PENGUISSIMO  The point is that once a drive has been flashed with region-free firmware, you then need software to actually change the region of the drive…for example, if a disc will not play on a drive set to "Region Free", then this program can be used to set the drive to the region of that disc. It does what it does quite well and with a simple interface, but please don't confuse this function with the actual flashing of a drive with region-free firmware.  
(Version 1.8)

AN.ONYMOUS  Thank you for clarifying my statement GHLBTSK.

To sum :

- "Region Free" drives are not region free

- It is much easier to rip the movies into region-free movies (whatever the drive's so-called "freedom") than to bother having so-called "free" drives plus a software to make free drives work freely.  
(Version 1.8)

SIR GADABOUT  @AN.ONYMOUS: Here's your mistake:

"What is the use of an application that removes zone dependene only on zone free readers ?"

That's not what this software does. As it says in the description:

"Region X will allow you to change the region Apple DVD Player is set to [and] you will also be able to modify the left changes count."

It doesn't remove Zone Dependence---that's what RPC-1 firmware flashing does. It's a subtle difference, but an important one. It's a complicated subject and I don't claim to understand it fully (though I did read something somewhere that clarified the whole thing). Suffice to say it's all down to the film industry's continuing attempts to control DVD distribution.

EDIT: Here's a helpful link to explain the situation:

http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?t=239  
(Version 1.8)

AN.ONYMOUS  To sum :

1. Do not buy a zone-free reader to overcome the zone limitation of a Mac. It won't work because the Mac has a chip that will keep requiring to respect the zone it is assigned to

2. Do not buy this Region X, because it ONLY WORKS ON ZONE FREE READERS, a machine you would never have bought for the reason explained in point 1.  
(Version 1.8)

SIR GADABOUT  *sigh* Chances are An.Onymous (probably a troll, to be fair) will respond poorly to this reply also, but I'd like to assure anyone who's unsure: using your Mac's drive as a multi-region DVD player is possible and, once properly implemented, simple. Frankly, ignore An.Onymous's summations---he doesn't seem to have the expertise or the knowledge necessary to make them.

1) There's no evidence to suggest buying an RPC-1 drive for your Mac will not allow you to watch DVDs from more than one region. If anything, Region X's existence strongly suggests the opposite---the second-layer of region protection is implemented in software, not a chip.

2) Region X is free.

Also, I accidentally gave An.Onymous's post a smile instead of a frown, so ignore his post's +1 rating. This is my last reply to this thread, simply to avoid being dragged down by a possible troll.  
(Version 1.8)

MACROXX  You can use the program "DVD Info X". It tells you if your DVD drive is region free or not.

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/16366/

.  
(Version 1.2)

MACUPDATE ADMIN  Nice tip, thanks. I just downloaded DVD Info X. I live outside the USA and so I sometimes have region issues.  
(Version 1.2)

ROBERT COOGAN  It's unlikely that a software solution by itself would work since the region encoding is part of the firmware, and not solely software-based. I was originally told that VLC Player would open any DVD, regardless of region, and that turned out to be wrong. That's why Region X works - it taps into the optical drive's firmware and makes the change there.  
(Version 1.3)

TICE  That doesn't work - at least on my PowerBook. The DVD Player still doesn't accept the DVD because of the wrong region code. So FairMount isn't an option.

I use VLC (but used to set my drive regionfree with an older software (which doesn't seem to work after 10.5 anymore).  
(Version 1.5)

TIAGO  If you want to use software A, always open software B first? Seriously? I don't even know or care if that would work... But it feels like a PC solution, not a Mac's...  
(Version 1.5)

TONEHOME  hi, i'm a nubie to this dvd region problem.

this program (Region X)

looks like the way to go.

but i have a very basic question.

my mac just has the standard drive

that came with it..

PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107D

it has the limited region plays...

what do i need to do to enjoy the unlocking benefits of Region X?

many thanks for any help/instruction here!!  
(Version 1.1.3)

DANMARTIN  Try this site and check if they have the script to flash your drive:

http://lasvegas.rpc1.org/  
(Version 1.1.3)

TONEHOME  thanks dan,

haven't had a look yet,

but before i do,

can you explain what 'flashing the drive' actually is?

is it dangerous, as in, could it damage anything?

thanks again!  
(Version 1.1.3)

DANMARTIN  There is the possibility of damage to your equipment. You do it at your own risk. That's why it's so important that you get the right script for your piece of hardware.

As to what flashing is, check this out:

http://www.tech-faq.com/flashing-firmware.shtml  
(Version 1.1.3)

TONEHOME  thanks again,

i've just spent time looking over lots of links that your links led me too.

i understand more about what acually happens with a flash,

but like me, there's lots of posters who are asking for a simple step by step

procedure for this process on their macs.

can you direct me to such simple instruction?

a

many thanks,

tony  
(Version 1.1.3)

DANMARTIN  Try this site out - http://forum.rpc1.org/ - and check the Macintosh Specific Section. Look for your specific

dvd recorder - brand, model and firmware revision.  
(Version 1.1.3)

TONEHOME  thanks,

i had checked that out.

i downloaded the program to suit my model, etc.

what stopped me was the part regarding the firmware.

i'm supposed to put the firmware into the folder and install.

there was no instruction as to

where the firmware is, and how to put the firmware into that folder.

any idea re this?

tony  
(Version 1.1.3)

DANMARTIN  What I downloaded was the script - "program" - that I ran once and it flashed the DVD. I did not have to install it. Please check if what you downloaded is a script. Also, remember that when you run such a program you MUST have your computer plugged into a working outlet and you MUST NOT under any circumstances interrupt the process. And, most important, you're doing it at your own risk so make sure you got the right script.  
(Version 1.1.3)