√ Support for widescreen movies on standard or widescreen TVs (4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios).

√ Over 2 hours of high-quality digital video (a double-sided, dual-layer disc can hold about 8 hours of high-quality video, or 30 hours of VHS quality video).

√ Up to 8 tracks of digital audio (for multiple languages, commentaries, etc.), each with as many as 8 channels.

√ Up to 32 subtitle/karaoke tracks.

√ Up to 9 camera angles (different viewpoints can be selected during playback).

√ On-screen menus and simple interactive features (for games, quizzes, etc.)

√ Multilingual identifying text for title name, album name, song name, cast, crew, etc.

√ Instant rewind and fast forward (no "be kind, rewind" stickers and threats on rental discs).

√ Instant search to title, chapter, music track, and timecode.

√ Durable (no wear from playing, only from physical damage).

√ Not susceptible to magnetic fields. Resistant to heat.

√ Compact size (easy to handle, store, and ship; players can be portable; replication is cheaper than tapes or laserdiscs).

√ Noncomedogenic.

√ Automatic seamless branching of video (for multiple story lines or ratings on one disc).

Note: Most discs do not contain all features (multiple audio/subtitle tracks, seamless branching, parental control, etc.), as each feature must be specially authored. Some discs may not allow searching or skipping.

Most players support a standard set of features:

√ Language choice (for automatic selection of video scenes, audio tracks, subtitle tracks, and menus).

√ Special effects playback: freeze, step, slow, fast, and scan.

√ Parental lock (for denying playback of discs or scenes with objectionable material).

√ Programmability (playback of selected sections in a desired sequence).

√ Random play and repeat play.

√ Digital audio output (PCM stereo and Dolby Digital).

√ Recognition and output of DTS Digital Surround audio tracks.

√ Playback of audio CDs.

√ Must be supported by additional content on the disc.

 

Some players include additional features:

√ Playback of Video CDs or Super Video CDs.

√ Playback of MP3 CDs.

√ Playback of MP3 DVDs.

√ Playback of video files in other formats such as DivX and MPEG-4.

√ Playback of Picture CDs and Photo CDs.

√ Playback of laserdiscs and CDVs.

√ Component video output (YUV or RGB) for higher quality picture.

√ Progressive-scan component output (YUV or RGB) for highest quality analog picture.

√ Digital video output (SDI, 1394, or DVI/HDMI) for perfect digital picture.

√ Six-channel analog output from internal audio decoder (Dolby Digital, DTS, or MLP).

√ Reverse single frame stepping.

√ Reverse play (normal speed.

√ RF output (for TVs with no direct video input).

√ Multilingual on-screen display.

√ Multiple disc capacity.

√ Digital zoom (2x or 4x enlargement of a section of the picture). This is a player feature, not a DVD disc feature.