Here is a list of terms that you will see throughout AVS Forum discussions.
This is being discussed here.

AVC/H.264 - MPEG-4 based video compression algorithm. [Wikipedia Entry]

Blu-ray - One of two competing and incompatible optical disc formats that produces high resolution video and audio. The name derives from the usage of the blue-violet laser used to read the discs.

BD - Abbreviation for Blu-ray disc.

BDA - Blu-ray Disc Association. Consortium of corporations supporting the Blu-ray disc format.

BD-25 - single layer Blu-ray disc that can hold 25GB of data.

BD-50 - dual layer Blu-ray disc that can hold 50GB of data.

BD-J - Blu-ray Disc Java. Variant of the Java programming language used for encoding menus and other interactivity elements on Blu-ray discs. Current specification for BD-J stands at 1.0 for basic interactivity. This will improve to the BD-J 1.1 specification in summer 2007 when more features will be incorporated, such as requirements for Picture-in-Picture.

Betamax - video tape standard introduced in 1975 by Sony. This format was considered to have superior quality to the VHS format, but failed due to a number of reasons. Many fear that a format of High Definition disc will go the way of Betamax. [Wikipedia Entry]

Blue Laser - Laser used by HD DVD and Blu-ray. Blue laser uses shorter wavelengths than red lasers which allows it to read discs containing much more information.

Clipping -

Component Video - analog video signal carried over three video cables.



Dolby Digital Plus - (DD+) - lossy codec that might be better then DD.



DRM - Digital Rights Management - This is a blanket term that protects content from being copied.

DTS-HD Master Audio - Lossless audio compression standard for up to 8 channels of sound

DTS-MA/DTS HD-MA - Abbreviation for DTS Master Audio.

DVD Forum - Consortium of corporations representing the older DVD disc format.

Edge Enhancement (EE). A post-production process whereby video footage is sharpened, producing a seemingly crisper image at the cost of artifacting in the form of "halos" around objects with high contrast. Explanation with pictures here.


HDMI - Cable that carries digital audio and video from one device to another.



HDMI 1.3 - [from Wikipedia]

• Increases single-link bandwidth to 340 MHz (10.2 Gbps)
• Supports 30-bit, 36-bit, and 48-bit xvYCC with Deep Color or over one billion colors, up from 24-bit sRGB or YCbCr in previous versions.
• Incorporates automatic audio syncing (lip sync) capability.
• Supports output of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio streams for external decoding by AV receivers.[3] TrueHD and DTS-HD are lossless audio codec formats used on HD DVDs and Blu-ray Discs. If the disc player can decode these streams into uncompressed audio, then HDMI 1.3 is not necessary, as all versions of HDMI can transport uncompressed audio.

HD-DVD - High Definition Digital Video Disc. One of two competing and incompatible optical disc formats that produces high resolution video and audio.

HD-DVD PRG - High Definition Digital Video Disc Promotional Group. Marketing arm of the group of companies supporting the HD-DVD disc format.

iHD (also HDi) - XML-based language used by HD-DVD discs for encoding menus and other interactivity elements.

MPEG-2 - video compression standard used in digital television, DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray video. When compared to MPEG-4, MPEG-2 is a less efficient compression standard. [Wikipedia Entry]

MPEG-4 - video compression standard introduced in 1998. This standard is generally considered to be more efficient than MPEG-2. [Wikipedia Entry]

PCM - uncompressed audio format.

Red Laser - Laser used by DVD, can also be used for red laser HD DVD and BD aka HD DVD-9 and BD-9

TotalHD - Hybrid Blu-ray and HD DVD disc.

TrueHD - Lossless audio compression standard for up to 8 channels of sound. Support is mandatory for HD DVD players, but not Blu-ray players.
[Dolby Labs]

VC-1 - Microsoft's MPEG-4 video compression variant, also known as Windows Media 9.
[Wikipedia Entry]