Scott Andrew Hutchins writes:

>...and discs that squeeze if you don't have a 16x9 TV.

Assuming that the MPEG stream is encoded with an NTSC 16:9 aspect ratio
pixel width (1.2) as distinct from the 4:3 (0.9), then the problem is
almost certainly a software issue with your DVD player.  Some need to be
specifically configured to output a 16:9 frame, letterboxed picture in
4:3.  Others are clever enough to read a code in the relevant IFO file
which tells it to make the appropriate output setting automatically.  But
in the case of players which are not, if their output is set to 'straight'
4:3 mode (as distinct from 16:9 letterboxed to 4:3), it'll blindly assume
that your DVD contains 0.9 pixels and display them accordingly, resulting
in the anamorphic squeeze.

If this problem is happening on a regular basis it might be worth seeing if
a firmware update is available for your player.

Leo

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