Ports & connector

Composite Video Connector ( Can carry video signal only)

Composite video is an analog stream that transmits the video or picture using a single, low-quality signal. The composite video signal is necessary for transferring video data from the source to the display device. A composite video connection transfers the video signal's black and white and color components concurrently, but it does not carry audio signals. RCA video connections are the physical connections that are frequently yellow at the tips.

S-Video Connector (can carry video signal only)

The black and white and color components of the signal are transferred separately via an S-Video connection, which is an analog video link. The signal is then recombined by the receiving television or video recording device. When compared to a standard analog composite video connection, the results are clearer edges and less color bleeding.

Component video connector (Can carry audio & video signal)

A component video connection is one in which the signal's individual color and black-and-white components are sent from a source, such a DVD player, to a video display device, like a television or video projector, using different cables. Three RCA cables with Red, Green, and Blue connecting tips serve as a representation of this connection. Consumers employ two different types of component video connections: Y,Cb,Cr-Interlaced scan only component video input/output connection and Y,Pb,Pr-Progressive Scan component video input/output connection.

HDMI Connector (Can carry audio & video signal)

High Definition Multi-media Interface is what HDMI stands for. A certain amount of information is lost when a source converts a digital video signal to analog in order to send it to a television. Nonetheless, a digital video source signal (like that from a DVD player) can be transferred digitally via an HDMI connection without requiring analog conversion. As a result, all of the video data is sent from the digital video source to a TV that has HDMI or DVI (with the use of a connection adaptor). Furthermore, both audio and video information can be transferred using HDMI ports for more details visit HERE

DVI Connector (can carry video signal only)

DVI stands for Digital Visual Interface. A DVI interface connection can transfer a digital video signal from a source component (such as from a DVI-equipped DVD player, cable, or satellite box) directly to a video display that also has a DVI connection, without conversion to analog. This can result in a better quality image from both standard and high definition video signals.

 

Digital Coaxial Audio Connector (can carry Audio signal only very often called Audio cable)

A digital coaxial audio connection is a wired connection that is used for transferring digital audio signals (such as PCM, Dolby Digital, and DTS) from a source device, such as CD or DVD player and an AV receiver or Surround Sound Preamp/Processor. Digital Coaxial Audio Connections use RCA-style connection plugs.

Digital Optical Audio Connector A.K.A TOSLINK(can carry Audio signal only)

A digital optical connection is a fiber-optic connection that is used for transferring digital audio signals (such as PCM, Dolby Digital, and DTS) from a source device, such as CD or DVD player and an AV receiver or Surround Sound Preamp/Processor. This connection is also referred to as a TOSLINK connection.

Audio Cable or Y-cable

A Y-cable, sometimes known as a Y cable, is a form of cable that has three ends, one of which is a common end that splits into the other two ends. When viewed, a Y-cable may resemble the letter "Y."

It is commonly utilized in many applications where a single audio must be connected to two destinations (audio) or vice versa.

Connector 1: One 3.5mm Stereo Male

Connector 2: Two RCA Stereo Male

RCA cable  (Radio Corporation of America)

A standard type of cable used to transmit analog audio and composite-video signals between devices such as televisions / satellite or cable receivers, VCRs, game console systems, speakers and more. Typical RCA cables will have two or three color coded connectors. RCA audio cables have two connectors: red (right stereo) and white or black for left stereo. An additional third connector on an RCA cable will be yellow for composite video.

Analog Stereo Audio Cables (can carry Audio signal only)

Analog Stereos cables transfer Left and Right stereo signals from components, such as, a CD player, Cassette Deck, VCR, and other devices to a stereo or surround sound amplifier or receiver. Red is designated for the Right Channel and White is designated for the Left Channel. These colors will correspond to the colors of the receiving end analog stereo connectors on an amplifier or receiver.

RF Coaxial Cable - Push-On (Can carry audio & video signal)

The RF Coaxial Cable connection is used for transferring television signals (audio and video) originating from an antenna or cable box to a Television. In addition, VCRs can also utilize this connection for both receiving and transferring television signals and for watching VHS tapes. The type of RF Coaxial Connection pictured here is the Push-on type.

RF Coaxial Cable - Screw-on (Can carry audio & video signal) 

The RF Coaxial Cable connection is used for transferring television signals (audio and video) originating from an antenna or cable box to a Television. In addition, VCRs can also utilize this connection for both receiving and transferring television signals and for watching VHS tapes. The type of RF Coaxial Connection pictured here is the Screw-on type.

HDTV Cable Connections

Here is a look at rear connection panel of a typical HDTV, as well as the connection cable examples. On the top, from left to right, there are connections for HDMI/DVI (HDMI Connector Pictured), including a set of analog stereo audio inputs (Red and White), and a VGA monitor input for use with a PC.

On the top right is the RF Coaxial Cable/Antenna Connection. Just below the RF connection are headphone and analog stereo audio outputs (Red and White).

On the bottom left there are two sets of HD-Component inputs (Red, Green, and Blue), paired with analog stereo audio inputs (Red and White).

On the bottom right side are a service port, plus two sets of analog stereo audio (Red and White) and composite video inputs (Yellow).

There is also an S-video input option just to the right of one of the composite video inputs.

As you can see, an HDTV has a variety of both standard and HD input options.

Content Protection Messages Interrupt Viewing of High Definition Movies

When playing high-definition videos, such as Blu-ray or HD DVD movies, an error message about protected content displays. The following list shows some of the messages that can appear:

• This content is protected. The content is not allowed to play in current display mode.
• Stop. Your display environment does not support protected content playback.
• This program includes content protection that restricts viewing...
• HDMI HDCP Key - Authentication failed.

These types of messages occur because of HDCP. High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) - a method that is used to protect high-definition content from being copied as it passes from the computer to the monitor or HD TV. Almost all commercial Blu-ray and HD DVD movies are protected by HDCP when played.

Solution

Make sure your system for viewing high-definition meets all of the following conditions:

• The system uses a monitor that supports HDCP.
• The system uses one digital video cable that supports HDCP (HDMI or DVI).
• Only one HDCP display device is connected to the video system.
• The display resolution on the computer is not set beyond 1920 x 1200.
• Certain HP monitors with auto-pivot might need to have the auto-pivot feature disabled or the computer attached to the monitor is using the latest version of HP My Display software. For more information, see Content Protection Messages Interrupt Blu-Ray or HD DVD Movies .

Workaround

If your display is not HDCP-compliant, you might be able to use one analog connection to view video. Try one of the following options:

• Use an S-video or composite cable connection to view the video. You will be able to view the video, but at a lower resolution.
• If both the computer graphics card and the display device support a VGA connection, select a screen resolution in Windows that is 1920x1080. Or, if 1920x1080 is not available, select the next best screen resolution that is as close to 1920x1080 as possible. This enables viewing of unprotected videos at higher display resoltions. However, you may need to adjust the display resolution down to a height of 720 or 540 in order to view protected high-definition content.

NOTE:

Because the signal is analog, it can degrade when affected by cable quality, cable length, and noise (such as ghosting).

• Figure 1: Windows display properties screen.
• 
• For high-resolution analog output to a display device that has a VGA connector, use a DVI-to-VGA adapter to connect the display to the graphics card through a VGA connection.

Figure 2:  DVI to VGA adapter

NOTE:

Because DVI does not include an audio signal, you will need to use PC speakers or connect a separate audio cable from the PC to the TV or Monitor audio line-in connection.

Understanding video technology

When selecting a video connection, choose a type that works best for you. There are five main video components to consider when connecting a video display.

• Signal type
• Display format
• Display resolution
• Connection type
• Source

These items define your viewing experience. If, for example, the display device and the computer both support HDMI and HDCP at a resolution of 1980x1080 and the video source is high-definition (such as from a Blu-ray movie), then you can enjoy true high-definition viewing. However, if the computer is connected to a Plasma TV using an S-video connector, for example, the viewing experience is limited to lower display resolutions.

Use the rest of the following section to become familiar with the five components:

Signal type

There are two main methods or types of signals for transporting video (and audio).

· Analog - the signal is transmitted in wave forms.

· Digital - the signal is transmitted in blocks of numbers (data).

Figure : Analog and digital signals

1 - Analog signal - gray line

2 - Digital signal - red line

Display format

There are two formats for displaying video on a display, interlaced scanning and progressive scanning.

· Interlaced scanning (I) - for each video frame (one image that is dispalyed at roughly 1/30th of a second) all the odd scan lines are drawn on the screen, followed by the drawing of all the even lines. Interlaced scanning is used for both analog and digital.

· Progressive scanning (p) - the lines of each full video frame are drawn one after another in sequence, each refresh updates all of the scan lines. Progressive scanning is used for digital.

In a video specification, interlaced or progressive scanning follows the resolution number. For example, 1920 x 1080 p means that the video resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels with progressive scanning.

Display resolution

Resolution refers to the number of pixels a display is capable of producing. Resolution is measured in pixels high by pixels wide. The greater the pixel count, the higher the resolution.

The following list defines common video resolutions:

· SDTV (Standard Definition TV) - roughly 320 x 240.

· DVD (HD) 1280 x 720. High definition usually refers to 720 horizontal lines (counted vertically) of video format resolution or more. A TV with a resolution of 720p means that the display is capable of displaying content in 1280 x 720 resolution with progressive scanning.

· True HD - 1920 x 1080 i/p (interlaced or progressive scanning).

Connection type

The connection type describes the physical cable and cable ends that the video signal travels through. The following list describes different types of video connections.

· VGA - refers to PC video modes, analog

· Composite (RCA) - Standard definition TV, analog

· Component (RCA) - up to true high definition, analog, not supported by many PCs

· S-video - Standard definition TV, analog

· DVI - up to true high definition, to get 1920 x 1080 requires HDCP for many commercial programs, digital

· HDMI - up to true high definition, to get 1920 x 1080 requires HDCP for many commercial programs, digital

Source

Source refers to the type of video being used. The following list describes video sources:

· Video file - files played from the computer using software, such as Windows Media Player. Some video files types are AVI, MPG, WMV and more. The playback quality can vary greatly. Some file types are capable of producing true high-definition video playback.

· Streaming video - files broadcast from a web server. These types are usually viewed from a Web browser, such as Internet Explorer. Streaming video that is viewed at higher resolution requires a fast network connection. The viewing experience is limited to the capabilities of the Web page that the content is viewed from.

· TV programming - if the computer has a TV tuner, view TV programming from an aerial antenna or TV service via a cable. To view high-definition TV, an HD TV tuner and high-definition signal is required.

· DVD movies - requires a DVD disc drive in the computer and compatible playback software. The DVD movie format plays at a resolution of 1280 x 720.

Blu-ray movies - requires a compatible Blu-ray disc drive, software, and an HDCP display device (for digital). The Blu-ray format is capable of playing video at a true high-definition display resolution of 1920 x 1080.

Progressive scan vs. interlaced video

Interlaced scan

Interlaced scan is one of two methods used for "painting" an image on a television screen (the other being progressive scan). Designed for the analog NTSC television system, interlaced scanning uses two fields to create a frame. One field contains all the odd lines in the image, the other contains all the even lines of the image. A television scans 60 fields every second (30 odd and 30 even). These two sets of 30 fields are combined to create a full frame every 1/30th of a second, resulting in a display of 30 frames per second. Drawbacks to interlaced scanning compared to progressive scanning include flicker, lower resolution and quality issues.

Today, two different techniques are available to render the video: interlaced scanning and progressive scanning. Which technique is selected will depend on the application and purpose of the video system, and particularly whether the system is required to capture moving objects and to allow viewing of details within a moving image.

 

progressive scan

Progressive scan (also known as known as 480p) is one of two methods used for "painting" an image on a television screen (the other being interlaced scan), where the lines are drawn in one at a time in sequential order. The entire single frame image is painted every 1/60th of a second, allowing for twice the detail to be sent in the same amount of time used in interlaced systems. Progressive scan is a method used in today's CRTs, computer monitors and high-end television displays. Progressive scanning results in a more detailed image on the screen and is also less susceptible to the flicker commonly associated with interlaced scanning.

Most television displays that are capable of progressive scanning can also perform deinterlacing, which enables interlaced video to be viewed on progressive scan sets. Progressive scan is now the standard of choice for both DVD video and DTV. To use and view progressive scanning technology the source (DVD player, High-definition cable or satellite for example) and the display must both be progressive scan compatible.

Interlaced scanning

Interlaced scan-based images use techniques developed for Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)-based TV monitor displays, made up of 576 visible horizontal lines across a standard TV screen. Interlacing divides these into odd and even lines and then alternately refreshes them at 30 frames per second. The slight delay between odd and even line refreshes creates some distortion or 'jaggedness'. This is because only half the lines keeps up with the moving image while the other half waits to be refreshed.

The effects of interlacing can be somewhat compensated for by using de-interlacing. De-interlacing is the process of converting interlaced video into a non-interlaced form, by eliminating some jaggedness from the video for better viewing. This process is also called line doubling. Some network video products, such as Axis video servers, integrate a de-interlace filter which improves image quality in the highest resolution (4CIF). This feature eliminates the motion blur problems caused by the analog video signal from the analog camera.

Interlaced scanning has served the analog camera, television and VHS video world very well for many years, and is still the most suitable for certain applications. However, now that display technology is changing with the advent of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Thin Film Transistor (TFT)-based monitors, DVDs and digital cameras, an alternative method of bringing the image to the screen, known as progressive scanning, has been created.

 

Progressive scanning

Progressive scanning, as opposed to interlaced, scans the entire picture line by line every sixteenth of a second. In other words, captured images are not split into separate fields like in interlaced scanning. Computer monitors do not need interlace to show the picture on the screen. It puts them on one line at a time in perfect order i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 etc. so there is virtually no "flickering" effect. As such, in a surveillance application, it can be critical in viewing detail within a moving image such as a person running away. However, a high quality monitor is required to get the best out of this type of scan.

Example: Capturing moving objects

When a camera captures a moving object, the sharpness of the frozen image will depend on the technology used. Compare these JPEG images, captured by three different cameras using progressive scan, 4CIF interlaced scan and 2CIF respectively.

Please note the following:

• All image systems produce a clear image of the background
• Jagged edges from motion with interlaced scan
• Motion blur caused by the lack of resolution in the 2CIF sample
• Only progressive scan makes it possible to identify the driver

Progressive scan Used in: Axis network cameras such as AXIS 210 View Full size 640x480   Progressive scan details:

Interlaced scan Used in: Analog CCTV cameras View Full size 704x576 Interlaced scan details:

2CIF (with 'line doubling') Used in: DVRs View Full size 704x576 2CIF details:

4:3 Aspect Ratio Vs. 16:9 Wide screen Wide screen TVs and projectors feature a width-to-height ratio similar to movie theater screens, providing cinema-style entertainment at home. Also enables full-screen viewing of high-definition broadcasts and DVDs produced in 16:9 format .

Progressive Vs. Interlaced Scanning Standard TV use interlaced scanning to produce a picture. Interlaced scanning combines two fields to generate a picture of 525 scan lines (480 of which are displayed). Your television projects an interlaced image by first scanning the 240 odd-numbered lines of one field (in 1/60th of a second), followed by the 240 even-numbered lines of the other field (in 1/60th of a second). So, it takes two fields to build one frame of video. The result or progressive scan is a smoother and sharper picture, with high resolution and no motion artifacts.

What is the Difference Between a 1080p and 1080i HDTV?

 

High definition television (HDTV) is a welcome change from the old standard analog TVs, but there is no shortage of confusion when it comes to choosing a unit. One of the most asked questions is what is the difference between a 1080i and 1080p HDTV? The question itself mixes apples and oranges but marketing has led to much of the confusion. In reality a 1080i HDTV is a 720p HDTV. But let’s start at the beginning.

There are two types of HD broadcasts: 720p and 1080i. Broadcasts in 720p utilize a resolution of 1280 x 720, or a picture composed of 1280 pixels across and 720 pixels high. The “p” in 720p stands for progressive scan, meaning the picture is painted from top to bottom in a single pass, refreshed (repainted) 60 times per second.

Broadcasts in 1080i utilize a higher resolution of 1920 x 1080, theoretically resulting in better quality picture. However, the “i” stands for interlaced. Interlaced images are painted in a two-pass process. The first pass paints every other line, the second pass paints the skipped lines. Painting all lines takes 1/30th of a second, or twice as long as a progressive scan signal. So while resolution is higher, interlacing can create flicker and can also make fast moving objects appear slightly blurred. For this reason networks that broadcast high-definition sports typically use 720p, while nature channels like Discovery will tend towards 1080i for the richer resolution.

Any HDTV can display both 720p and 1080i broadcasts, but will convert signals to the native resolution of the set. For example, a 720p HDTV will take a 1080i signal and use an internal processing chip to downconvert the picture to the 720p resolution. This is called scaling. It will also de-interlace the 1080i signal and display it in progressive scan mode. Manufacturers sometimes market the 720p HDTV as a 1080i HDTV, simply because it supports 1080i, albeit by scaling down the resolution.

A 1080p HDTV doesn’t reduce the resolution of a 1080i signal. It only has to de-interlace it. Therefore a 1080i picture should look slightly better on a 1080p HDTV, particularly when comparing large screens. When watching a 720p broadcast on a 1080p HDTV, the signal is upconverted to the higher 1080p resolution. While this upconversion arguably makes a negligible difference in modest sized TVs, it does reduce pixel-related artifacts which can be appreciated on larger displays.

There are no broadcasts in 1080p, (1920 x 1080 in progressive scan mode), and none expected anytime soon. However, there are digital formats that can produce a true 1080p signal: Blu-ray and HD DVD players. Only a 1080p HDTV can display Blu-ray and HD DVD in their native, full resolution formats. Among 1080p HDTVs there are also various models with different support modes. The newer models support 1080p/60, 1080p/30 and 1080p/24, with the latter number being frames per second. The 1080p is also preferable for gaming and PC use.

Hence, 1080i is a video or broadcast mode. There is technically no such thing as a “1080i HDTV” because all HDTVs are progressive scan, not interlaced. This includes LCD and plasma flat screens; and LCD, LCoS and DLP rear projection TVs. Only cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions are interlaced, and though there were CRT rear projection HDTVs, they have been phased out.

You might be asking why some manufacturers promote 720p HDTV as 1080i? The answer is marketing. When 1080p HDTVs came along, renaming 720p HDTV to “1080i HDTV” was a shrewd move. The 1080i was priced much lower than a comparable 1080p model, with many if not most consumers not realizing the difference. Some industry sites now refer to “720p/1080i HDTV” to make it clear that a 1080i HDTV is really a 720p HDTV.

WQXGA-Wide Quad eXtended Graphics Array

UXGA-Ultra Extended Graphics Array

 

To know More about HDMI visit the following link.

http://www.pacificcable.com/HDMI_Tutorial.htm

Blu ray?

Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc format that provides a richer movie-watching experience than traditional DVDs through higher resolution, higher storage capacity, and higher density recording.

The higher resolution, up to 1080p, translates into detailed and life-like movie scenes and soundtrack. Blu-ray Disc provides much better resolution than the traditional DVD format, and the soundtrack also provides much more information.

The greater storage capacity and higher density recording of the Blu-ray Disc format, compared to DVDs, enable more content to be provided on each disc, which means more bonus content and more interactive features.

An example of the benefit of higher storage capacity and higher density recording is the entire season of your favorite tv show will fit on fewer discs, maybe even just one disc.

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compatibility

Blu-ray Disc is backwards compatible with DVDs, and Blu-ray Discs are the same size and shape as CDs and DVDs. This means that Blu-ray Disc players can play DVDs and CDs, not just Blu-ray Discs.

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Blu-ray Disc, HD-DVD, and DVD brief comparison

	DVD	HD-DVD	Blu-ray
logo
resolution	up to 480i (NTSC) or up to 576i (PAL)	up to 1080p	up to 1080p
disc diameter	120 mm	120 mm	120 mm
storage capacity (single-sided, single-layer)	up to 4.7 GB	up to 15 GB	up to 25 GB
storage capacity (single-sided, dual-layer)	up to 8.5 GB	up to 30 GB	up to 50 GB
HDCP (content protection)	no	yes	yes
DVD compatibility	not applicable	yes	yes
HD-DVD compatibility	yes	yes	no
Blu-ray Disc compatibility	yes	no	yes

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questions & answers

Q. How can I be sure that my Blu-ray Discs will play at full resolution?

HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) encrypts content as it passes from the computer to the display (monitor or hdtv). The content on Blu-ray Discs is protected by HDCP.

To play Blu-ray Discs using a digital connection, you must view the content on a display that is HDCP-enabled. If the content is not protected, an HDCP-enabled monitor is not needed. If you are using an analog connection, an HDCP-enabled display is also not required.

You may also need to configure the computer's graphics card settings and display resolution setting to optimize for high-definition viewing. Some graphics cards, for example the sabre graphics card and the sikorski graphics card, have settings that are specifically designed for playing high-definition formats.

Q. What is special about Blu-ray Disc?

Blu-ray Discs provide a richer movie-watching experience through higher resolution, more storage capacity, and higher-density recording. Blu-ray Discs have higher storage capacity than HD DVDs.

Q. Can I play my DVDs on my new Blu-ray Disc player?

Yes. Most high-definition units play DVDs in addition to Blu-ray Discs.

Q. What about the HD DVD high-definition format?

HD DVD is a media format competing with Blu-ray Disc to be the high-definition media format that replaces DVD.

HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc are not compatible formats; however some new units play both the HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats. This HP Blu-ray Disc & HD DVD drive is one example.

What is HDCP

What is HDCP?

HDCP stands for High Bandwidth digitel Content Protocol and is a form of copy protection scheme to prevent the copying of the digital Video signal. HDCP enables a secure connection between devices before the signal is displayed.

If you cannot view high-definition video on your TV, most likely the source device is not HDCP compliant.

What are the different signal formats for digital TVs?

There are 18 standard digital TV signal formats. Each one provides a different picture quality. Digital TV formats are named using a number followed by either progressive (p) or interlaced (i). The letter refers to the way the TV uses the signals to create the picture:

• Progressive (p) scanning presents all the horizontal lines of the picture in one frame. This provides a sharper picture to the eye and looks much better than an interlaced image of the same resolution.
• Interlaced (i) means that the picture appears in two segments: every other horizontal line of the picture is displayed in one frame, and the other half of the horizontal lines are drawn in the next frame of the picture. This works because it happens so fast that the eye is deceived into believing that only one picture is being shown.

The number refers to the number of lines of resolution, and generally the higher the number, the better the picture. For example, with digital TV (DTV) there are two progressive formats for broadcasters to choose from: 480p and 720p. A 480p image is much sharper than a regular TV broadcast, although it is only considered a DTV signal and not a true high definition signal. 720p has 720 horizontal scan lines and is considered to be true HDTV. 720p can rival a 1080i picture, which is 1080 horizontal scan lines displayed as an interlaced image. This is because of the sharper and more accurate (progressive) 720p picture, even though 1080i picture has many more scan lines and a much higher resolution.

What is an aspect ratio?

The aspect ratio describes the relationship of screen width to screen height. Standard TV signals are based on the aspect ratio of 4:3 (4 units wide by 3 units high). HDTV signals are based on the aspect ratio of 16:9, making the image 33% wider than a normal TV and allows viewing TV and movies as if you were watching them in a theater.

In addition, many DVDs look better on the wide-screen display because most movies made in the last 50 years were filmed in an aspect ratio of either 1.85:1 (very close to 16:9, which is equal to 1.78:1) or 2.35:1 (even wider than 16:9).

Is HDMI backwards-compatible?

Yes. HDMI, as an evolving technology, has gone through several different versions. Each new version added different capabilities to the technology. For instance, HDMI 1.0 has a maximum screen resolution of 1920x1080p60, while HDMI 1.3b has a maximum resolution of 2560x1600p60.

HDMI 1.3b has all the capabilities of HDMI 1.0. However, if your home system is set up with an older version of HDMI, some of the newest options, such as Deep Color, may not be available on the system.

What kinds of HDMI and DVI connectors are there?

Both connector types have three different subtypes.

HDMI	DVI
Type A. HDMI connector with 19 pins	DVI-D. Conducts digital signals.
Type B. HDMI connector with 29 pins.	DVI-A. Conducts high-res analog signals.
Type C. HDMI connector with 19 pins, but with a much smaller connector head for portable devices.	DVI-I. Integrated DVI conducts both analog and digital signals.

Adapters exist to allow you to connect different HDMI connector types to each other, and different DVI connector types to each other. Your computer and home entertainment system may have different types of connections. Check the manufacturer's specifications for each system component to determine the types of connections and formats that are supported before purchasing any cables.

Figure 1: HDMI port and connector

What does HDCP mean in terms of HDMI and DVI?

High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) was designed to prevent the reproduction of copyrighted material. Most post-2005 high definition televisions and high definition DVD players are rated either DVI/HDCP or HDMI/HDCP. This means that they have DVI or HDMI ports for connecting to other pieces of equipment, and use HDCP to protect copyrighted content.

If your high definition monitor or television set receives any information from satellite or a high definition DVD that has been encoded for HDCP, but the HDMI or DVI cables bringing the signal through are not compatible with HDCP, signal might be downgraded when it is outputted to the screen. For instance, a high definition signal of 1080i will be automatically converted to 480i, so you won’t get the advantages of HD. In some extreme cases, you might not even see a picture at all.

What are the differences between standard DVD and high-definition DVD?

The main differences are:

1. High-definition DVD format can hold more than three times the capacity of traditional DVD format.
2. High-definition DVD format enables movie studios to develop menus and interactive content that can be accessed and used while the movie is playing.
3. High-definition DVD uses HDCP (HDCP High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) and AACS to protect movies from being copied. DVDs use CSS (Content Scramble System).
4. Over twice the display resolution. The following graphics are examples of the difference between the formats:

Figure 1: SDTV display area (25% actual size)

Figure 2: HDTV display area (25% actual size)

How can I view high-definition movies in high-definition?

Viewing commercial (protected) High-Definition Blu-Ray movies from a computer requires six main components:

NOTE:

Requirements for HD DVD also have 6 requirements but demand HD DVD compatibility in place of Blu-Ray compatibility.

• One monitor or HDTV that supports HDCP. Typically, TVs marketed as a High-definition TV support HDCP.
• A disc drive that supports Blu-Ray.
• One HDMI or DVI connection.
• A software movie player that supports Blu-Ray, such as "HP DVD Play BD".
• A Blu-Ray movie disc.
• An Internet connection (for AACS key renewal). Not needed for initial setup and viewing, but required for long-term viewing of high-definition DVD movies.

Once all of these components are connected and turned on, you should adjust the display resolution on the computer to match the best possible HDTV resolution on your display device - preferably 1080p or 1920x1080. If you cannot match the same supported display resolution between devices, find the next closest match using the advance display settings of your computer graphic hardware.

What kind of copy protection is used?

HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) is a copyright protection method to prevent movies from being copied over the audio and video stream. HDCP encrypts content as it passes from the computer to the display (monitor or hdtv). To play High-Definition DVDs over a digital connection, you must view the High-Definition DVD movie on a display that is HDCP-enabled.

In order to protect the movie data from decryption, high-definition DVDs use Advanced Access Content System (AACS) keys. The software player will not be able to play protected content after the AACS keys have expired and been revoked. Renewal of AACS keys is easily done by opening the software used to play the high-definition DVD movies while the computer is connected to the Internet.

Error: The content is protected. The content is not allowed to play in current display mode.

High-definition DVD titles require special graphic cards and drivers. This error happens when the high-definition DVD player software does not recognize a compatible graphics card or driver on your system. This error can also happen when the display device does not support HDCP.

You can work around this error by lowering the display resolution to less than 480p (720x480). To view in high definition, make sure your display device supports HDCP. In some cases, this error may be resolved by updating drivers for your graphics card.

Advanced Access Content System Licensing Administrator, LLC (AACS LA), developer, proprietor and licensor of the Advanced Access Content System (AACS). AACS is an integrated set of technological protection measures that controls access to and prevents unauthorized copying of copyrighted motion pictures embodied on high definition DVDs

What is DVI