The VideoNow is a portable video player produced by Hasbro and released by their subsidiary Tiger Electronics in 2003. The systems use discs called PVDs, which can store about 30 minutes of video, the length of an average TV show with commercials, so each PVD contains only one episode, with trailers at the end to use the leftover time on most PVDs, including Nickelodeon PVDs. Video data is stored on the left audio channel with audio on the right channel, thus making it impossible to achieve stereo sound on the system, which only plays mono. The video plays at about 15 frames per second. Most of the shows were from Nickelodeon, such as SpongeBob SquarePants and The Fairly OddParents, and later they released shows from Cartoon Network, such as Ed, Edd n Eddy and Dexter's Laboratory. A small amount of movies were also released on the system, but due to the limited space on a PVD, said movies would have to be released on at least three discs, depending on the length of said film. Hasbro also produced editing software for creating custom VideoNow Color PVDs called the VideoNow Media Wizard in 2005, which came with blank PVD media. A number of unofficial solutions are available for creating the oddly-formatted VideoNow files, including a plug-in for the popular video processing program Virtual Dub. The files can then be burned to a CD-R using standard CD burning software, and the disc cut down to the required size. As the VideoNow Color does not accept standard 8 cm mini-CDs, some creative users have resorted to cutting down standard 12 cm CD-R discs, though not without problems. Hasbro made recordable PVDs available without the Media Wizard from their online store. However, at least one video has been posted on YouTube showing how VideoNow Color players can be easily modified to accept standard-sized CDs with a bit of cutting and gluing. Full-sized CDs can hold roughly 42 minutes of total video, and play with no difference in the modified player. Because VideoNow uses video discs, and that has very little if any skip protection, it is more prone to skipping if the VideoNow is touched, bumped, or shaken while playing a PVD. The series discontinued in 2007.
Types
VideoNow - The original version. Plays only black and white PVDs, and lacks a backlight, though a light is available to make up for the lack of a backlight. It was made and released in 2003.
VideoNow Color - The second version, the VideoNow Color is a major upgrade. It has, as the name suggests, color. It also has a backlight, fast forward and rewind, and backwards compatibility with the PVDs for the original. It was released in 2004.
VideoNow Jr. - The third version, this time released by Playskool around the same time of the release of the VideoNow Color in 2004. It is a variation of the VideoNow Color and was designed for preschoolers. The PVDs for this system are flexible eliminating the possibility of bending and breaking the discs.
VideoNow XP - The fourth version, made and released in 2005. It plays video in color, backlit, has a larger screen and includes game playing capabilities and controls.
VideoNow Color FX - It is a translucent variation of the VideoNow Color and was released in 2006.
Accessories
VideoNow Light was a light accessory made for the original VideoNow, as it didn't have a backlight or its own. It requires a separate AA battery.
A carrying case was made to store VideoNow and 5 PVDs in. There are 4 types, one each model.
VideoNow-branded headphones were available with a standard 3.5mm audio jack.
VideoNow Media Wizard included basic editing software used to make custom PVDs to play on a Color/fx, XP, and Jr.
VCamNow was a VideoNow-branded camcorder that came with a copy of the Media Wizard.
