viewing videos/movies from external disks

[chscag]

Learned of "hidden" app from OWC article Oct. 21 - Catalina Quick Tip: How to Find and Open DVD Player - and tried it on Mojave, which did not have a DVD player.

Don't know which Mojave you have, but Mojave most certainly has a DVD player included.

As Jake pointed out above: (Same for Mojave)

It does not show in Applications in at least Catalina, but it is in /System/Library/Core Services/Applications. Note that it is NOT in Applications, but under Core Services. Apparently it activates when you insert a playable DVD. Nice to know it's there. Wish it wasn't hidden.

And as Bob pointed out:

It is there if you have the optical drive connected.

Hope all this helps....

PS: We moved your post to the correct forum. The subject is not a Lounge topic.

 

[MacInWin]

I tried to post but Charlie must have been moving it when I posted.

The application DVD player does NOT appear in ~/Applications with a DVD drive attached. I just tested it. It does auto-launch when you insert a playable DVD, but it doesn't appear in the normal Applications folder.

 

[krs]

I tried to post but Charlie must have been moving it when I posted.

The application DVD player does NOT appear in ~/Applications with a DVD drive attached. I just tested it. It does auto-launch when you insert a playable DVD, but it doesn't appear in the normal Applications folder.

I'm getting a bit confused - which OS are you talking about?

In ElCapitan DVD Player shows in Applications on a Mini with no DVD drive attached.
Seems Apple keeps changing things unnecessarily from OS to OS

 

[chscag]

It does auto-launch when you insert a playable DVD, but it doesn't appear in the normal Applications folder.

Jake:

I believe that's what Bob meant. At least that's what I thought too.

The first time I played a DVD set in Mojave I was surprised that iDVD did not open and show its settings; instead the new DVD player opened. Not quite as easy to adjust as iDVD but after getting used to it, it's okay. I really do not like it opening in full screen mode.

 

[chscag]

I'm getting a bit confused - which OS are you talking about?

Speaking about Mojave. The newer DVD player will open instead of iDVD. It appears that Mojave does away with iDVD by removing it and replacing it with the newer player.

Of course you can still choose to use VLC and in fact make it the default.

 

[krs]

Speaking about Mojave. The newer DVD player will open instead of iDVD. It appears that Mojave does away with iDVD by removing it and replacing it with the newer player.

"Newer" DVD Player?
Is that now the same as the "DVD PLayer" in ElCapitan that I see in Applications or a different one?

 

[chscag]

"Newer" DVD Player?
Is that now the same as the "DVD PLayer" in ElCapitan that I see in Applications or a different one?

All I know is that the current DVD player that's included with Mojave is not listed in Applications. (See above - Jake's reply)

As for the original DVD player included with El Capitan and on up until High Sierra, it has been replaced by the newer player in Mojave.

 

[krs]

Thanks,
I have to remember that since Mojave is probably the next OS I'm going to move all the Mac in the family to.

 

[pm-r]

Following the advice of Jake & Sly, where would I find the CD/DVD pane as it's not in System Preferences on macOS Mojave?

Ian

That's when you want to break out and use FAF ~ Find Any File.app Ian.



- Patrick
======

 

[MacInWin]

No need to FAF about, Patrick. Just read post #10 of this thread.

 

[Jeffers221]

Where did you find it?

What "hidden" DVD app are you talking about?

EDIT: Never mind, I found it. Well hidden!

I have a brand new iMac 27 with Catalina. Where is this hidden DVD player and I can't get my iMac to recognize my external DVD/RW.

Any suggestions?

 

[IWT]

I have a brand new iMac 27 with Catalina. Where is this hidden DVD player and I can't get my iMac to recognize my external DVD/RW.

Any suggestions?

Strictly speaking, you don’t need to in the sense that as soon as you insert a DVD, the DVD player automatically kicks in.

But if you’re interested, see post #10.

Ian

 

[MacInWin]

I have a brand new iMac 27 with Catalina. Where is this hidden DVD player and I can't get my iMac to recognize my external DVD/RW.

Any suggestions?

Technically, the OS doesn't recognize the hardware, it recognizes a disk IN the hardware. So the device won't show anywhere unless there is a disk in it.

 

[Jeffers221]

I have an iMac 27 (2019 version with Catalina) and although I find the DVD player, I'm not finding my external DVD/RW so I can burn DVDs. It is plugged in through USB port, but the iMac is not recognizing it. I need to do more that just watch DVDs.

 

[MacInWin]

The OS doesn't recognize the drive until there is a disc in the drive. Have you put a blank in the drive to see if the OS sees the disc?

 

[ferrarr]

Look in Finder > Preferences, and make sure it is set up to display those items on the Desktop or the Sidebar, for your convenience.

 

[Jeffers221]

Thanks Jake that did work. However, the DVD player is only playing certain DVDs, all of them commerically bought

 

[krs]

Thanks Jake that did work. However, the DVD player is only playing certain DVDs, all of them commerically bought

Defective DVD's or regional DVD controls come to mind.

For the ones that do not play - does the DVD show up on the desktop?

 

[pm-r]

Defective DVD's or regional DVD controls come to mind.

The latter is a good possibility, but do the nonworking DVDs give any indication of what country or area they are eligible to be used him or something??? Like tiny small legal print that one can only read after they have made the purchase of the DVD!!!


Plus, what make and model is the external DVD/RW and is it Mac compatible for burning and what Apps have been tried so it can burn DVDs??? Plus the added need of Catalina compatibility, which is bound to mess up any such compatibility until such drivers are made available. After all Apple doesn't seem to think that optical drives are of any use for most users, hence they just removed the drives and most supporting software many years ago.

Anyway, it will be very interesting to find out what the possible solution is for the OP's question.

EDIT: Maybe checkout some of the hits with a google search on 'mac burning DVD in external drive in Catalina':
mac burning DVD in external drive in Catalina - Google Search

Some possibilities:
Burn ISO to DVD in macos 10.15 Catalina - Apple Community

How to Find and Open DVD Player in macOS Catalina



- Patrick
======

 

[chscag]

The built in DVD player that's available in Mojave and Catalina will only play commercial DVDs recorded and marked as Region 1. Unless his commercial DVDs were purchased outside of the US or Canada, they would be set to Region 1.

There used to be a Region Free player available in Windows years ago which would play a DVD from anywhere in the world. I'm not sure if anything like that even exists for the Mac.