Windows Vista and OPM

[mdahc]

If you haven't already done so, you might want to read this thread and this AT article.

My question is, are notebooks ODM's/OEM's going to provide HDCP support for notebook displays or will notebook users be SOL when trying to play premium content like HD-DVD or Blu-Ray DVD?

 

[silverbuyer]

Originally posted by: mdahc
If you haven't already done so, you might want to read this thread and this AT article.

My question is, are notebooks ODM's/OEM's going to provide HDCP support for notebook displays or will notebook users be SOL when trying to play premium content like HD-DVD or Blu-Ray DVD?

Windows Vista is a good 15 months away. I might take the time to worry about the POS OS then, but I've got much better things to do with my time.

 

[mdahc]

I think this will also translate back to Windows XP as well (i.e. DRM content won't play on a non-HDCP monitor even if you stick with XP and upgrade to an HD-DVD/Blu-Ray drive later). For example, Microsoft has already enabled DRM (although it's a different type of DRM) on WMP 10 (i.e. go to www.wmvhd.com and you'll see HD clips that use DRM).

 

[Mark R]

It seems likely that laptop integrated screens will be treated as privileged - which means they will get the full resolution video, regardless of the actual hardware. I'm sure this could be done securely on a driver level.

However, the external port, particularly on older laptops, may not have HDCP support - in that case, you wouldn't be able to display the full resolution image on an external display.

We'll have to wait and see how exactly these issues are dealt with - I suppose it is possible that some laptops have now way of communicating to the OS whether the external monitor port is active - in which case, you're SOL - however, I think this would be an unlikely scenario.

 

[IlllI]

Originally posted by: mdahc
I think this will also translate back to Windows XP as well (i.e. DRM content won't play on a non-HDCP monitor even if you stick with XP and upgrade to an HD-DVD/Blu-Ray drive later). For example, Microsoft has already enabled DRM (although it's a different type of DRM) on WMP 10 (i.e. go to www.wmvhd.com and you'll see HD clips that use DRM).

could you not get around this by just using a different media player?

 

[Mark R]

could you not get around this by just using a different media player?

The DRM is part of the WMV codec. The DRM media required the codec supplied with WMP 10, and will not play on older versions.

The CODEC verifies your licence and IP address with a central sever, and only if they tally does the server provide the CODEC with the decryption key needed to decode the movie. As there is no way to decode the movie without the CODEC, and all other media players use the CODEC anyway - the DRM still holds.

And yes, the type of DRM on WMV HD sucks. If you've bought a WMV HD movie on DVD, you'll find out soon enough. Essentially, when you play it you must be connected to the internet (I think it does remember the code for about a week, but after that it'll have to check back with the server), and your IP must be traceable to the US. Take the disc and a laptop to Canada or to Europe, and it will not play - either you won't have a net connection, or your IP will trace back to the wrong country.

 

[Fox5]

Originally posted by: Mark R
It seems likely that laptop integrated screens will be treated as privileged - which means they will get the full resolution video, regardless of the actual hardware. I'm sure this could be done securely on a driver level.

However, the external port, particularly on older laptops, may not have HDCP support - in that case, you wouldn't be able to display the full resolution image on an external display.

We'll have to wait and see how exactly these issues are dealt with - I suppose it is possible that some laptops have now way of communicating to the OS whether the external monitor port is active - in which case, you're SOL - however, I think this would be an unlikely scenario.

Why would laptop screens be exempt? A laptop can be hacked apart and have it's video outputted to something else, which would allow the data to be ripped.

 

[IlllI]

[/quote]

The DRM is part of the WMV codec. The DRM media required the codec supplied with WMP 10, and will not play on older versions.

The CODEC verifies your licence and IP address with a central sever, and only if they tally does the server provide the CODEC with the decryption key needed to decode the movie. As there is no way to decode the movie without the CODEC, and all other media players use the CODEC anyway - the DRM still holds.

And yes, the type of DRM on WMV HD sucks. If you've bought a WMV HD movie on DVD, you'll find out soon enough. Essentially, when you play it you must be connected to the internet (I think it does remember the code for about a week, but after that it'll have to check back with the server), and your IP must be traceable to the US. Take the disc and a laptop to Canada or to Europe, and it will not play - either you won't have a net connection, or your IP will trace back to the wrong country.[/quote]



damn, thats pretty crappy