This document contains important late-breaking information about Apple DVD Player software. For more information, see Apple DVD Player Help. For the latest information about the Apple DVD Player software and answers to support questions, go to Apple's Support Web site at www.apple.com/support/
The following topics are covered in this document:
- About Apple DVD Player compatibility
- Disabling automatic play
- Optimizing DVD playback
- Using the Apple DVD Player Controller
- Setting parental controls
- Continuing after the FBI warning appears
- Selecting language preferences
- Selecting disc menu options using the keyboard
- About wide-screen titles
- Using the entire screen
- Using external speakers
- Increasing the volume
- Receiving error messages while playing a disc
About Apple DVD Player compatibility
- Apple DVD Player is a software-only DVD player. It is not compatible with the DVD hardware in the Power Macintosh G3, PowerBook G3, and Power Mac G4 (PCI graphics) series computers.
- Apple DVD Player is not compatible with the After Dark sleep function. Do not use the After Dark sleep function while a DVD movie is playing.
- DTS encoded discs are not supported.
Disabling automatic play
Apple DVD Player opens by default when you insert a DVD-Video disc in the DVD drive. If you don't want Apple DVD Player to open automatically when a DVD-Video disc is inserted in the DVD drive, you can use the Extensions Manager to turn off the DVD AutoLauncher extension. To do this, choose Control Panels from the Apple menu, then choose Extensions Manager from the submenu. In the Extensions list, make sure there is no X in the box next to DVD Autolauncher, then click Restart.
Optimizing DVD playback
If the audio or video playback seems to periodically stutter or pause, make sure that you quit all applications other than Apple DVD Player. It is normal for playback to pause when you use other applications and control panels, when you open menus or control strip modules, or if the Finder is busy with a task.
For optimum performance do the following:
- In the Energy Saver control panel, set the system, hard drive, and display to never go to sleep.
- In the AppleTalk control panel, open the Edit menu and select User Mode, then click Advanced. Then click the Options button and set AppleTalk to inactive.
- Disconnect your computer from the network by removing the Ethernet or other networking cable.
- If your computer has Airport, use the Airport application or control strip module to turn off Airport networking.
- Turn off Find by Content indexing. In Sherlock, open the Find menu and choose Index Volumes. Then remove the mark from the Use Schedule checkbox for all of the volumes listed.
Using the Apple DVD Player Controller
While using the Controller, keep in mind the following:
- Some DVD discs do not use all the features available on the Controller.
- You cannot navigate a disc while it is paused.
- Next Chapter, Previous Chapter, Scan Forward, Scan Backward, and the Menu button can only be used while a disc is playing.
- To move the DVD Controller, drag any area of the Controller except a button.
- Some areas of the Controller could sparkle if they are placed over the Viewer window. To prevent this, hide the Controller, move the Controller off the Viewer window, or set the color depth to thousands or millions of colors in the Monitors control panel.
- Some DVD discs contain onscreen navigation menus that respond slowly when you use the arrow keys on your keyboard.
- You cannot eject a DVD disc from the Finder if the Apple DVD Player application is open. To eject the disc, quit Apple DVD Player or click the Eject button on the Controller.
Setting parental controls
- You can set parental controls to any Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating: G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17. To set the parental control preferences, choose Preferences from the Edit menu, then click the Parental Control tab.
- If a DVD disc supports parental control, the disc will not play if its MPAA rating is for a more mature audience than the rating you selected in the Preferences dialog box.
- Not every DVD disc supports parental control. If a disc does not support parental control, it will play regardless of the rating you have selected.
- If you have selected parental control, some DVD discs display a message. You must respond to the onscreen message before the disc will play.
- Some DVD discs do not play unless you set the preference to the MPAA rating of the disc. For example, a disc rated G might not play if you select PG-13 for parental control. To play the disc, set the parental control preference to the rating of the disc.
Continuing after the FBI warning appears
If a disc appears to pause when the FBI warning appears, press the Return or Enter key to continue playing the disc.
Selecting language preferences
- Many DVD discs provide the soundtrack and subtitles in several languages. You can select the default language for the soundtrack and subtitles by choosing Preferences from the Edit menu.
- Your default language preferences for the soundtrack and subtitles become effective when you start playing the disc again or when you quit and open Apple DVD Player again.
- The default language you select might not be available on some discs. Use the disc's interactive menus to select a soundtrack or subtitle language.
Selecting disc menu options using the keyboard
With some DVD discs, you can't choose options in the disc's interactive menus using the mouse. If you cannot use the mouse to make selections in a disc's menus, use the arrow keys on your keyboard to highlight an option, then press the Return or Enter key to select it.
About wide-screen titles
With wide-screen titles, the black bars above and below the image appear even if you choose Fill Screen.
Using the entire screen
To view a movie on the entire screen, choose "Present Video on Screen" from the Video menu.
Using external speakers
- Soundtracks for theatrical release movies are mixed for presentation in theaters, so they have a wide dynamic range. The difference in volume between dialog and sound effects could be extreme. To fully appreciate the soundtrack of these movies, connect external speakers to the sound output port on your computer. For more information, see the documentation that came with your computer and the external speakers.
- You can control the volume of sound from the external speakers using the Controller or the Control Strip.
- If you like, you can also connect stereo headphones to the sound output port on your computer.
- You can listen to the audio on your television or stereo receiver. To do this, connect one end of a standard audio cable (with a stereo miniplug connector) to your computer's sound output port, then connect the other end of the cable to the audio input port(s) on the television or stereo receiver. For more information, see the documentation that came with your computer and television or stereo receiver.
Increasing the volume
To maximize volume while playing a movie, increase both the Controller volume and the Control Strip volume to the highest level. Make sure the Enable Line Mode option in the Preferences window is not selected (there is no checkmark in the checkbox).
Receiving error messages while playing a disc
- DVD discs might have problems caused by scratches, dust, and imperfections in disc manufacture. Differences in disc authoring can also cause errors in disc navigation. If you see an error message when playing a disc or experimenting with the features of a particular DVD disc, remove the disc and make sure the disc is clean and free of scratches.
- A delay is normal when changing to a track on a different layer of a dual-layer disc.