ReQuest threatens to enable DVD piracy on its media streamers, announces one sans DVD
By Sean Hollister 
posted May 27th 2010 7:09PM
posted May 27th 2010 7:09PM
posted May 27th 2010 7:09PM
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I dont really see a market for this
That's ok i'll just keep watching DVD rips off my $200 XBMC computer.
@Proverb
Yea I second that - Unless that thing has the sexiest UI known to man there is no reason for all that.
Spend about a week researching samba, ubuntu server, and media conversion in your spare time and no one would buy that.
@Slick
Dude, XMBC *already* has the sexiest UI known to man.
:-P
is it really that difficult to install xbmc on a computer?
What? Since when is backing up a DVD that you have purchased onto your computer illegal? Is Fair Use not applicable anymore!?
@DoctarPeppar
Do you live in the US?
Fair Use is considered Fair only when Used by the Media Corporations...
@DoctarPeppar
Depends on who's pockets you pad.
@kapanak
Jokes aside, I still don't see why it's illegal for a company to make something like this. If you own the DVD, you should be able to make backup copies of it and rip it on to a media server, and play it back from your hard drive. But, I'm no DMCA lawyer either -- maybe someone with a law degree can explain :P
@DoctarPeppar
Nevermind, I found the answer here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ripping
"while it may well be fair use for an individual consumer to store a backup copy of a personally owned DVD on that individual's computer, a federal law has nonetheless made it illegal to manufacture or traffic in a device or tool that permits a consumer to make such copies."
"This case made clear that manufacturing and distribution of circumvention tools was illegal, but fair use of those tools was not."
What a fucking joke ass legal system we have, seriously.
How are we supposed to use the tool fairly within the law if such tool can not be manufactured or distributed? If we make or code the tool ourselves, we're breaking the law...Chicken and the fucking egg...
I guess most of the companies that actually make and sell ripping software aren't in the USA -- and the entire reason why the courts went after RealNetworks, and probably WILL go after ReQuest is because they are American companies.
But -- another question...would US citizens be breaking the law by simply downloading a tool made for DVD ripping?
@DoctarPeppar No. DVD encoding utilities are perfectly legal to download. Using them is another matter entirely thanks to jacked up DMCA regulations about breaking copy protection encoding.
@kapanak
This is why I love my Canada and we'll fight to make sure that we don't get bullied by these money hungry corporations that show no appreciation for consumers. Vive le Resistance!
@hero785
No thanks -- Socialism sucks.
@DoctarPeppar
What socialism? We aren't socialist. So I don't really know what you are talking about dude!
@DoctarPeppar We aren't socialist.
@anttotarella
I was kidding.
No doot aboot it.
@DoctarPeppar
Don't know if it's possible, but could you copy a DVD encoding intact (direct bit for bit copy, no decoding) onto a hard drive and then just play it back from there with software that just legally plays it???
That way you never "break" the copy protection encoding? Although saying this makes me think having a DVD drive that allows direct bit for bit copying is breaking the "copy protection encoding". Hard to wrap my brain around the fact of not changing anything about the information but it being illegal to just move it around within your own domain.
Guess who's not buying this thing.....
I'm just waiting for Plex 9 to hit Alpha.
$1,200? lol. I'll stick to streaming rips through my PS3 thanks to Vuze.
I wonder how companies like this get startup money why would anyone get this over a cheap xbmc or boxee
@petebob796
Because -- not everyone is tech savvy.
Some people just want a "media server in a box" solution for their homes...One-click DVD ripping \ archiving \ streaming with an easy to use GUI is a pretty badass feature for an average Joe...of course people who read Engadget are more interested in how things work rather than just having them work -- and once we know how they work, we tend to be resourceful and figure out more efficient \ cheap \ easy ways to get them done without spending 1200$ :P
@DoctarPeppar
Without an optical device of some sort or a PC with some DMCA violating software, this thing isn't going to deliver on the iTunes for DVDs concept either. There are already much cheaper devices that can already play whatever media you've ripped yourself. They're "appliances" and everything.
So what is the best way to set up a media server and place my entire 3000+ dvd collection on it.
@danhawk911 If you have a PS3 or Xbox, just rip the DVDs as mp4s with handbrake, then stream them with Vuze. Or you could get something like popcorn hour if you don't care about gaming systems.
i wont buy it, but i love their attitude!
The types if people that go for this have:
* An abundance of cash.
* Would not even install a DVD Player themselves, let alone XBMC on a PC.
* Do not want to ever worry about managing a device themselves (Software Updates, Warranty Issues, the thing not working).
* Will most likely buy it from a Custom Electronics Integrator/Contractor as part of a much larger package or an an Upgrade to an Existing System.
* Want the device Integrated into their Homes Control System / Distributed Video System, (Crestron, AMX, Etc).
*Don't care what the damn thing costs as long as it works when they push a button on their shiney touch screen when their Golf Buddies are over.
FAIL! Didn't you know the court said, bascially, we don't own the movie, we're just leasing it on DVD. Sell your communist device in Denark, liberal scum. /s
@Smurf
Uhh Dude, Communism is about as far Left on the Political Spectrum as you can get. Essentially Communism is like Liberalism Smoking Crack, while Drunk and Tripping on Acid.
@CyberJove Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what Marx and Engels had to say about it too.
Mac mini, with Plex. Use a wireless N router to network to your home pc with multiple gigs of storage and DVD ripping software. Use your home pc as a fileserver and stream everything wirelessly; the Mac mini with plex will play ANY ripped file type, including blueray...it works great for me
@Shalom2U Yeah, but will that Mac mini send uncompressed blu-ray audio to my receiver? Doubt it.
@hodedofome
no, that is the only drawback to my setup...that bleeping Apple DisplayPort, no HD audio output capability. Fingers crossed that the upcoming Mini's will have HDMI ports, as is rumored.
PS3 Media Server.
Nuff Said!