Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Incorporates HDCP (Copy Protection) in New Laptops
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
huh? HDCP is not a DisplayPort only thing. It's for HDMI as well which is what AppleTV uses today.
Now, whether AppleTV enforces the HDCP I don't know - since it would be hard to find a HDTV with a HDMI input that does not support HDCP to test this with.
Apple didn't have a choice. However, they did have a choice as to whether or not to tell anyone, including that poor teacher from the article we read about who bought Hellboy 2 and just wanted to use it as a teaching aid.
I kept saying when itunes store came on stage that they could take away your right to use your files in any way they desired at any time, even if you've already purchased them. I was told "oh no, Apple would never do such a thing, you're an alarmist blah blah blah."
I'd like to take this opportunity to say I told you so, and to post this picture:
I kept saying when itunes store came on stage that they could take away your right to use your files in any way they desired at any time, even if you've already purchased them. I was told "oh no, Apple would never do such a thing, you're an alarmist blah blah blah."
I'd like to take this opportunity to say I told you so, and to post this picture:
For the simple reason that most Blu-ray discs don't enforce HDCP - yet. Nor Region encoding for that matter.
This is done by the industry for exactly one reason: to not piss everyone off right away. This was especially important during the HD DVD vs Blu-ray times. For the 'piss-off' variant would have lost quickly. Now that the 'war' is over it is a different story.
Just wait a bit and the first mainstream Blu-ray discs with HDCP will show up soon. Our only grace is that consumers are still a bit reluctant to buy into Blu-ray. While the new format is still young HDCP will only make a gradual, 'weaning on' kind of appearance.
And to the poster who said that Blu-ray and HDCP have nothing to do with each other:
In theory, yes absolutely. They are independent.
Yet soon one won't be able to buy any Blu-ray disc without HDCP. And at that point they are very much synonymous. In practice.
Because in a world where "everyone does it", movie studios just quit making movies. Good ones that cost a ton of money, anyway.
It was the same thing in the early pre-"Star Wars" 70's; theater attendance was at its lowest ever in the history of film, so movies were absolute lowest of low budget crap. Until Star Wars, and people not only started going to theaters again, they lined up around the block.
Keep stealing, and there soon won't be ANYTHING out there WORTH stealing. Movies, music, video games, or software.
Count on it.
It's time to cork the genie back in the bottle. Apple's on the right side of history on this one.
Apple didn't have a choice. However, they did have a choice as to whether or not to tell anyone, including that poor teacher from the article we read about who bought Hellboy 2 and just wanted to use it as a teaching aid.
I kept saying when itunes store came on stage that they could take away your right to use your files in any way they desired at any time, even if you've already purchased them. I was told "oh no, Apple would never do such a thing, you're an alarmist blah blah blah."
I'd like to take this opportunity to say I told you so, and to post this picture:
AMEN!!! DRM SUCKS!
Perhaps CS was a bad example (I didn't try installing it on another computer due to the above preconceived notion), but I'm pretty sure there is software that allows just one install per copy. I thought Quark Xpress was the exception with its 2-install policy, hence not even trying with CS3. I stand corrected on that one. Just FYI I did buy a legit (educational version) copy, but I can see where you would think I didn't!
Wouldn't the BD player and not the discs "activate" HDCP? I also thought that any HDMI-output signal already used it, but I'm not sure. My TV is only about 2 years old and I haven't run into any HDCP issues with it.
I'm already totally buying in to Blu-ray despite all the HDCP crap. It's the best HD video format out there (pretty much the only one) and I usually don't buy unless I find very good deals (the only movie I spent nearly $30 on was The Simpsons Movie). If the setup stays as it is now, I don't think people using it for a home theater will even know about HDCP. I didn't until after the format war was over.
However, this is apparently a HUGE issue on computers. Forget the whole licensing shenanigans. You need an HDCP-compliant video card, monitor, OS, and a frickin' BD-ROM or better drive to do all of this. That's a little different from the DVD days where you just needed to meet certain benchmark requirements to play DVDs. You certainly didn't have to drop money on a new monitor. I have hope that the slow economy and Apple's semi-weird stance will entice Sony to simplify things a little bit. You can only hope that they have learned from the mistakes of Betamax and MiniDisc (an awesome technology before we had flash memory).
Have you noticed its the people that buy things that are treated like pirates?
Just like the FBI warnings you have to sit through each time you watch a movie you bought, etc. (For crying out loud, you bought the movie, move on with it...no lengthy commercials to sit through that make you fast forward...no criminal warnings when you just bought the thing for crying out loud.)
And now, how many machines you can or cant put it on.
YOu bought it, its yours. Well some may say its up to them what and where you play it. Fine, so this practically says they dictate which technology you have and when you will upgrade, etc. (forget your DVI monitor with adapter, you now need a new monitor - oh thanks Steve, I wouldnt have known if you didnt tell me that I needed to spend more money.)
I understand giving something to get something...the concept of keeping things flowing. But this is just pathetic. As pathetic as trying to get users to sensor what they do or dont download on the net by calling them pirates is they click a download link they dont like. (Maybe they should concentrate on who is uploading? Ironic heh?)
So they are creating a mind numb robotic mass that polices its self according to their policies - this, to me, is just plain ridiculous.
Peace
dAlen
Just like the FBI warnings you have to sit through each time you watch a movie you bought, etc. (For crying out loud, you bought the movie, move on with it...no lengthy commercials to sit through that make you fast forward...no criminal warnings when you just bought the thing for crying out loud.)
And now, how many machines you can or cant put it on.
YOu bought it, its yours. Well some may say its up to them what and where you play it. Fine, so this practically says they dictate which technology you have and when you will upgrade, etc. (forget your DVI monitor with adapter, you now need a new monitor - oh thanks Steve, I wouldnt have known if you didnt tell me that I needed to spend more money.)
I understand giving something to get something...the concept of keeping things flowing. But this is just pathetic. As pathetic as trying to get users to sensor what they do or dont download on the net by calling them pirates is they click a download link they dont like. (Maybe they should concentrate on who is uploading? Ironic heh?)
So they are creating a mind numb robotic mass that polices its self according to their policies - this, to me, is just plain ridiculous.
Peace
dAlen
Oh, look! It's the token Linux Guy with the classic non-solution of switching to Ubuntu.
The original problem is trying to play an HD Apple Movie download thru a non-HDCP compliant display. Since You can't view the iTMS purchase on Ubuntu to begin with, that kinda settles that idea.
And even if it was able to, it still would not play back the HD movie in full resolution in this configuration, as allowing the full playback would violate the rules that define HDCP.There are two things here though:
- If the display device is not HDCP compatible, many players will play the content, just at a lower resolution.
- This is a projector in a classroom, so it's going to be 800x600 resolution to begin with, certainly not a projector that could even display an HD signal to begin with, so the HDCP protection getting all up in arms was an overreaction to begin with.
What would Apple's choice have been in this case? Say "no HDCP" and have Hollywood say "Okay, no Hellboy II." Then you'd all be complaining about how Apple has no decent selection of recent movies on the iTMS.
Maybe the iTMS makes a killing on music sales, but they are a small-time player in the grand scheme of the total movie purchase market. Saying no to making ones content available on the iTMS is not going to have the big impact on the studios that it does on record labels. I don't care how many iTMS movie purchases whoever respondes to this post is personally going to claim. The fact is the vast majority of movies are sold on silver discs and Apple has nothing to do with it. Steve Jobs simply does not have the power over the MPAA you think he might to get them to drop HDCP. Not to mention all the consumer electronics companies making money off people have to buy new TVs because their current ones are perfectly functional but lack the magic blessing to play HD content.
Seriously, for supposedly having a "more intelligent" userbase than Windows users, it's surprising how quickly people lose sight of what the real issue is and who's to blame for it -- generally holding Apple responsible for other industry players' issues.
Sounds like an HD iTMS purchase (as protecting HD content is the whole point of HDCP), so if he had just bought a non-HD iTMS purchase or rented the damn DVD instead, it would have played fine I bet.
Chill. Let's all turn our guns on Apple and HDCP instead.
I'm chilled. I just feel dumb for making a goof like that. I always assume that software is for one computer unless otherwise noted (Mac OS X family pack, MS Office Student & Teacher).
As far as the guns, ARRGH. See the above post. I'm dancing with the devil in the pale moonlight. I'm pissed at Sony for the copyright protection and crazy licensing that's keeping Blu-ray off Macs. I'm pissed at Apple for employing HDCP without really telling anybody AND for not working out a way to get Blu-ray on Macs while Dell and HP don't seem to have a problem at an affordable price. I've got plenty of pissed to spread around!
I was hoping HDCP meant Hard Drive Copy Protection. To find out what it really means is a disappointment. Guess I'll have to start burning DVDs again, instead of just a digital copy from my own desktop to my own laptop. Oh well.
Wait! Apple is responsible for:
- enabling the restriction on newer models, and
- not mentioning the restriction in advertisements.
The warning message could read like this:
This High Definition movie uses FairPlay copy protection. Playing this High Definition movie on an Apple® computer with Mini-DisplayPort will require that all external display connected at the time of playing are digital displays supporting HDCP or DPCP. This excludes all Apple® displays without DisplayPort. Further, playing the movie on any Apple® computer without Mini-DisplayPort or DisplayPort will not be possible after June, 30th 2009.
Playing this High Definition movie on Microsoft® Windows XP® or Windows Vista® systems after June, 30th 2009 will require a graphics adapter with support for HDCP or DPCP as well as a compatible display. Please download the iTunes HD FairPlay Advisor to check your system for compatibility.
However, with a warning like this, who's going to buy the movie?Playing this High Definition movie on Microsoft® Windows XP® or Windows Vista® systems after June, 30th 2009 will require a graphics adapter with support for HDCP or DPCP as well as a compatible display. Please download the iTunes HD FairPlay Advisor to check your system for compatibility.
Here's what I want Apple to do
I'll tell you what I want them to do. Tell us the truth up front. Not sell us an overpriced piece of hardware and then an overpriced digital movie that are not compatible with each other. If it won't run on Apple hardware, they shouldn't sell it!!!! Is that too hard for you to understand? Please tell us.
I'll tell you what I want them to do. Tell us the truth up front. Not sell us an overpriced piece of hardware and then an overpriced digital movie that are not compatible with each other. If it won't run on Apple hardware, they shouldn't sell it!!!! Is that too hard for you to understand? Please tell us.
It isn't HDCP you are thinking about it is ICT which only applies to Analog connections. Any BDP with HDMI (which is all of them AFAIK) have HDCP. AFAIK HDCP is actually a requirement of the 1.2+ version of HDMI.
I have not seen a BDP that would allow you to play a movie when you have a monitor (TV) connected to it with a digital connection that didn't support HDCP. You are supposed to get an error message and no picture at all. Analog connections don't have to worry about that (HDCP), but will have to deal with ICT sooner or later.
There are a lot of dudes living under the bridge that would be glad to be tracked for some $5 or like. Just sign he^h^h^h buy the movie and here are your $$.
Keep stealing, and there soon won't be ANYTHING out there WORTH stealing. Movies, music, video games, or software.
Count on it.
It's time to cork the genie back in the bottle. Apple's on the right side of history on this one.
What the hell is your point? Genie in the bottle? Apple is doing what right with history?
EDIT: This doesn't affect me, so I am bailing. I don't download movies in iTunes nor have Blu ray.
Um, no. The current mac mini is completely unaffected by this.
Any new mac mini that happens to get displayport and HDCP support would also be okay as in a home entertainment system if it's connected to a HDTV as they have had HDCP for years now.
Lol
Fairly amusing reading, after I had all and sundry bashing me for wanting an HDCP compliant cinema display instead of a "brick"
Welcome to the new world. This has zero to do with Apple, it's the requirements for viewing HD media regardless of Blu-Ray or download (well, legally purchased download).
We have to use debug PS3 kits to record game footage because the retail kits don't have a "Disable HDCP", so it applies to everyone and everything wanting to keep up with the Jones's. (before you get excited, no you can't play movies on a Debug PS3).
Hold out as long as you can with your current setup, but eventually you're going to wind up having to update your displays whether you're buying a new PC, Mac or game console with HDMI or any of the other HD connectors.
Sucks, but there you have it.
Fairly amusing reading, after I had all and sundry bashing me for wanting an HDCP compliant cinema display instead of a "brick"
Welcome to the new world. This has zero to do with Apple, it's the requirements for viewing HD media regardless of Blu-Ray or download (well, legally purchased download).
We have to use debug PS3 kits to record game footage because the retail kits don't have a "Disable HDCP", so it applies to everyone and everything wanting to keep up with the Jones's. (before you get excited, no you can't play movies on a Debug PS3).
Hold out as long as you can with your current setup, but eventually you're going to wind up having to update your displays whether you're buying a new PC, Mac or game console with HDMI or any of the other HD connectors.
Sucks, but there you have it.