| Haven't movies changed in 100 years? First | | | | actually download? It is quite simply a |
| silent films with a man playing music live, | | | | computer file - but of course they come in |
| then the 'talkies' and then color movies. | | | | many types! Here are the main bits of movie |
| Movies have been delivered to us differently | | | | file jargon that you may come across. |
| over time too, movie theaters, drive in | | | | |
| movies, then Multiplexes and then home cinema | | | | MPEG-4: this is a standard for a file for |
| arrived. Then it got complicated. From | | | | video and audio, compiled by the "Moving |
| Betamax through VHS. From VHS onto DVD. And | | | | Picture Experts Group" (hence MPEG) and it is |
| now digital and HDTV! We all know the story | | | | their 4th version of the standard. So you can |
| 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! |
| But are you up to date with the latest? Are | | | | |
| you new to the Internet and totally bemused | | | | DivX: created by DivXNetworks, this is a file |
| by all the jargon? Have you got an ipod or | | | | that enables fast movie downloads without |
| PSP and don't know what to do with it? | | | | losing any picture quality - and DivX is also |
| | | | based on the MPEG4 file standard that we |
| Do you know your P2P from your DVD? Do you | | | | mentioned above. |
| confuse your MP3 and MPEG-4? Have you got | | | | |
| your codecs and plug-ins set up correctly and | | | | Codec: although it sounds mysterious, this is |
| not exceeded your download quota or | | | | a piece of software that enables file |
| bandwidth? What does it all mean and does it | | | | COmpression and DECompression to transfer it |
| matter if all you want to do is watch some | | | | across the internet. |
| movies? | | | | |
| | | | MP3: short for "MPEG Audio Layer 3" - from |
| The terms get longer, the speed of change is | | | | MPEG again. This is for digital audio only, |
| faster, confusion increases. Whilst I watch a | | | | it uses a compression method that means |
| downloaded film on my laptop my uncle needs | | | | smaller file sizes. You lose some information |
| to help to program his old VHS recorder! This | | | | but most people can't hear the reduction in |
| speed of change is opening up a huge gulf | | | | quality. So it's great for music downloading |
| between different users and this gap seems to | | | | and playing audio on an MP3 player. But this |
| continue to grow. | | | | is only for music, not for movies. |
| | | | |
| You can now easily download movies and films | | | | P2P: short for peer to peer. This is a method |
| to watch when you want, with perfect digital | | | | of sharing and downloading billions of movie |
| quality. You can even watch them where you | | | | and music files. Peer-to-peer is simply a |
| want - perhaps download some movies to you | | | | form of computer network that does not rely |
| ipod or burn films to DVD and watch on any | | | | on a server and client, but each computer is |
| laptop or on the TV as normal. | | | | connected to several others - great for |
| | | | downloading and sharing home video and audio |
| But to do so it helps to learn the new | | | | content between them. Even when files are |
| language and if you are interested in joining | | | | compressed it can take time and sharing the |
| in the movie downloading revolution then some | | | | load amongst several computers is a great way |
| basic knowledge of the essential terminology | | | | to harness the power of the internet. |
| will help. | | | | |
| | | | So when you've downloaded movie files - how |
| So where to start? Let's start with something | | | | do you watch them? |
| we think we know: | | | | |
| | | | On Windows PCs these files will usually play |
| DVD: "Digital Versatile Disc" or "Digital | | | | without a problem on the standard Windows |
| Video Disc" - these discs look like CDs | | | | Media Player, particularly if you have the |
| (compact discs) but hold more data and are | | | | latest version. |
| now used for storing digital movies. A DVD | | | | |
| can be used for storing your music and | | | | For Macs, QuickTime is both a file format and |
| computer files if it is rewriteable. There is | | | | a player. QuickTime has been around a while. |
| no space here to explain the difference | | | | You can download the player from the Apple |
| between all these permutations - DVD-R, | | | | website and you can run it on a windows PC. |
| DVD-RW, DVD+R and the rest - that would be a | | | | |
| separate article in itself! | | | | The next step is to get all these movies on |
| | | | your PSP, iPod or Zune - but that's for |
| So when a movie is downloaded what do you | | | | another article! |