How to make DVD Player region-free? - Page 2

tlarkin · 07-14-2006, 07:43 PM

im sure vlc player can read multiple region dvds, it read my dvd from russia no problem.

bilbo--baggins · 07-15-2006, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tatilsever


	But you might want to know that if your DVD player is not region free, neither VLC, nor MacTheRipper will be able to access the data on the disk in the first place.

Not true. My DVD writer is set to region 2, but I've used both of these programs very successfully with Region 1 discs.

stevebr · 07-15-2006, 11:39 AM

At the risk of running way off topic....

Quote:

Originally Posted by trevor


	... the limitation of watching only movies purchased in a particular country is strictly a technological limitation, not a legal one. ... So if you buy a Japanese DVD player, for example, you are free to watch all the Japanese DVDs you can get with no legal limitation.

How exactly is forcing the consumer to buy another DVD player (and presumably having it shipped internationally) a technological limitation?

The only thing that the system of DVD regional playback has to do with technology is that a technological solution was used to achieve the ends of enforcing region-specific DVD distribution.

I appreciate your enthusiasm, but the problem is not the technology. The problem is the practice of region-specific DVD distribution.

You are right about the law though: The DVD region system is not a legal constraint (and in fact it may violate WTO regulations). It is rather a matter of industry convention. The Wikipedia article is a nice summary with links to more in-depth resources for anyone who is interested.

[edit: fixed bad link]

Las_Vegas · 07-16-2006, 10:11 AM

You can always use another DVD drive externally (Firewire/USB2) to read other regions. Without modification, each drive can have it's own region setting.

teknovision · 07-16-2006, 05:04 PM

Thanks, it does seem as though that could be the only option until someone either finds; 1) a hardware fix (replacement drive mechanism) or 2) software (hardware patch). It just means carrying another device, which although drives no longer necessitate their own carrying bag, not really in the spirit of mobility if you see what I mean.

ThreeDee · 07-16-2006, 10:23 PM

Are you sure VLC doesn't read DVD's? File>Open Disk, not File>Open...

walchan99 · 07-17-2006, 12:41 PM

Don't know if the original poster managed to solve this, but I simply plunged in and used the following firmware flash on my SuperDrive.

http://superdrive.cynikal.net/files/...uj816_XXJ3.dmg

I probably voided my warranty, but it's run trouble-free for 2 1/2 years for me.

voldenuit · 07-17-2006, 12:55 PM

Thanks for confirming the info in post #18 and get ready for a lecture by Carlos how you most certainly didn't void your warranty...

Las_Vegas · 07-17-2006, 08:51 PM

I used the patch on my 12" PB G4 without problems and when Applecare replaced the drive (Who knows why… There was nothing wrong with it!), I used it again on the replacement drive.

My current drive in my MacBook Pro doesn't have a patch and like most Matshita drives, it doesn't work with other regions in VLC. Oh well…

tatilsever · 07-17-2006, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bilbo--baggins


	Not true. My DVD writer is set to region 2, but I've used both of these programs very successfully with Region 1 discs.

If you have an old, RPC1 type of player, VLC is able to use workaround to fool the drive into giving access to the data on the disk. However, there is no way around this limitation for the newer RPC2 players. VLC FAQ and forums has extensive coverage about this issue. Unless you install an RPC1 firmware for your drive, you cannot do anything about this. Well, either that or get an external drive that is region free or set to the right region code.

amac · 07-24-2006, 11:33 PM

Our new imac informs us that it will allow its DVD region setting to changed 4 times before it is fixed forever. We buy DVD's that are for both the Asian region and for Europe (my wife is a language teacher and uses them for work). Does anyone know if it is possible to fix the DVD player for more than one region?

hayne · 07-24-2006, 11:40 PM

amac:
I merged your query with an existing thread on the same topic.
Read the responses above.

trumpet_999 · 07-26-2006, 02:14 AM

i just bought some dvd's off amazon, so they are in region 1 USA, and my mac is in region 4 AUStralia, VLC doesn't work, and obviouly DVD Player doesn't, what a pain...

voldenuit · 07-26-2006, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trumpet_999


	i just bought some dvd's off amazon, so they are in region 1 USA, and my mac is in region 4 AUStralia, VLC doesn't work, and obviouly DVD Player doesn't, what a pain...

Indeed, had you gotten those films off p2p networks, no headaches at all.
Still wondering why the content mafia isn't getting anywhere with all those restrictions ?

lyndonl · 07-26-2006, 02:32 AM

I popped my superdrive region settings a while ago. it was out of warranty so i gave it a go.

What bugs me is that I can buy a DVD player here that is multizone I can buy DVD's from Amazon (its usually cheaper than locally even after shipping and tax) but I can't play it on my Mac or PC (if I had one) because the Region Gestapo says so?

What I do find odd is that I can by a DVD from Amazon but not a game? The Site specifically says that they can not export it out side of the US and Canada and yet a Region 1 DVD can be shipped to a region 2 country no questions asked?

You have to feel for the Apple community here in South Africa our local Apple online store has a grand total of about 60 games
Neverwinter Nights will cost you about $100 USD the average game goes for about $50 USD oh cough cough only about 10 are actually in stock

and as an example there is no price difference between Tiger woods 2003 and 2005 ?

dovale · 10-27-2006, 01:47 PM

Did anyone tried freeing his/her DVD player replay limitations on an Intel iMac?

The following are the details of my super-drive.

MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-846:
Firmware Revision: FB2U
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipped/Supported)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW, +R DL
Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes
Burn Underrun Protection DVD: Yes
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO
Media: No

trumpet_999 · 10-28-2006, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voldenuit


	Indeed, had you gotten those films off p2p networks, no headaches at all. Still wondering why the content mafia isn't getting anywhere with all those restrictions ?

Yep, it comes down to the consumer who in my case has attempted to do the 'right' thing!

I decided to purchase these dvd's off amazon, it's not their fault, but in future why shouldn't i just get them off a bit torrent? its free and it will work...

what a mess, i just think that i've been taken for a ride on the whole situation.

has anyone got any new ideas on what to try next?

teknovision · 10-28-2006, 03:46 AM

Sorry no help here, I agree it is a ridiculous situation. Would really like to know too?

estebanquinn · 01-08-2007, 03:42 PM

does anyone know an external dvd player that would work so that we can use two different regions?

tlarkin · 01-08-2007, 04:07 PM

Has everyone with this problem in this thread tried VLC player? I buy DVDs from Russia, Asia, etc that are different regions because I don't want to wait for the american version to be released. I have probably a good 20 HK kung fu films ordered directly form HK, and they play find in my Pioneer DVDRW drive with VLC player, and then TV out to my TV.

I have also used an app called dvd shrink and ripped these dvds to my HD and then reburned them as region free. I do not know if there is a mac like app out there that does the same things as dvd shrink.

07-16-2006, 10:11 AM	#24
Las_Vegas League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 5,875	You can always use another DVD drive externally (Firewire/USB2) to read other regions. Without modification, each drive can have it's own region setting. __________________ Las_Vegas -- Ts'i mahnu uterna ot twan ot geifur hingts uto. -- Sometimes I wonder… Why is that Frisbee getting Larger? …and then it hits me. -- Disposable thumbs make me specialer than most animals…

07-16-2006, 10:23 PM	#26
ThreeDee Hall of Famer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: USA Posts: 3,418	Are you sure VLC doesn't read DVD's? File>Open Disk, not File>Open... __________________ 15" MacBook Pro (Mid 2010), 2.4 GHz Core i5, 10.6.5, 4GB RAM PowerMac G4 "Quicksilver", 733 MHz, 10.4.11, 1.5GB RAM iPod Touch 5G, 32GB, iOS 6.1.3

07-17-2006, 12:41 PM	#27
walchan99 All Star Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 542	Don't know if the original poster managed to solve this, but I simply plunged in and used the following firmware flash on my SuperDrive. http://superdrive.cynikal.net/files/...uj816_XXJ3.dmg I probably voided my warranty, but it's run trouble-free for 2 1/2 years for me. __________________ •iMac•20"•2.4GHz C2D•4GB•10.8.5 •MacBook Pro 15" 2.4 GHz 10.6.8 •AluBook 15" 1.25 GHz 10.5.8 •Wireless: Time Capsule 1GB/AEBS/AEx •iPhone5 6.12 •iPad2 6.12 •Apple TV 3G 6.1

07-17-2006, 08:51 PM	#29
Las_Vegas League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 5,875	I used the patch on my 12" PB G4 without problems and when Applecare replaced the drive (Who knows why… There was nothing wrong with it!), I used it again on the replacement drive. My current drive in my MacBook Pro doesn't have a patch and like most Matshita drives, it doesn't work with other regions in VLC. Oh well… __________________ Las_Vegas -- Ts'i mahnu uterna ot twan ot geifur hingts uto. -- Sometimes I wonder… Why is that Frisbee getting Larger? …and then it hits me. -- Disposable thumbs make me specialer than most animals…

07-24-2006, 11:33 PM	#31
amac Prospect Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2	iDVD Region Setting Our new imac informs us that it will allow its DVD region setting to changed 4 times before it is fixed forever. We buy DVD's that are for both the Asian region and for Europe (my wife is a language teacher and uses them for work). Does anyone know if it is possible to fix the DVD player for more than one region?

07-14-2006, 07:43 PM	#21
tlarkin League Commissioner Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 11,352	im sure vlc player can read multiple region dvds, it read my dvd from russia no problem.

07-16-2006, 05:04 PM	#25
teknovision Triple-A Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 149	Thanks, it does seem as though that could be the only option until someone either finds; 1) a hardware fix (replacement drive mechanism) or 2) software (hardware patch). It just means carrying another device, which although drives no longer necessitate their own carrying bag, not really in the spirit of mobility if you see what I mean.

07-17-2006, 12:55 PM	#28
voldenuit League Commissioner Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Old Europe Posts: 5,146	Thanks for confirming the info in post #18 and get ready for a lecture by Carlos how you most certainly didn't void your warranty...

07-24-2006, 11:40 PM	#32
hayne Site Admin Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 32,473	amac: I merged your query with an existing thread on the same topic. Read the responses above. __________________ hayne.net/macosx.html

07-26-2006, 02:14 AM	#33
trumpet_999 Major Leaguer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 472	i just bought some dvd's off amazon, so they are in region 1 USA, and my mac is in region 4 AUStralia, VLC doesn't work, and obviouly DVD Player doesn't, what a pain...

07-26-2006, 02:32 AM	#35
lyndonl Major Leaguer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Johannesburg South Africa Posts: 259	I popped my superdrive region settings a while ago. it was out of warranty so i gave it a go. What bugs me is that I can buy a DVD player here that is multizone I can buy DVD's from Amazon (its usually cheaper than locally even after shipping and tax) but I can't play it on my Mac or PC (if I had one) because the Region Gestapo says so? What I do find odd is that I can by a DVD from Amazon but not a game? The Site specifically says that they can not export it out side of the US and Canada and yet a Region 1 DVD can be shipped to a region 2 country no questions asked? You have to feel for the Apple community here in South Africa our local Apple online store has a grand total of about 60 games Neverwinter Nights will cost you about $100 USD the average game goes for about $50 USD oh cough cough only about 10 are actually in stock and as an example there is no price difference between Tiger woods 2003 and 2005 ? __________________ Damn I love www.macosxhints.com my how-to site related to Apple Unix and Cisco My photography site

10-27-2006, 01:47 PM	#36
dovale Triple-A Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 68	freeing DVD player on an Intel iMac Did anyone tried freeing his/her DVD player replay limitations on an Intel iMac? The following are the details of my super-drive. MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-846: Firmware Revision: FB2U Interconnect: ATAPI Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipped/Supported) Cache: 2048 KB Reads DVD: Yes CD-Write: -R, -RW DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW, +R DL Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes Burn Underrun Protection DVD: Yes Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO Media: No

10-28-2006, 03:46 AM	#38
teknovision Triple-A Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 149	Sorry no help here, I agree it is a ridiculous situation. Would really like to know too?

01-08-2007, 03:42 PM	#39
estebanquinn Prospect Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2	external dvd player does anyone know an external dvd player that would work so that we can use two different regions?

01-08-2007, 04:07 PM	#40
tlarkin League Commissioner Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 11,352	Has everyone with this problem in this thread tried VLC player? I buy DVDs from Russia, Asia, etc that are different regions because I don't want to wait for the american version to be released. I have probably a good 20 HK kung fu films ordered directly form HK, and they play find in my Pioneer DVDRW drive with VLC player, and then TV out to my TV. I have also used an app called dvd shrink and ripped these dvds to my HD and then reburned them as region free. I do not know if there is a mac like app out there that does the same things as dvd shrink.