbox, you can do just that.

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How TiVo Works

How TiVo Works

In 1997, TiVo promised its customers that they wouldn't have to worry about television schedules or learn to program their VCRs. Learn how the typical TiVo set works and what services TiVo provides.

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How VCRs Work

How VCRs Work

How can six hours of video fit on a $2 tape? What happens after you slide that tape into the slot? The VCR may be on the way out, but it's still a mechanical marvel. Take a look inside!

See more »
Why are there so many different connectors on my DVD player?

Why are there so many different connectors on my DVD player?

If you recently got a DVD player you might be wondering what all those connectors on the back are for. Don't worry, you don't have to use them all -- a lot of the connectors are actually redundant.

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