DataPlay unveils CSS-friendly external DVD burner

Just a week after the DVD CCA approved an unexciting (and incredibly restrictive) download-to-burn scheme, DataPlay has unveiled what it calls the "world's first CSS-managed recording DVD burner." Of course, this isn't the first time we've heard about this type of setup, and as it turns out, DataPlay is actually "participating in the Qflix technology and IP licensing program." The aptly-named MovieWriter is an external USB 2.0 device that is "capable of writing CSS encrypted content for playback on standard DVD players," but alas, you'll be forced to pick up the presumably expensive CSS-MR pre-keyed recordable discs through Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden before any burning can take place. Currently, no pricetag is being listed, but we are told that the outfit is already planning an internal version for OEMs to integrate into pre-fabricated machines. [Warning: PDF read link]

[The Rock @ Sep 28th 2007 2:50AM]

You know what? The rock sees the CSS, the MPAA, Dataplay, all trying to capitalize of this scheme to make more money with this old bullshi*. They claim they'll let you burn dvd's but the Rocks been copying dvd's for years, without restrictions. And I'm sure you have to.

So the Rock says whoever made this overweight, glossy, smudge attracting, ugly logo ridden, table looking piece of shi*, can take it, wipe the fingerprints off, shine it with their cleaning cloth and STICK IT UP THEIR CANDY @SS!

[Lochlan @ Sep 28th 2007 2:52AM]

DVD that's compatible with Cascading Style Sheets? Awesome!

[Ryan @ Sep 28th 2007 3:28AM]

Does that mean the movie will display differently between IE and Firefox?

[uagent @ Sep 28th 2007 3:36AM]

Believe it or not, they were referring to the burner's physical appearance. What you see in the picture is if you have IE-compat mode set. Firefox mode will remove the logos and the table supports at the 4 corners.

[Mike @ Sep 28th 2007 6:49AM]

Don't buy this. Consumers do NOT want this to have a large installed base.

[jptech @ Sep 28th 2007 5:30AM]

I smell a turd.

I believe those pre-keyed CSS discs should be less expensive than regular DVD-Rs. With regular discs, we're paying a tax to cover the expected loss to piracy.

for these discs, there's no expected loss, so they should be cheaper, right?

[tekdroid @ Sep 28th 2007 5:26AM]

CSS-MR pre-keyed discs. Learn something new every day.

I'm sure they'll be v.popular. With the MPAA/RIAA.

[John B @ Sep 28th 2007 9:12AM]

Sweet! So, we burn a CCS-encrypted disc, then move it into the other CD/DVD drive in our PC and use SmartRipper to remove the same copy protection! Yeah, that's no waste of money there, boy. So, how is this more advantageous than simply waiting for the same movie to show up as a used DVD through Netflix for $6, where you at least get a cover sleeve and Amaray case?

[bc @ Sep 28th 2007 10:44AM]

Yikes! New acronym alert -- has anyone else heard of "CSS" being an abbreviation for "Content Scramble System"?
Idiots. Who came up with that brilliant notion?
This would never be confused with the real meaning of "CSS" -- "Cascading Style Sheets". Except when it does confuse people, of course.
I hated when Microsoft took over "ASP" for "Active Server Pages" when "Application Service Provider had been a well-established acronym for years.
Grrr. This kind of language piracy just burns me.

[kyle @ Sep 28th 2007 4:30PM]

they realize we broke css years ago, right?