About DVD Video Formats: NTSC, PAL, or SECAM
Starting in the 1950s and 1960s, different countries adopted different video broadcasting standards, also called picture standards, known as NTSC, PAL, and SECAM. The picture dimensions and frame rates are different with each format. North America, Japan and Taiwan adopted NTSC, while most of Europe, Australia and New Zealand adopted PAL. France and former French colonies adopted SECAM.
As video technology evolved to VHS videos and later DVDs, the videos and the players were manufactured specifically for one format or another. All HOPS Press, LLC DVDs are all formatted NTSC for North American viewers.
Today's DVD players are typically smarter than old VCR equipment, but they are often limited to reading one format or another. Fortunately, there are two ways to resolve the issue if a DVD player is unable to read a foreign disc.
First, try playing the DVD in a computer. Computers often have the software to read multiple DVD formats. Most of our European customers are able to watch NTSC DVDs on their computers.
If that doesn't work, look online for a code to "hack" your DVD player. Some DVD players are capable of reading multiple formats, they are merely programmed to read one format or another. By entering the correct sequence of numbers into the remote control, it is possible to unlock the DVD player to play multiple formats.
If nothing else works, ask a friend or neighbor to try the DVD in their computer or DVD player.
Countries that use NTSC Format
Antiles, Netherlands, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Burma, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Phillipines, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Surinam, Taiwan, Tobago, Trinidad, United States of America, Venezuala.
Countries that use PAL Format
Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrein, Bangladesh, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Cameroon, China, Denmark, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Liberia, Luxemburg, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Portugal, Qatar, Rumania, Seycheles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uraguay, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Countries that use SECAM Format
Afghanistan, Benin, Bukina Faso, Bulgaria, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Czechoslovakia, Djibouti, Egypt, France, French Guiana, Gabon, Greece, Guadalope, Guinea, Gyprus, Haiti, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Martinique, Maruitius, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Niger, North Korea, Poland, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Syria , Togo, Tunisia, Vietnam, Western Samoa, Zaire.
Hi Thomas,
Your Art of Nothing videos do indeed work fine on a UK computer. These are some of best videos I have seen (I can't think of any better). I also like the cardboard sleeves. I've had so many DVDs arrive in their plastic cases popped out inside and already scratched.
What I love about these videos is that they are more hardcore than Bear Gyrlls' programs make out they are and so beautifully understated. At the time I had been reading threads on Bushcraft UK once called 5 items or less (but food & water don't count). That's the summertime challenge, the winter one is 15 items or less. There was also a thread where a guy was going out with I think just his knife and a cooking pot and people were talking in awe about how hardcore that was.
I'm not a fan of Bear's programs, the first time I watched one I was like Huh? and I had to tell the kids,"This is just a TV program it's not real, Ray Mears is more like reality." So it was so cool to see your videos going further than either and taking the girls and Mel out made it so normal and understated. And from that it ripped through the thinking that going out with so little was somehow really, really difficult or "unachievable." Going out with no knife and making cutting tools was a nice contrast to "your knife is your life."
The only downside on the whole set was the black round frame that appears sometimes on number 4, which was a bit distracting, but not that big a deal. Are you doing any more? And what would you take out in Autumn or Winter?
I also love the whole ethos bits at the end about the Art of Nothing. Living in London and having a fairly chaotic life, I've a bit to go to master that ethos yet.
All the best,
Allen
HOPS Press LLC
