AACS?

[danielsan26]

I just saw an article on pcworld.com linked up by cnet talking about a technology called AACS that will prevent high-definition video from a blu-ray or HD-DVD from playing on an "unsupported" monitor. The article made it sound like it was applicable to any computer playing blu-ray or HDDVD. Does this mean I should be waiting to buy an Apple display until such technology is straightened out? I was going to buy one this week, but in a desperate situation I could wait a few months if it was the difference between watching high definition video or not for the forseeable future. These companies are just going crazy with this protected content stuff. When will they realize that a paradigm shift of their pricing model is needed instead of greater DRM? Does anyone here know anything about this? I thought about submitting it to macbytes to try to get some discussion about it but I didn't figure it was mac-centered enough yet.
Article here:
Sorry for sending you to pcworld

 

[danielsan26]

I wanted to elaborate on why I thought this Vista-centered article might apply to macs as well:

Forthcoming Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs promise higher resolution than a standard DVD's 480-line maximum. But to protect its high-quality content from pirating, the film industry, along with disc and hardware makers, has created an umbrella content protection scheme known as AACS. If Windows is to play the new discs, Microsoft has little choice but to support AACS, which is where PVP-OPM comes in. According to Microsoft, PVP-OPM will prevent pirates from attaching recording devices directly to the PC graphics card's DVI or HDMI video outputs in order to capture a pristine digital copy of the disc's otherwise encrypted content. A related component, PVP-UAB, will prevent savvy computer owners from installing data capture cards in order to grab high-def movies straight off the PCI Express bus.

Unfortunately, PVP-OPM will also shut out plenty of law-abiding video watchers whose current displays aren't future-proof. To comply with the film industry's protection scheme, PVP-OPM employs HDCP technology to determine whether graphics boards and displays are allowed to output and display high-def video. If HDCP sees a blocked display (such as a video capture device) or one that does not support HDCP (including any HDTV with only analog connectors), it prevents output or reduces the video resolution until the offending display or protected content is removed from the system.

It sounds like the industry is going to force all hardware manufacturers to abide by this AACS.

 

[Espnetboy3]

Could someone break this down in laymans terms.

 

[danielsan26]

Could someone break this down in laymans terms.

Basically, if you don't have a monitor that some committee has determined won't be a "video capture device," any HD movie playback will be blurred. The problem is, there are virtually no such displays currently out (I don't think the current displays are). This forces anyone who wants to watch an HD movie on their computer screen to buy a new, HDCP-equipped display just to watch movies.

 

[snkTab]

Basically, if you don't have a monitor that some committee has determined won't be a "video capture device," any HD movie playback will be blurred. The problem is, there are virtually no such displays currently out (I don't think the current displays are). This forces anyone who wants to watch an HD movie on their computer screen to buy a new, HDCP-equipped display just to watch movies.

$o let me get this $traight. If you wanted to watch HD video$, $ay 1920x1080i, and you had a un$upported 1920x1200 monitor. It would fail to playback or playback in HD. That'$ crap.

 

[Espnetboy3]

Thats dumb its going to hurt their own industry. Most people will say dvds look so good already why will I buy a hd dvd for double the price and have to buy a new monitor just to view it. How will this stop people from piracy tho?

 

[VanMac]

I cant see something like this flying. Lots of HD tvs out there already (I have one), and the owners are not going to want to replace them to watch a HD DVD.

 

[LethalWolfe]

This has been talked about in a couple of other HDTV threads that have popped up in various parts of MR.

Yeah, basically early HDTV adopters are screwed and anyone who wants to watch next HDDVD/Blu-ray on their computer is screwed 'cause HDCP compliant monitors don't even exist yet (AFAIK).


Lethal

 

[danielsan26]

So I guess this means that the current Apple displays are definitely incompatible with this hypothetical technology. I guess I might wait a few weeks at the very least to research it a little more before buying a monitor and seeing if this has any credibility. Oh, and vanmac I don't think this applies to TV's, unless you're planning on using your computer as a blu-ray or HDDVD player. But, what do I know? I can't even tell if this is any more than speculation.

 

[LethalWolfe]

So I guess this means that the current Apple displays are definitely incompatible with this hypothetical technology. I guess I might wait a few weeks at the very least to research it a little more before buying a monitor and seeing if this has any credibility. Oh, and vanmac I don't think this applies to TV's, unless you're planning on using your computer as a blu-ray or HDDVD player. But, what do I know? I can't even tell if this is any more than speculation.

It's not speculation it's an announced form of DRM. I mean, until things start shipping nothing is set in stone, but I haven't heard anything to suggest this technology will not be used.

And it applies to TVs as well. Basically, in order to play back this content you'll need and HDCP compliant player and monitor. If you do not have both it will either not play, or only play in 480i (standard def).


Lethal

 

[VanMac]

And it applies to TVs as well. Basically, in order to play back this content you'll need and HDCP compliant player and monitor. If you do not have both it will either not play, or only play in 480i (standard def).
Lethal

I dont know.....I still dont think that will fly. If they do push it, they would have to provide some sort of dongle or adapter for existing TV/Displays out there. I'ts been hard enought to convince the consumer to switch to digital and wide screen tv's for HD. I cant see them being able to sell this....