If this is true – F*** HD-DVD

[b_panther_g]

Below is from an article found at Tom's Hardware...It compairs Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD



“...In April 2005, it was announced that HD-DVD would use Advanced Access Content System (AACS), an advanced version of the CSS system that worked so wonderfully on DVD. The License Administrator is a consortium of vendors that includes Intel, IBM, Matsu****a Electric Industrial, Microsoft, Toshiba and (go figure) Sony. Warner Brothers is also a member, as is Blu-ray backer Walt Disney Co.


Dan Ramer of DVD File ran a report on a paper from a group called Independent Security Evaluators (ISE) that really sounded disturbing. ISE looked at AACS and a second form of protection for HD-DVD called Self Protecting Digital Content (SPDC), which ISE recommended be used on top of AACS.


AACS gives playback devices a set of 128-bit Device Keys when manufactured. The set of Device Keys may be unique per device or shared among multiple devices. The Media Key Block (MKB) is a set of keys created by the AACS License Association that allows each device to unlock and play back the content. If a set of Device Keys is compromised, a new MKB can be created that revokes the compromised set of Device Keys, so they can't be played back.


This idea has people hopping mad, because it means that if the key to your player is compromised and yanked, your DVD deck becomes a doorstop unless there's a ROM/firmware upgrade. There is network connectivity built into the AACS standard, implying CRM or content rights management operations. Yes, an Internet connection may be required after all.


SPDC provides the mechanism to revoke a player's ability to play all DVD titles, and can create traceable content, since HD-DVD players include recording capabilities. So if a movie is cracked using a particular deck that you buy, that deck is going to be a doorstop. Even more Orwellian is the fact that the players get revocation information from each new disc played. So each new disc acts as a snitch for the old ones that are compromised. This information is stored in non-volatile RAM, and can modify your player's firmware.


Given how Divx's intrusive nature was one of the big strikes against it, this might tilt DVD supporters against HD-DVD. I've yet to hear such criticism of Blu-ray's AES method, so this could prove to be the sleeper issue differentiating the two formats...”



If this is true, I'm supporting Blu-Ray.

For the full article, visit:
www.tomshardware.com/business/20050616/index.html

 

[Francious70]

Ouch. If this is in fact true, it won't harm me since I don't rip DVD's and what not. But I have a couple of friends who will be plenty mad.

Paul

 

[b_panther_g]

Yeah,

I don't rip - yet. But I do plan on building an HTPC with enough storage to rip my fav movies.

Any way. Any technology that allows someone else to remotely destroy something that I spent my hard earned money on - sucks!

Unless the HD-DVD guys buy me new DVD players for the ones they break...They won't get ANY of my money.

I'll become a pirate!

You know...You'd think that with all the billions of dollars that each of these companies have, they'd just come up with something that people really want.

A way to copy a movie that you own and watch on any TV in your house.

But no, that would be way too easy. Instead they come up with stuff that destroys the things you work for...It's Crazy.

Later,
Panther

 

[jmanlp]

This DRM crap is going way too far, I have always bought CDs and DVDs cause I love the quality. However, when my entire CD/DVD collection is sitting in the living room and Im working on something in my office and want to hear/watch something while I work. I can just bring it up from the ripped copy on the server + I have a backup if a friend were to borrow a movie and not return it or break it. Its true that the less you can do with the content you own, the less you want to spend to own more of it...

 

[Jedi2016]

Yeah, I heard about that before. They might think it's a good idea, but stupid decisions like that will lose them this war. In a heartbeat. Word of that gets out, or worse, if they actually start to impliment it, their customers will be FURIOUS. Could you imagine spending a thousand dollars on a brand-new HD-DVD player, only to have it rendered utterly useless in just a few month's time? Customers won't stop at a refund, there will be lawsuits over this if they're stupid enough to actually do it.

 

[Cygnus]

What a bunch of crap. I want to have extra copies of my movies as backups. If I spend my hard earned money on some A/V equipement that doesn't work because some guy played a pirated - or just fualty but professionally bought - movie, I am not supporting HD-DVD!

This will not stand, i'm sure of that....(i hope)

 

[brian32672]

Actually this has been slightly covered before, And I had made similar comments that you guys are doing as well. The post was here.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10948&highlight=blu-ray