Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 9th Jan 2007 14:40 UTC, submitted by archiesteel
Windows Microsoft has been forced to acknowledge that a substantial number of PCs running the new version of its Windows operating system will not be able to play high-quality DVDs. The Vista system will be available to consumers at the end of the month. However, in an interview with The Times, one of its chief architects said that because of anti-piracy protection granted to the Hollywood studios, Vista would not play HD-DVD and Blu-ray Discs on certain PCs.
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This is not news
by Alleister on Tue 9th Jan 2007 15:16 UTC
Alleister
Member since:
2006-05-29

It is basically not a problem with those PCs it is a problem with the choice of Graphics Card and Monitor.

It is the same with any HD-DVD or BlueRay Player/Monitor/System not only with computers and it is known since the beginning.

"HD Televisions" won't work either without an drm protected channel. Some "HD Ready" displays sold are already incompatible.

It is the fault of the content mafia. Macs will suffer from the same problem once they have HD-DVD/BlueRay options. Linux most likely will be left out all together.

Someone should crack this drm crap, but from what i have read about it, it will be much harder this time (yes, i'm aware about muslix64, but his solution is not a final one).

RE: This is not news
by orestes on Tue 9th Jan 2007 15:22 in reply to "This is not news"
orestes Member since:
2005-07-06

It'd probably be better in the long run if they didn't crack it.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

RE[2]: This is not news
by mcmv200i on Tue 9th Jan 2007 16:16 in reply to "RE: This is not news"
mcmv200i Member since:
2006-12-14

It'd probably be better in the long run if they didn't crack it.

Why? I am happy this DVD CSS encryption system has been cracked. For 2 reasons:

1. I want to be able to watch legally bought DVDs on my Linux machine.

2. I hate this region code thing. I want to be free to watch DVDs from amazon.com as well as DVDs from amazon.co.uk and amazon.de.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 5

RE: This is not news
by archiesteel on Tue 9th Jan 2007 15:25 in reply to "This is not news"
archiesteel Member since:
2005-07-02

It is the same with any HD-DVD or BlueRay Player/Monitor/System not only with computers and it is known since the beginning.

The news is that MS previously said that Blu-Ray/HD-DVD would play on *all* Vista PCs. Also, it's not the hardware that's responsible...it's Vista that shuts out the signal if the PC doesn't have HDCP.

MS could have used its monopoly position to do good this time, by lobbying against the DRM Mafia's efforts, but it didn't.

"Dave Marsh, the lead program manager for video at Microsoft, said that if the PC used a digital connection to link with the monitor or television, then it would require the highest level of content protection, known as HDCP, to play the discs. If it did not have such protection, Vista would shut down the signal, he said."

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 4

RE[2]: This is not news
by n4cer on Tue 9th Jan 2007 19:44 in reply to "RE: This is not news"
n4cer Member since:
2005-07-06

The news is that MS previously said that Blu-Ray/HD-DVD would play on *all* Vista PCs.

Please provide evidence of this as I guarantee you they never said this.

Also, it's not the hardware that's responsible...it's Vista that shuts out the signal if the PC doesn't have HDCP.

Vista acts on behalf of applications checking whether necessary conditions are met to display their content. It has no direct say in whether or not content is output.

MS could have used its monopoly position to do good this time, by lobbying against the DRM Mafia's efforts, but it didn't.

A fight they would lose given the exact same protections are mandated in the standards and provided on standalone devices. The choice is to participate in the ecosystem and have content on the PC or not and be shut out like the situation with SACD.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

RE: This is not news
by setuid_w00t on Tue 9th Jan 2007 19:28 in reply to "This is not news"
setuid_w00t Member since:
2005-10-22

It is basically not a problem with those PCs it is a problem with the choice of Graphics Card and Monitor.

Wrong
DRM that requires special hardware is the problem.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2