aacs
Latest
Ask HD Beat: DVD upconverting over component?
HD Beat reader Mark writes in with a common question:"I really have no idea who else to ask about this: Given that most of the new HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players will be at least theoretically capable of outputting an HD signal over component cables, it seems odd to me that all the upconverting DVD players only offer the upconversion over HDMI. Are there any that offer upconverting over component? Hell, maybe they all do, and I'm just misreading the specs... but if so, I blame the specs."If you can get high definition formats to output at 1080i or 720p via analog connectors, why not existing DVDs? One word: DRM.
Toshiba HD-A1 grabs #14 on PC World's top 100 list
HD DVD may yet get totally steamrolled by Blu-ray later this year, or face years of struggle against its mortal enemy (that shares its Achilles heel in restrictive AACS DRM), but at least it has had one day in the sun. The Toshiba HD-A1, the first HD DVD player on the market came in 14th on PC World's Top 100 list. With shortages, glitches and a dearth of content, quite frankly we're surprised to see it up so high. When all is said and done, it does get the 1080i HD picture to the screen that aficionados have been waiting for and at least right now it's all we've got. (Also congrats to our friends at Engadget for slotting one spot higher at #13.)
Macrovision inks deal to put ACP in AACS
After at one point it seemed like Macrovision would be rendered irrelevant by AACS, they are now a part of it. Perhaps in a move to justify stalling the implementation of ICT, AACS LA will include Macrovision's analog content protection technology in their next update. This isn't that surprising as ICT or no, the analog hole is still a major concern for content providers, in fact Macrovision VP Adam Gervin predicted this back in 2004 (he also predicted that high definition DVD formats would be very slow to take off, DVDs had 5 years of growth left in them and that AACS would be cracked). Of course, one has to wonder how this will affect Toshiba's HD DVD player and PC Blu-ray drives that are already on the market.
Abit IL-80MV first motherboard with HDMI output
Building that Vista (and HDCP)-ready HTPC just came one step closer. Dailytech has pics and information of Abit's IL-80MV motherboard which comes with an HDMI port built right in. Core 2 Duo support, dual SATA 3.0Gbps ports, Firewire, optical ins/outs and more are all a part of the package. Some features are apparently missing however, like a PCIe x16 slot. It is still undergoing AACS certification -- does that mean AACS is done? -- but is expected to be available in June.
Universal will not use ICT; only two studios left
BusinessWEEK is reporting that Universal has decided not to take advantage of the image constraint token. While some are still skeptical of the studios and their long term goals, all but Warner and Lions Gate have announced that they will not down-rez analog outputs. This is great news for those of us who either have no choice but to use analog inputs or those of us who choose to use them. The bad news is that it appears Warner is going to down-rez according to the article; "Execs at Warner Brothers declined to comment, but sources with knowledge of the studio's plans say "at least some" of the 20 HD-DVD releases planned through April will use the software." I knew at least one studio would do it, but I wish it wasn't them, I will have a hard time boycotting "The Matrix" because I don't plan to buy any movies that down-rez. We will see how long that lasts. Now we just wait and see what Lions Gate does, but I have a bad feeling that no news is bad news.via [engadget.com]
Not everyone believes the studios
Here at HDBeat we may be a little naive, maybe it is because we are so excited about having HD movies we are willing to take it at any cost or maybe it is because all of our TV's have HDCP inputs. Either way we were excited when the studios started to announce that they wouldn't down rez over component, but not everyone is so trusting. Phillip Swann over at TVPredictions.com thinks this is a case of the old bait and switch. He seems to believe they are responding to a possible fall out of all those that would be left in the cold. Personally I think that him and most others remind me of chicken little. I will keep looking up, but I don't believe that the sky is falling.
AACS is better than CSS for consumers
Bashing the latest DRM is all the rage, I hate DRM as much as the next guy, but I supposed I have already dealt with the fact that it is a necessary evil. Part of the reason I don't mind it that much is because most DRM is cracked fast enough that it doesn't bother me too much. CSS is the encryption used to protect DVD content and has been cracked since 99, which is only two years after it was released. The funny thing is that CSS is actually more restrictive than the latest DRM; AACS. Among other features AACS supports managed copy and over 480i output via analog. CSS didn't support either of features and this is a major reason that people were motivated to crack it. It seems that content providers are starting to get the hint when it comes to DRM, they realize that DRM that is too restrictive will not be adopted. With any luck a new bill will be passed that will allow us to bypass DRM when it violates our right for "Fair Use".One of the biggest fallacies about AACS is the requirement to "phone home". This may have been considered early in the AACS development, but it didn't make the final cut. According to a AACS rep an Internet Connection will never be required for normal playback. On the other hand it MAY be required to utilize the "Managed Copy" feature. The Managed copy feature is the part of the AACS that is up in the air until all the details are worked out. In the end managed copy will probably require a connection to the clearing house. This is not cool, but worth the price. We will be able to put a AACS protected disc into our PC and save it to the hard drive to playback later or watch it in another room. If they didn't require a connection to the clearing house, how else could they tell I just didn't rent the movie and copy it to my PC?
Windows Vista will support HD-DVD after all
Our good friend and Microsoft MVP Chris Lanier moved to clear up some controversy over whether or not Vista would include native support for any next generation format, confirming that yes, it will ship all right and ready for your HD-DVD's. Blu-ray support will need to come from a third party, so look for an extra disc of software when you pick up that shiny new Blu-ray drive for your PC.No word however on whether or not Vista will include the vaunted "write your blog posts while you lay on the couch and play Xbox 360" feature. We'll keep you updated.
Sony Pictures isn't the only one that won't down-rez
Last week I discovered that Sony Pictures won't down-rez over component on the upcoming High Definition DVD standards. I had hoped that other studios would follow their lead and it appears that they have. According to some well respected members of the AVSForum, Fox, Paramount, Disney, and Sony won't down-rez. The other studios have not made an announcement yet include Universal, Warner and Lions Gate. Insiders indicate a 50/50 chance that each will decided to cripple their movies over component. I for one wonder if most people will even notice the down-rezzing. If you connect a 540p to most TV's it is detected as 1080i and the TV will indicate that the current resolution is 1080i. The player may indicate to them what it is outputting, but most won't notice if the player doesn't tell them. Of course this doesn't go for any HDBeat readers but as you all know you guys are not "most people".
LG: No Blu-ray player this spring, combo player in the fall?
CE Pro is reporting LG sent a memo to their dealers indicating that among other things, like removing LCoS screens from their lineup, they have cancelled their BD199 player due to "uncertainty in the market". Without even stopping to mourn the BD199 that never was, they go on to say they expect to launch a combination Blu-ray/HD-DVD player by late summer or early fall.A device that plays both formats would seem to be the holy grail of high def DVD's, but we seem to recall Samsung saying that due to licensing restrictions of both camps that it would be impossible to produce one. Now that AACS is somewhat settled, and Sony and NEC working together (although Samsung already similarly partnered with Toshiba), has something changed? The real question seems to be is there any point in HDTV owners buying a first generation player if combination units are right around the corner.
Mike Evangelist changes HD boycott to AACS DRM only
We're still not so sure on the approach, but Mike has changed his focus from last week's call to boycott high-definition. Mike has started a site titled "Boycott HD Formats Using AACS" and is trying to rally the troops and (interestingly enough) taking donations to help spread the word. Funny, we do that every day and don't ask for a dime, now do we? Anyway, we respectfully understand Mike's stance on AACS DRM, but boycotting products and content that use AACS isn't likely to do much.
What if the DRM on your DVD player didn't work?
Yeah that might make you happy, but it could be a real problem for the manufacturer. Enter Samsung's DVD-HD841, an upconverting DVD player sold in 2004; it didn't sell well until a key "feature" was uncovered, you could hack it to turn off region coding and HDCP protections. The player has long been off the market, but now several movie studios have brought lawsuits against Samsung for their failure to protect content.But we all know that there have been ways around the CSS encryption practically since DVDs launched, so why sue now? Ars Technica supposes that this is more about setting an example for the next generation of DVD players, and I tend to agree. If/when someone finds a way around AACS and HDCP expect the lawsuits to come hard and heavy.
Managed Copy and Xbox 360 - Chris Lanier
So if and when Microsoft intros an HD-DVD player for the Xbox360, how will Managed Copy come into play? That's a good question asked by a Green Button reader and Chris Lanier, a Microsoft MVP, gives his thoughts. Since AACS supports Windows Media DRM and WMDRM-ND, or networked device flava, there's a good chance that Managed Copy won't have a major impact, but it likely depends on if Windows Media Extender software is updated to support streaming AACS content. Our money is on "Yes, it will".One interesting point that Chris makes: Microsoft will need to release a video cable with HDMI for the Xbox360. We saw that one coming a mile away, but in reality there was no reason to have one available at launch time.
High definition DVD launches are back on again
In the on again-off again world of next generation DVD formats, everything appears to be on again. The AACS conflict from last week has been settled with an "interim" agreement that will allow manufacturers to start making players. With that, HD-DVD should be on shelves in late March, followed by Blu-ray in May. Excellent, the day when HDTV owners can buy high priced, high DRM but low functionality DVD players is nearly upon us, are you guys excited yet?[Via Engadget]
Copy-protection on next-gen DVDs is killing the future
More doom and gloom today on the DRM front as we get closer to HD-DVD and Blu-Ray launches. CNET's take on the situation hit the web today and they're warning consumers about the necessary evils brought about by HDCP and the yet to be completed AACS standard. When will Hollywood and other related industries realize that by not working together, all of their time and money on the new formats will be wasted? If they're not sure what we mean, just go talk to the folks behind SACD and DVD-Audio. All of the confusing terms and the "will this disc play in my house?" questions are simply going to kill what could have been high-definition heaven. When the general public starts to truly understand the limitations of the DRM strategies and hear that their new content will only play at half of the best resolution, do you really think they're going to shell out hundreds of dollars for new gear? Why should they? At this point, we're thinking of renewing our subscription to the Columbia House DVD club just for spite.
AACS still not finished: is this intentional?
That's the word according to German mag heise; apparently disagreement from within the Blu-ray Disc Association over how AACS and BD work together means no high definition DVD formats yet. Beyond just noting the delay, they also dropped a few dimes on what we can expect from managed copy: the content holder gets to decide how many copies can be made and any device they are copied to requires an Internet connection for verification. Microsoft's COPP (Certified Output Protection Protocol) makes sure you're actually watching a movie and not dumping the video to a file, after which that HDCP-compliant videocard that doesn't exist yet finally lets you play HD-quality content on your monitor.I really have to wonder, is the BDA that far apart on the DRM issue, or is there any possibility that this is intentional to delay the launch of HD-DVD, which was supposed to debut last year but can't until AACS is finished. Being the first mover was part of HD-DVD's advantage in the face of Blu-ray's greater storage capacity but that continues to shrink and may even be nonexistent by the time they launch. I'll tell you what though Toshiba, how about we just forget the whole AACS, DRM thing? We won't tell if you won't.
Apple/Firewire getting a boost from HANA's HDTV plan?
So it would seem, Macsimum News has gone deeper into last weeks announcement of the newly-formed HDTV initiative, and how exactly they plan to connect all of your devices together. Basically, HANA certified devices will all use 1394 to communicate with one another, without the installation of drivers and users will be able to control all connected devices with one remote.What with Firewire being an Apple technology, plus Apple's existing relationships with some of the companies in the group, it seems like a no-brainer that apple will be getting on board at some point. That is all of no concern to me, I just want to know when I can get that widescreen high-resolution MPEG-4 playing video iPod, Mr. Jobs?
