PlayReady
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Sony licenses Microsoft's PlayReady DRM
No one really likes DRM, but until Hollywood realizes what we already know -- it is more trouble than it's worth -- it is a fact of life for those who wish to enjoy premium content at home. And in the world of DRM, when it comes to digital distribution, there are two giants; Apple's FairPlay and Microsoft's PlayReady. But while Apple doesn't license its technology to anyone, Microsoft is more than happy to add a name to its long list of licensees. The latest to join that list is Sony, and although we have no idea what said company has in mind, the new Blu-ray players announced at CES will be the first to sport it. Our best guess is that this has something to do with UltraViolet, which seems logical considering the PlayReady is one of the few DRM systems approved by UltraViolet and the CTO of Sony Pictures also happens to be the president of the industry group behind UltraViolet.
Dell Aero details confirmed with new leak: 624MHz processor, handwriting support, DRM
Compared to the other crazy handsets Dell leaked today, the Aero is definitely the runt of the litter. But with a leaked Q2 AT&T release date, the Aero will be first on our doorstep. What other juicy morsels have we gathered? On the hardware side, it's sadly a slow 624MHz Marvell processor that drives that 3.5-inch capacitive multitouch screen, but hey, like the Chinese model, it's planned to ship with a capacitive stylus for handwriting recognition. More interesting is software. Like Motorola's CLIQ, Aero comes with QuickOffice right out of the box, and supports Microsoft ActiveSync and Exchange to ostensibly keep in touch with your business. For the social crowd, there's on-device photo editing and "aggregated notifications" for the bevy of social networks Dell's agreed to support. While you probably knew the device would have a WebKit browser with Flash Lite, leaks reveal it will have a robust media player as well -- robust enough to have some sort of music streaming and download ability (PlayReady, anyone?) protected by Windows Media DRM. Though it's probably still Android 1.5 onboard, docs show Dell plans a "refresh" to Android 2.1 sometime between Q3 and Q4, but it's hard to say whether the Aero will get an OTA update, or whether only new Aeros will ship with Eclair. That said, given the relative insignificance of this handset compared to its new big brothers, we're more than willing to wait and find out.%Gallery-91354%
Samsung, Microsoft work PlayReady DRM support into upcoming devices
The reality of PlayReady's ability to extend DRM'd media across devices still seems to be more theory than reality (just ask Nokia) but if/when protected content wants to stay that way, Samsung hardware will be ready. The first of the company's products with Microsoft's DRM scheme baked in are expected to ship this year, with an expected migration from the old Windows Media DRM wrapping up across all product lines by 2012. We're still dreaming about sliding content access from Zune to Galaxy S to Media Center PC to our remote and back, and will remain secure in our cryosleep chambers until it comes true...
Niveus shows how it can help cable and satellite providers get HD on your PC
It's just a tech preview, but our favorite high end Media Center maker, Niveus, is showing off Project Snowbird at NAB this week. Niveus hopes its PC client will help cable and satellite providers bring more premium HD content to the PC. This version was copying and streaming content from a Dish Network DVR and works with Sling's protocol, DLNA and DTCP-IP -- you remember it right, the CableLabs certified DRM for IP transport? Also baked in is Microsoft's PlayReady so envisioning playing the content on a Zune HD or in Media Center aren't too unfounded either. Dish Network was involved to show its commitment to working towards this type of solution in the home, but Niveus hopes to get all the providers on board and is anxious to fill in the PC client no matter what protocol the provider wants to use. We're told that these goals are inline with those of the IP Gateway we've been talking about, so it'll be interesting to see how this all shakes out. But at this point there aren't any product announcements and so this might just be yet another tech preview that never makes it to our homes. More shots of what it might look like after the break.
Windows Media Center is set to thrill at CEDIA 2009 next month
Everyone likes to try and predict the future and with the Custom Electronic Design & Installation (CEDIA) show only a month away, the crew at Engadget HD threw all of their crazy ideas out there for your reading pleasure. For the most part all of the predictions are around Windows Media Center and how it will integrate with other products like the Zune HD, Digital Cable and HD satellite services, but there are some other fun things throw in. We really believe that this is going to be the year that Redmond brings everything together, so if you're the type who doesn't think it'll ever happen, then click through to find out why we think you're wrong. Either way, you can expect we'll be on the scene in Atlanta to check out what's new first hand.
CEDIA 2009 Windows Media Center predictions
With the Custom Electronic Design & Installation show in Atlanta only a month away, we thought it'd be fun to try and predict the future by laying out our expectations for Windows Media Center. The way we see it, CEDIA is the perfect launching pad for Windows 7 Media Center. For starters it is just over a month before the official release of the OS, but more so because Microsoft has used the venue in the past to announce new Media Center features. We really believe that this is going to be the year that Redmond brings everything together, so if you're the type who doesn't think it'll ever happen, then click through to find out why we think you're wrong.
Engadget HD takes an in-depth look at Media Center in Windows 7 RTM
If you've ever thought about forcing your Xbox 360 to do double duty and in addition to all the games you require it to host for you, set it up to replace your TiVo or cable company DVR, then now might just be the time. The reason is simple, in Windows 7, Microsoft has really made some nice improvements to Windows Media Center. What improvements you might ask? Glad you did, because over at Engadget HD the team went over the changes with a fine-tooth comb. This includes a comprehensive list of improvements and shortfalls in regards to using Windows 7 Media Center as a full time HD DVR as well as a few videos to really help you appreciate what's new and what the experience is like on an Xbox 360.
Windows 7 Media Center review
We've been waiting a long time for this and it's finally here, the latest version of Windows Media Center. Well, we really stopped waiting a few months ago when the release candidate hit, but waited on composing our thoughts until after we had a chance to play with the RTM copy. For the most part, as you'd expect the RTM build is identical to the RC, sans the bugs, but there are plenty of upgrades over Vista Media Center. Many of these new features were also in the TV Pack, but in our book that doesn't count. For starters it was OEM only, and thus you could only get it (legitimately) by buying a new PC, but the real reason is because it was so buggy, it was beyond usable. In fact we still stand by the theory that the TV Pack was nothing more than an early preview for OEMs of the new guts of Windows 7 Media Center. Gladly that is all behind us now, so keep reading to find out what gets us excited about Windows 7 Media Center.
Macrovision re-invents itself as Rovi, kicks off with new guide "Liquid"
Hold on to your hats folks because the company that we love to hate is turning over a new leaf by kicking off its old DRM shoes and leveraging its acquisition of Gemstar in a big way. What we mean is that this is the first time in the history of Macrovision that we can remember being excited about an announcement; and boy does it make perfect sense that it comes with a new company name. Rovi's first consumer product should be available in various HDTVs next year, and among the new jazzed up looking guide you can expect a full DLNA client that is designed to be a single access point for all of your content. This includes internet sourced content like Slacker radio, YouTube XL, BLOCKBUSTER OnDemand, and CinemaNow; as well as anything you might have on your PC like pictures, music and even videos. Add in a little social networking from sites such as Flixster and we might have ourselves a new way to watch TV. No word yet on what new TVs will feature Liquid, but we'd expect to hear more at CES '10. The full release is after the jump.
Microsoft, AT&T plug PlayReady / Silverlight DRM into U-verse without saying why
Microsoft's PlayReady DRM hasn't exactly set the world on fire since first popping up over two years ago on a bevy of wireless carriers, so we were surprised by today's news that it's being integrated into the MediaRoom IPTV platform, specifically AT&T's U-verse service. A Microsoft exec quoted saying "Through the power of software such as PlayReady and Mediaroom, AT&T will bring its customers an exciting new range of services and content" doesn't help, since that power has lead to very little over the last two years with one exception. This is the same Windows Media Player 10 compatible DRM used by Silverlight plugins, like the ones for Netflix and Sky Player TV, so while we'll make the leap of dreaming about Instant Watch coming to AT&T set-top boxes, reality is probably not only something entirely different, but also considerably more like the Xbox 360 IPTV fantasy & other Mediaroom features that have yet to see any release.
Nokia adds Microsoft's PlayReady DRM to upcoming devices
Nokia appears to be making some interesting moves as of late. Following rumors that the company will hazard a foray into the world of digital music sales, the Finnish mobile manufacturer has signed a deal with Microsoft to utilize its PlayReady DRM scheme. The technology, which is file-format-independent, is specifically targeted for use with mobile devices, and is intended to strengthen "security" on a wide variety of content such as music, videos, games, ringtones, and images. The DRM is backwards compatible with the existing Windows Media 10 file management, and will be implemented on upcoming S60 and Series 40 Nokia devices beginning in 2008. It seems at least somewhat possible that this arrangement could be related to the recent whisperings of Nokia's iTunes-esque plans, as DRM has already been hinted at for the supposed forthcoming service. Perhaps on August 29th all will be revealed -- but only Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo knows for sure.
Microsoft announces another new DRM: PlayReady
Amidst the aggressive and pugnacious consumer discussions over DRM, today Microsoft introduced yet another: PlayReady. Aimed at the mobile space, PlayReady DRM takes their "open" (i.e. platform) DRM strategy to the next level, by providing subscription, rental, pay-per-view, preview and "super-distribution" (huh? maybe they mean authorized redistribution) digital rights management to not only their own media formats -- as has been done exclusively in the past -- but to other codec standards, too, including AAC, and H.264. PlayReady will be backwards compatible with WM DRM 10, so your Vongo movies or Napster tracks, for example, should still authorize and play back. But now a new crop of carriers, including AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Telefónica, O2, and Bouygues, are signed up with considerations for things that might be done with the DRM; of course, none of those other standards matter much if Microsoft isn't going to license PlayReady to the other vendors and software platforms that use formats like H.264 (and not WMA / WMV), but no announcements were made regarding non-carrier licensees, or whether PlayReady would make its way to the desktop, too.
