Specifications

CD-i FAQ 2000 Edition Revised February 21, 2001
Latest version and more CD-i info: http://www.icdia.org
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1.7 Will any CD-i disc play on any CD-i player?
In general: yes. This is one of the beauties of the CD-i system. Since both disc and playback
device are extensively specified, every CD-i disc is compatible with every CD-i player, in contrast
to a CD-ROM disc, of which you never know wether it will play on your PC-configuration. Look for
the CD-i logo on both disc and player to ensure compatibility. Please note that it is possible for
both software and hardware manufacturers to include additional features which are not part of the
basic CD-i specification. Discs which are designed for these extensions (such as a Digital Video
cartridge, keyboards or modems) will play on standard CD-i players, however they will lack the
additional functionality. At least, they must display a message indicating that additional hardware
is required to play the disc.
1.8 What's a Base Case player and a Base Case disc?
Every CD-i disc or CD-i player which conforms to the minimal demands as set by the Green Book
is called Base Case. This means that a Base Case title plays on every CD-i player, and that a
Base Case player will play only Base Case discs. When a title uses an extension to the standard
specification, such as implementing Digital Video, it is no longer considered a Base Case title,
since it is not ensured that this disc will play on all players. It must however be able to start up
and display a message.
1.9 Does CD-i support Full Screen video?
The basic CD-i specification allows a CD-i player to display full screen animations in 128 colors
over a 16.7 million color background, or play partial screen moving video in a lower framerate in
16.7 million colors, both with accompanying sound. However, these capabilities are extended
when a Digital Video cartridge is placed in the player. In this case, the player is able to display
full-screen, full moving 30 fps video in 16.7 million colors according to the MPEG-1 standard.
Although Digital Video is not a part of CD-i's basic specification, it is generally considered to be a
"must-have" extension to a CD-i player since it adds an enormous audiovisual performance boost
to the system. Digital Video is specified as an optional extension in chapter 9 of the Green Book.
1.10 What disc types can be played on a CD-i player?
In general, a CD-i player only plays discs that incorporate a dedicated application program that
was designed for CD-i's operating system and hardware components. For some disc types, such
as Video-CDs, Photo-CDs and CD-BGM, this CD-i application is a mandatory part of the disc's
specification. This means that in order for a Video-CD to bear the Video-CD logo, it must contain
a CD-i application, and it must be able to be played back on a CD-i player. Next to this, the CD-i
standard requires the player to be able to play back standard CD-Audio discs. Most players
(including all Philips consumer models) are able to display the graphic contents of CD+Graphics
discs, although this is not a requirement of the CD-i standard.
In conclusion, a CD-i player plays CD-Audio, CD-i, CD-BGM, CD-ROM/XA Bridge discs like
Photo-CD and Video-CD, and most of them play CD+Graphics as well. Please refer to section 5
(Disc Types) for more information on the various CD systems that can or cannot be played on
CD-i.
1.11 What are the advantages of CD-i over PC-based interactive systems?
CD-i has various advantages over PC-based interactive systems, of which the most important
are:
• Cost. To build a PC with the same audiovisual performance and functionality, you need at least
to spend double or triple the cost of a CD-i player.