Re: Big purple digit

Paul Dormer <prd@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Because most discs use anamorphic widescreen.  It's the ones using
> letterbox you seem to have the trouble with.  The player really
> ought to have a way a playing these, and if it doesn't, then it's
> a fault with the player.

Whoever's fault it is, I've looked carefully at the fine print on
my DVDs that do and do not play correctly.  From what I've seen,
"letterbox" is always bad, and "anamorphic," "enhanced," and "matted"
are always good.  Unfortunately, most discs have none of those words.
A few have both "letterbox" and one of the good words.

> This does not seem to carry the signal that tells the TV what format
> the disc is in, and I have to adjust the set manually.

I don't mind having to make manual adjustments.  I do mind not being
able to make an adjustment, unless the device *always* gets it right.

> My satellite receiver is connected to the TV directly through a
> SCART socket.  This does detect the difference between 4:3 and
> anamorphic widescreen.  I have to manually adjust for those channels
> showing in letterbox.

I've noticed lots of places, including video stores and museums, play
4:3 material on a 16:9 screen by stretching everything horizontally.
Am I the only one who is bothered by such a gross misadjustment?
-- 
Keith F. Lynch - http://keithlynch.net/
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