About DVD Application formats

An application format refers to how a DVD has been encoded and can be applied/played. Each application format discussed here is based one of the physical formats described here.

There are three main application formats for DVD's: DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, & DVD-ROM.

DVD-Video. This is definitely the most common application format. DVD-Video is what people usually refer to when they say DVD. It is the type you play and view using your DVD player and TV. When you buy a movie on DVD it is actually a DVD-Video but people just say DVD. DVD-Video is the application format we use for our DVD Slideshow service.

DVD-Audio. This is a relatively new application format that made its debut in 2000. It is used for high-resolution digital audio and can contain up to six discrete audio channels. DVD-Audio is currently not in mainstream use, but the selection of titles in this format is growing.

DVD-ROM. This is the type of DVD that is used primarily for data storage. It is used the same as CD-ROM disc. You need a computer with a CD-ROM drive to play a CD-ROM disc and a computer with a DVD-ROM drive to play a DVD-ROM disc. The difference between a CD-ROM and DVD-ROM is that a DVD-ROM disc can hold roughly 7 times the data; 4.7GB opposed to 700MB.

There are other application formats for DVD but these are the big ones. The most important thing to remember is that DVD-Video is primarily for TV use and DVD-ROM for computer use.