| First there were Movie Theaters then came | | | | MPEG-4: this is a standard for a file for |
| Multiplexes and then home cinema arrived. | | | | video and audio, compiled by the "Moving |
| From Betamax through VHS. From VHS onto DVD. | | | | Picture Experts Group" (hence MPEG) and it is |
| And now digital and HDTV! We all know the | | | | their 4th version of the standard. So you can |
| story so far - but may find it confusing! | | | | now download movies in MPEG-4 format - but |
| | | | this can take time as the files are so large! |
| Are you up to date with the latest | | | | |
| developments? Are you new to the Internet and | | | | DivX: developed by DivXNetworks, this is a |
| totally bemused by all the jargon? | | | | file that enables fast movie downloads |
| | | | without losing any picture quality - and DivX |
| Do you know your P2P from your DVD? Do you | | | | is also based on the MPEG-4 video file |
| confuse your MP3 and MPEG4? Have you got your | | | | standard that we mentioned above. |
| codecs and plug-ins set up correctly and not | | | | |
| exceeded your bandwidth? What does it all | | | | Codec: although it sounds mysterious, this is |
| mean and does it matter if all you want to do | | | | a piece of software that enables file |
| is watch some movies? | | | | COmpression and DECompression to transfer it |
| | | | across the internet. |
| The terms get longer, the speed of change is | | | | |
| faster, the confusion increases. Whilst I | | | | MP3: short for "MPEG Audio Layer 3" - from |
| watch a downloadable film on my laptop my | | | | MPEG again. This is for digital audio only, |
| uncle needs to help to program his old VHS | | | | it uses a compression method that means |
| recorder! This speed of change is opening up | | | | smaller file sizes. You lose some |
| a huge gulf between different users and this | | | | information but most people can't hear the |
| gap seems to continue to grow. | | | | reduction in quality. So it's great for music |
| | | | downloading and playing audio on an MP3 |
| You can now easily download movies to watch | | | | player. But this is only for music, not for |
| when you want, with perfect digital quality. | | | | movies. |
| You can even watch them where you want - | | | | |
| perhaps download movies to you ipod or burn | | | | P2P: short for peer to peer. This is one |
| movies to DVD and watch on any laptop or on | | | | popular method of sharing and downloading |
| the TV as normal. | | | | millions of movie and music files. |
| | | | Peer-to-peer is a form of computer network |
| But to do so it helps to learn the new | | | | that does not rely on a server and client, |
| language and if you are interested in joining | | | | but each computer is a peer or equal - great |
| in the movie downloading then some basic | | | | for downloading and sharing home video and |
| knowledge of the essential terminology will | | | | audio content. Even with compressed files it |
| help. | | | | can take time and sharing the load amongst |
| | | | several computers is a clever way to harness |
| So where to start? Let's start with | | | | the power of the internet. |
| something we think we know: | | | | |
| | | | So when you've downloaded the files - how do |
| DVD: "Digital Versatile Disc" or "Digital | | | | you watch them? |
| Video Disc" - these discs look like CDs | | | | |
| (compact discs) but hold more data and are | | | | On Windows PCs these files will usually play |
| now used for storing digital movies. A | | | | without a problem on the standard Windows |
| rewriteable DVD can also be used for storing | | | | Media Player, particularly if you have the |
| your music and computer files. There is no | | | | latest version. |
| space here to explain the difference between | | | | |
| all these permutations - DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R | | | | For Apple Macs QuickTime is both a file |
| and the rest - that would be a separate | | | | format and a player. Designed by Apple |
| article in itself! | | | | Computers QuickTime has been around a while. |
| | | | You can download the player from the Apple |
| Clearly when a movie is downloaded you are | | | | website and you can run it on a windows PC. |
| not downloading an actual DVD! So when you | | | | |
| download a movie what do you actually | | | | Having mentioned Apple it would be difficult |
| download? It is quite simply a computer file | | | | not to mention the iPod. But playing movies |
| - but of course they come in many types! Here | | | | on iPods and other portable players is |
| are the main bits of movie file jargon you | | | | another topic entirely! |
| may come across. | | | | |
| | | | © 2006 WhatMovieDownload. |