Friday, January 29, 2016

Swap Meet DVDs


There was a guy selling DVDs for 50 cents each at the swap meet this past weekend. 50 CENTS!! I bought 10 of um. I bought some action ones for Wendell, some comedy for Landon, I got the movie HOP for Aunty and for me . . . KUNG FU PANDA 2!!!!!  Yee Haaaaaw!!

I had never seen Kung Fu Panda 2, and my nephew told me that he thought that 2 was better than the first one. I was so happy and couldn't wait to watch it.

IMG_0960

BUT this is what happened when I put the disc in our DVD player . . . CANNOT . . .
IMG_0963

PLAY.  Whaaaaa????  I put several of the other discs in the player. Most said the same thing . . . CANNOT  . . . PLAY . . .  Waaaaaaahhh!!
IMG_0964

Then this is what happened when I tried to play it on my computer. 
Screen Shot 2016-01-28 at 4.37.16 PM

I found this info on Wikipedia: The American DVD Copy Control Association requires that DVD player manufacturers incorporate the regional playback control (RPC) system. This allows film distributors to control aspects of release including content, release date and price according to the region.

Usually a configuration flag is set in each player's firmware at the factory. This flag holds the region number that the machine is allowed to play. Many websites exist on the Internet offering unlock codes entered via the remote control, often known informally as hacks.  They provide instructions for different models of standalone DVD players, to hack, and their factory codes. This code simply allows the user to change the factory-set configuration flag to another region, or to the special region "0". Once unlocked this way, the DVD player allows the owner to watch DVDs from any region. 

In most computer drives, users are allowed to change the region code up to five times. If the number of allowances reaches zero, the region last used will be permanent even if the drive is transferred to another computer. 

All I can say is: Bummahs. 

14 comments:

Kalin's Mommy said...

OMG, does the dvd jacket state anything about the region?

jalna said...

In really, really tiny letters on the bottom it does say "exclusively distributed in Singapore and Malaysia". Now I know.

Anonymous said...

j: total bummers...I found out about the codes when my family wanted me to get a Japanese film and you have to use the right code for the U.S. i.e., Japan made dvds don't play on our players unless it specifically says so. -N

Mark Shelby said...

Moral of da story.....carry portable DVD player fo test before you buy.

That's a bummer Jalna! You should go back to the swap meet this weekend and give dat bugga a good slappins on da head with your rubbah slippah! ; )

Honolulu Aunty said...

BIG Bummahs! Good thing was cheap, or would be Terrible Big Bummahs!

K and S said...

yup when we moved to Japan we had to buy a DVD player that could play US DVDs, most players here are set for JPN only...

Anonymous said...

Don Quixote used to have cheap DVD players that played All Regions. Not sure if they still have them.
-L

jalna said...

N, awhile back I did get a Hayao Miyazaki video from the swap meet that didn't play in my player. I just thought that Japan and us didn't have matching players. I didn't know it was da WHOLE WORLD.

Let the buyer beware for sure, Mark.

Yah Aunty. I'm glad it wasn't Terrible Big Bummahs.

It's a good thing I didn't spend more yah, Kat.

Thanks, L. Next time I'm there I'll try check it out.

Mark Shelby said...

OK....I can fix dis!

Go to the airport and find passengers waiting for a flight to Singapore and Malaysia. Then sell them the DVD's for $5.00 bucks each! Have somebody drop you off so no parking fees!

And be sure to take your camera. Take pics all over Honolulu Intl. of peeps, food and things. And use that in your Blog as "A day in the Life of Honolulu Intl. Airport"!

It's a 2 fer!

Fixed! ; ) ....and you made money!

Erick said...

How uncool. You could alway change the time zone to China.

jalna said...

LOL, Mark . . . You and your bright ideas, I tell ya!

Wait what, Erick!? You think if I changed the time zone on my computer it'll trick the DVD? Worth a try! Thanks!

jalna said...

Neva work, Erick.

kawika said...

I have several of these hooked up to all of our TVs since I own alot of non-USA dvds. Amazons prices constantly fluctuates & I wait till it drops before buying. I bought this one recently for only $22. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008PB8XN2?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

jalna said...

Ho so cheap, Kawika! It's $35 now. Still good price to me. Thanks!!!!