Play any region-coded DVD

Mar 02, '09 07:30:01AM

Contributed by: mlnoone

Here's one way to make your Mac play most any DVD, regardless of its assigned region coding:

  1. Get an external DVD drive -- the internal drive does not seem to allow region-free viewing!
  2. Install VLC media player.
  3. Create an auto-run AppleScript for VLC. Open Script Editor (Applications » AppleScript » Script Editor), and paste in this code:
    (* LaunchVLCDVD by Mohan Noone, 2009 drmohan@aol.in*)
    
    set diskname to "/dev/rdisk" & ((length of (list disks)) - 1)
    activate application "VLC"
    
    tell application "Finder"
      set frontmost of process "VLC" to true
    end tell
    
    tell application "VLC"
      OpenURL "dvdnav://" & diskname
      fullscreen
      play
      next
    end tell
    Save this filea as, for example, LaunchVLCDVD to the Applications folder (or any other folder).
  4. Change the system's auto-run options. Open System Preferences » CDs & DVDs. From the drop-down menu for When you insert a video DVD select Run script..., and select the saved script you just created.
That's it. To use, just insert a video DVD in the external drive, grab your Apple Remote, sit back, and enjoy your region-free movie.

[robg adds: I haven't tested this one.]

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