The Clicker: Microsoft's OPM for the masses
by Peter Rojas 
posted Jul 14th 2005 at 7:16PM
A lifetime of computing has taught me one thing: shortly after a new operating system hits the shelves, I end up
upgrading my computer.
Oh sure… I do my best to limp along with the "antiquated" hardware. After all, my computer is always well within the
minimum specs. However, despite my best efforts, the story always unfolds the same way: I begin to crave the speed. I
drool over the new features. I want the latest and greatest. In short, I fold like a cheap suit, and I upgrade.
The one bright spot in the upgrade process has always been the monitor. Like the North Star, the monitor is always
there to ease the transition. I look to it for comfort, and it stares back at me as if to say, "It's OK, Buddy; I'm
here for you. You'll always have me." Sure, monitors can get a bit dated (think dirty beige 14-inch CRT), but
when have you had to upgrade your monitor to avoid functional problems in the new OS?
That all changes with Longhorn.
Why? With Longhorn, Microsoft
will begin pushing opium. Well, technically its OPM. However, opium might be a good option for those livid that the
video content being sent to their pristine 24-inch Dell LCD monitors is purposefully being fuzzied (more on that
later).
So what is OPM? The successor to Microsofts rarely-mentioned COPP (Certified Output Protection Protocol), PVP-OPM
(Protected Video Path Output Protection Management) is the first play in Microsofts game plan to ensure that
protected content stays protected. PVP-OPM performs two main functions. First, it detects the capabilities of the
display devices attached to the computer. For instance, does the DVI LCD monitor that youre using have HDCP
(High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection)? Second, it manages what, if anything, gets sent to those devices.
If youre one of those rare people whose display is equipped with HDCP, youre fine. However, in the world of
computers, those users are few and far between. While HDCP has become the de facto standard for display copy-protection
in televisions, its penetration in the computer display market would be pleased to merely be called
anemic. Whether youre plunking down money for one of the new ultra-fast LCD displays with 4ms response times or youre
becoming the envy of neighborhood with
Dells UltraSharp 2405FPW
widescreen display, youre buying a monitor that wont play nice with premium content in Longhorn.
So what will happen when you try to play premium content on your incompatible monitor? If youre lucky, the content
will go through a resolution constrictor. The purpose of this constrictor is to down-sample high-resolution content to
below a certain number of pixels. The newly down-sampled content is then blown back up to match the resolution of your
monitor. This is much like when you shrink a JPEG and then zoom into it. Much of the clarity is lost. The result is a
picture far fuzzier than it need be.
Thats LUCKY?
It sure is when the alternative is a black screen. If OPM determines that your monitor falls below the security
restrictions (i.e. isnt DVI or HDMI w/HDCP), you could be greeted with a polite message explaining that [your
monitor] doesnt meet security requirements.
Who determines when you get the restrictor and when you get the black screen? You guessed it: the content owner
does.
But I use VGA with my monitor, you say. Too bad. Unless you upgrade your monitor, you too will be hoping your
content provider opted for the blurry-but-visible protection mechanism.
Microsoft is quick to point out that many content providers have agreed to not totally block all analog displays.
Instead they have agreed to compromise and allow the constricted (down-sampled) versions to pass through. Still this
is a far cry from enjoying the unmolested goodness of hi-def content.
To be fair its not just Microsoft. The next generation of digital content will, by and large, be protected to the
display. Recently Toshiba released their HD-DVD specifications and have dictated HDMI/HDCP as a display requirement for
playing back high-definition content. Most expect Blu-ray to have similar restrictions.
What makes the PC situation so insidious is that nearly every monitor being sold today will fall victim to this
gotcha. Blame whomever you like (the monitor manufacturers should shoulder their portion of the blame too), just be
careful when buying a monitor these days. Or at least know that you could be setting yourself up for
disappointment.
If have comments or suggestions for future columns, drop me a line at theclicker@theevilempire.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
some dude @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
Will Apple follow suit?
Rolonation @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
Or you can just buy an Apple and tell Microsoft to go pound sand.
sdfasf @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
I like #1's idea.
Timmah! @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
That sucks! I'm sure it'll only be aproblem for the first few days until someone comes along and cracks it.
@#1, I'd much rather not have a computer at all than a certain fruit branded calculator.
btw good article.
Gavin S @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
So if th PS3 uses Blu-ray, does that mean that my TV won't work as a display for it? After shelling out, what's it supposed to be? $300 for a game system, er, entertainment system. I don't want to have to upgrae my TV as well.
7of7 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
This is horrible. I understand why Microsoft would want to do it and I think it's great for them. However, it virtually ensures that my nice new Inspiron 9300 will never have Longhorn.
Morwan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
I'm guessing that within two months, someone will release a hack that'll disable this 'feature', just as people have created region-free programs.
Evan @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
Im so glad i can look forward to this fantastic tomorrowland, Thank god for OSX. This is just microsoft's way to promote some new standard they will release soon that plays at full quality, but the display maker has to pay a $10 fee to get to use it. mark my word.
jc @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
hello consumer, please bend over... oh and by the way, we hope you are comfortable, cause you are going to be in that position for a long time.
Cullen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
yeah. if this is the case, and not jsut scary stuff, it will do three thing:
a) get haxored within 15 minutes of hitting the market and become meaningless
b)not get installed on any of my computers
c)put a big 'apple store' charge on my cc
strider_mt2k @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
Dear Microsoft,
CONTENT DELETED PREEMPTIVELY BY POSTER
GunForHire @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
As #6 said, someone will release a hack for this pretty quick. But that's not the point - why should consumers have to pick up the tab and fork out another 200 or more for a new monitor just because MS and some fat cat execs think that everyone is out to steal their beloved content?
This is a terrible, terrible idea that going to get a lot of backlash I think. Either way, I'll be waiting for at least 3-6 months after Longhorn comes out before I upgrade. That way hopefully most of the inevitable security holes will be sorted and someone will have hacked this BS.
SideSwipe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
I understand using DRM for copy protection, but seriously, an output device such as a monitor? You've GOT to be kidding me. Sounds like a money grab somehow.
xVariable @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
LOL Ah well :-) ...
It will certainly be interesting to see where this all goes. I know one thing - in the short term, at least, people will NOT be replacing their PC or home theatre equiptment just so they can utilize a product they can easily do without (argueably, their lives be signifigantly *improved* were they to not access most of what the Entertainment industry has to offer). Could we be witnessing the beginning of the end of popular culture as we know it (and no, the 90s alternativization of pop culture wasn't)?
In the short-term, people will go to increasingly extraordinry measures to bypass this garbage. We're talkng people that can afford all the content they could ever want. Eventually, when the hardware is in place to, from end-end, make unauthorized copying virtually impossible (and the requisite laws have been passed to enforce this corporate psychopathy), people will begin to withdraw. They'll stop buying the content (and likely products and services in general if they can help it), the hardware (they'll have long snce walked away from MS). Shortly thereafter we'll see a social collapse, and the people responsible will be hauled in front of the people and ripped to pieces on live TV, to the cheers of hundreds of millions.
Make it so.
whatever @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
For those saying something about switching to Macs and OSX, think about this: Jobs works for the movie industry and is very much concerned about DRM. Although OSX doesn't currently have anything like this, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if a future version of their OS does.
I don't think this is going to hurt MS so much... not many people are going to upgrade anyway. They are having a really hard time as it is getting people to switch from win2k to XP Pro, and from what I hear Longhorn isn't a big step up from XP. The people with compelling reasons for switching are new PC buyers who might not notice anyway and will probably get a new monitor with their PC, and possibly fanboys who don't mind plunking down for new hardware. My company is just now starting the switch to XP, and only on new hardware and only because MS is stopping support of win2k.
Matt Selnekovic @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
Apple will be doing this as well, or they won't be able to display the high def content of tomorrow... so none of the "OMFG M$FT sux0rz APPLE RULEZ!"
Lets face it, content providers are dictating to the OS people (and hardware people) the terms of which their content can be used... its not Microsoft's fault, really.
mrmurdstone @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
What a bunch of jerks...we cut funding to our schools and people go hungry every day in this country and the entertainment industry expects us to feel their pain because record sales are down and hollywood's profits are not going up?
Screw 'em all.
lordhelmut @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
By the time longhorn ships ... all Televisions as we know them will be mandated to have this capability for digital television signals. Why not monitors? I would think that the manufacturers would have a simple dongle that might do the trick too.
Roopesh Sheth @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
I disagree that it'll be cracked - though I hope you're right. Anyone seen a crack floating around for MS DRM 9 or 10? Didn't think so...
faciom @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
Answering to Matt...
... he's probably right when he says that Apple will eventually have to align with the content provider specification, but the point is that Microsoft solution -- and most likely implementation -- to the problem is going to be an aweful experience for the end user. Apple is renewed for they ability to find solution -- read also as promote restrictions -- that has minimal negative impact on the user experience which, in fact, Apple tends to prioritize and maximize as much as they can.
By the way, apple is slowly intorducing hi-rez video at:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/hdgallery/
Wes Felter @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
#16: The dongle exists, but it is illegal.
sine~language @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
But isn't this only going to affect media that is deemed to be protected by the content provider? Yes, Microsoft is enabling it, but it will be interesting to see which 'content providers' will jump onboard. And as far as I can see, Longhorn won't be void if you aren't using the right monitor, only certain media will. Bootleg media will almost always exist, as once people get the taste of 'Free' entertainment, they can't justify to themselves to pay for it. As with all new technology comes new loopholes and workarounds.
Snappy! @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
ok, let's hope the linux camp don't let us down on this one. Me thinks M$$$ is shooting itself in its foot ... again!
Are they next going to ask everyone to replace our eyeballs with DRM enabled CCDs such that if we dun pay a fee, we will go blind? *shiver*
WindowsXP is going to be like Win98 ... good enough to do what we want and no one is going to bother to upgrade ... that is until the content folks wake up their idea!
Snappy! @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
ok, let's hope the linux camp don't let us down on this one. Me thinks M$$$ is shooting itself in its foot ... again!
Are they next going to ask everyone to replace our eyeballs with DRM enabled CCDs such that if we dun pay a fee, we will go blind? *shiver*
WindowsXP is going to be like Win98 ... good enough to do what we want and no one is going to bother to upgrade ... that is until the content folks wake up their idea!
Joe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
The only way we can stop the movement of DRM and everything else is to not give them our money. $!$! Consumers still have control, it's the dollar, don't forget that.
Everything else that we say and do will have no effect until they are not making their projected profits. I'm sitting in front of a 27" LCD, if I can't use it with longhorn, I will not upgrade until absolutely necessary.
tennis guy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
My thoughts:
1. To those who say this will be cracked in no time, anyone attempting to do so will be risking prosecution under the DMCA, which carries pretty stiff penalties these days.
2. I predict that people will reject this new restrictive hardware, and stay with open systems, even if it means not getting the optimum resolution. DVD resolution is more than adequate today. It's like super audio CD or DVD-audio. These "enhancements" are meaningless to the average user, and it's not worth having all your content locked down just to have slightly better resolution.
.
.
evo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
First, realize that the video card has to output HDCP--which none (or next to none) of them do in the current generation. Even the latest and greatest cards don't have this, so we're looking at least another card generation ahead. The installed base is predominantly 1 or 2 generations behind; just think of the huge number of people with Radeon 9800s. I doubt the economics will be there to justify crippling content, for the same reasons that CD publishers don't generally employ copy protection.
Second, even if all this scary stuff were to come to pass, all that would result would be a flourishing market of in-line black boxes that take HDCP on one side and spit out a free-and-clear signal on the other side. The Chinese will be pumping these babies out like hotcakes; they might be hard to find in, say, BestBuy, but they'll be as easy to obtain as a region-free DVD player. Although some might argue that they are illegal under DMCA as a copyright-cirumvention device, it would be equally possible to argue that the monitor itself is such a device--after all, the only difference is the length of the wires that connect the protected signal to the pixels.
Jim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
I guess I am missing something, but I don't understand who is really benfitting here. It says the standard is to protect content, but what does your hardware do to solve that. Once everyone has a new monitor it seems like we are right back where we are now. Also why would the content providers want to make users see fuzzy images. I know that I am not interested in watching anything in less than HD by now. It seems like they are cutting off their best customers (Audio/videophiles). Maybe someone can explain why they are doing this.
LOL at @#4 If OS X is a calculator then XP is an abacus.
tim @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
Do content providers really think we are going to pay for something that requires all this restricted hardware? I just don't see it. The first time people pay for content and then can't watch it on their existing PC, that's the last time they will be paying for content. Content providers have their heads up their arses if they think people will pay for content they can't use. Maybe if it was free...
I don't think people outside the US give a rats ass about DMCA, so someone, somewhere int he world will crack this.
MS is just caving to what content providers want. However they may find that consumers are resistant. MS sucks for compatibility anyway, then adding more content protection hassles which have absolutely no benefit for the consumer. Maybe if they give Longhorn away...
Kevin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
There is absolutely no way I'm replacing my three month old 2005FPW display when Longhorn comes out next year just so I can watch video at full quality. Microsoft better get a clue, otherwise Longhorn is going to become even more of a joke and disaster.
Justin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
"Lets face it, content providers are dictating to the OS people (and hardware people) the terms of which their content can be used... "
Aaaaactually, Apple has a delightful high-res H.264-based movie trailers and videos on its site. Extrapolate that, say they're going to adapt the standard into something proprietary with some DRM, and open an iTunes Movie Store or something. They did it with music, and I'm betting they can do it with high-res movies, and without MS' low-res munging.
And to cause trouble: man, this is why I love my Mac. Download MPlayer, grab some HD movies and shows off of BitTorrent, play 'em back on a 23" screen... life is gooood.
(yeah granted you can do that same thing on Windows but at least in the near future I won't have to worry about my damn OS giving me lip about my damn MONITOR...)
Nixeh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
Thank god for linux :D
jc @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
But everyone, media today is so amazingly awesomely super fantastic... who wouldn't pay though the nose for brilliant, original and meaningful video and movies in a only slightly better resolution.
*translation* is it not going to be worth the thousands of dollars for the crappy movies and other media. I am going to keep an XP machine for games, and the best OSX Tiger system I can afford... and just use those until the consumers get some rights back.
Randy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
My ass! Migration to Win XP has been much slower than MS had hoped for. This crap is just one more reason to steer clear of MS's products. I love it! They're sinking their own ship!
AFD @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
F'ck Microsoft, Intel, et al that are trying to put restrictions on content, while consumers are left footing the bill for both the content and the hardware/software used to restrict the usage of the content. I absolutely refuse to buy DRM-crippled media and any OS, CPU, or monitor that facilitates the loss of fair-use. And when my hardware becomes too antiquated to function, or unrestricted media is no longer available - I think that would be a great time to take a nice long walk, or maybe socialize with my friends and family more often. So go ahead - kill technology and innovation with technology and innovation, as'holes.
lesalle @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
DRM will fail. Longhorn will not ship with these features. Longhorn will be Windows XP SP 2 with new stolen GUI effects. Thank you.
RMD @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
Guys, I don't think you really understand the "choices" being offered.
Companys who wish to provide Hi-Def content to PCs won't want to do it if it gets stolen/copied easily. With a secure copy-protection mechanism, far more companies will be willing to offer content.
This will create a large marketplace with lots of competition because it won't be just the big companies that can swallow the piracy loss entering the market.
So your choice isn't really between viewing this hi-def content as you wish or viewing it on a secure setup. It's a choice between content or no content.
Wouldn't you rather have at least the option of content that you wouldn't normally have?
So please, stop crying that Microsoft is out to get you and that they're infringing on some rights you think you have. Since when did the consumer of a service have the right to dictate how the company in question provides the service? You either use the service, or you don't... if it sucks and nobody uses it, the company will change the service or go out of business. Simple as that.
Microsoft will be creating MORE opportunities for services and products that can't really exist without their technology.
Cage @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
#26, Correction. LONGHORN will be the newly invented abacus.
Joe @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
#32 - you have been brainwashed
Ankalon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
#15:
I certainly hope you are wrong. I just dropped about 2 grand on a powerbook, and have yet to buy the RAM and programs.
Jobs, in my opinion, won't go that far. Especially when his "appliances" are far behind in the market. (The Mac mini will never ship with a monitor, BYOKMD.) When the consumer sees that his new Blu-ray disk is horrible on his new HP, it'll be spyware and driver issues; deja vu all over again.
Well Macs' don't get spyware : Well Macs' don't have content limiters.
OS X is capitalizing on the misfortune of windows. The next generation of bourgeois boxes (upholding capitalism, though middle class works too) are going to have it built in, just like ActiveX. Then X will capitalize on the next mistake.
But by the time OS X supports this Orwellian-DRM-- Gnome will be as easy as Windows: nothing can come close to the sheen of OS X to a new user. The furthest should be an iTunes-esque system, where it's there to discourage the general populace, because no matter what, if you can see it, you can record it.
Of course, Apple always has been a hardware company...
Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
Maybe I'll just start playing games and watching old stuff when they start locking everything down too tightly to be used. I mean, I'm ok with games not being copyable I guess. And what would be the point in securing video output in a game? Also, there's enough good content today really, we don't really need any new stuff.
Justin France @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
Mactel.
Longhorn if you *really* have to, but you won't. You'll just be able to. Really looking forward to being able to, but not, using Windows, Longhorn.
michael @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
unless they make HD porn im definately not in!
kahn66 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
#33
your right that a company has the right to protect their content, they are the ones paying the money to produce it. but controling the what type of moniter i am using has nothing to do with copy protection. i mean if someone is going to pirate movies i dont think it really matters wat type of moniter they are using. all this is, is another attempt to control the market with their "official" products.
and for all those people that think apple will follow suit on their latest os i think you are dead wrong. you have to keep in mind that large chunk of apples consumer market involves the imac since all their imacs have built in screens i highly doubt they would isolate this portion of the market.
Aaron @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
Yet another reason why I'm almost positive I won't be upgrading to Longhorn EVER.
I'll keep a win2k box for windows things, run Suse Linux for my main desktop, and hopefully have a mac OS X mini around for everything else.
What is it with companies treating all their customers as crooks?
J9BlueNile @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
I don't understand why they're boning the consumers... Pirated movies are released before the stuff even hits the streets. Tell the damn studios to up their own security when they come crying. Either way I have a new reason to switch to Linux.
reply to 18: burning it to a CD tends to fix the problem...
quagmire @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
this sounds just like the hype right before windows xp was released. MS was hinting about renting out the OS and consumers were supposed to re-activate their windows once the yearly lease expired.
whatever copy protection they come up with will eventually be hacked just like everything else. the content providers should just concentrate on giving incentives to consumers who dont resort to pirating.
Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
Anyone who thinks M$ are the innocents in this doesn't understand how M$ works. Here's how the conversation between Studio X and M$ probably went:
Studio X: But we won't release our films unless they can be protected!
M$: Yes, with our DRM we guarantee your stuff is safe.
Studio: And what about Linux or Apple customers?
M$: We can't guarantee security on those systems, so you'll have to use a format that will work _only_ on Windows!
Studio: Oh, OK.
In M$'s eyes, this is a strategy to drive more people to Windows: want to play that DVD? the only way to play it is to buy Windows.
fabienne @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
another good reason to switch...
...to linux or bsd that is.
---f
Rui Maldonado @ Dec 19th 2005 12:17AM
What microsoft and all content owners are risking is that we all get fed up with they're rules, and start pushing linux to what it should be right now, openning the door to hackers like the one from DeCSS, or better than that, that we, consumers, stop buying theyre products.
I use 3 analog monitors. yes, i have an analog TV plus 2 15" CRT's an matrox G550 and guess what? an very old S3 TRio 64 for my 3rd display. Although a bit desktop space hungry, the 2 "old" HP 15" Coulor monitors, and my also "Old" Philips 21" Coulor TV (not on the desktop, obviously) do the job quite right. And i also benefit that, contrary to LCD and other digital pannels, they go well with resolutions from 320x200 to 1280x1024 without geting a small square in the midle of the screen or panning the hole view, like some toshiba's did.
Is this the future we're seeking? I love gadgets, but hey!, old hardware used to be better built. I Still love my old AT Style, Sperry-Univac keyboard! it's almost 20 years old, but it has more key presses than those fancy new ones!