p2pnet - rss feed: Hollywood and HDTV
p2p news view / p2pnet:- It’s a question that many consumers have been asking, and an answer is expected in October or November; what will happen when consumers with HDTV sets that have not got a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connection, want to watch high definition movies on next generation discs? The problem is that Hollywood wants to dictate to how consumers will connect their video disc players to their television sets.
Current connections in use are pretty easy to break into the video signal being sent to capture and create copies of it, whereas Hollywood is favoring HDMI connections for High Definition movies due to its included copy protection that protect the video signal. However, HDMI is now only becoming a common feature in HDTVs, whereas millions of HDTV sets in people’s homes around the world use analog connections which could be easily used to capture the video signal, perhaps rendering some layers of copy protection on the both the upcoming HD-DVD and Blu-Ray disc formats useless.
The group behind the Advanced Access Content System (AACS) content protection system is expected to give a decision on whether to allow high-definition over analog connections in October or November. AACS founders include Microsoft, Intel, IBM, Matsushita, Sony, Warner, Toshiba and Disney. Input from content providers will also influence the decision.
It seems possible that recently purchased expensive flat screen HDTVs that don’t have HDMI connections could face limitations such as only being able to watch HD movies in standard definitions, losing the extra quality that HD provides. Sure the picture quality will be better since HDMI is digital, but is that enough to go out and buy a whole new TV set… again?
“There are severe negotiations going on with Hollywood,” said Kazuhiko Nakane, manager of Mitsubishi’s disc format and DVD verification laboratory. He added that deadlines have been missed in the past, indicating that maybe we wont receive any decision within the next two months. If you think you can beat this by simply watching a HD movie on your computer, think again. The lack of HDCP in most PC monitor connections could cause the same problems.
High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) is the copy protection designed to be included with HDMI and DVI connections to protect content. Ryoichi Hayatsu of NEC said negotiations for at least a grace period (hopefully until 2010) can be provided to allow consumers time to upgrade their monitors are still under way. Even if the AACS group came to a decision, the content providers will probably be able to set the permission themselves on a per-title basis. This is something that will likely cause confusion for consumers.
Dela - AfterDawn
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October 8th, 2005 at 4:56 pm
Who the F*** are they trying to stop from copying. It is such a pain in the a** to record a movie from the cables coming out of a DVD player. Why would the average person bother, or even the more technically advanced? The most I would see people doing is putting the movie on to their computer for personal use (watch w/o the disk). The only people that would bother with the method of record off the DVD player would probably be really stupid pirates (pirates, the more accurate meaning, the guy selling DVDs for $4 each on a chinatown street corner) that were unable to crack the protection on the DVD…
October 8th, 2005 at 7:05 pm
All this uproar over anticopy protections and legalizee.
The cartels have reached the point they think they have the right to tell the customer what they will have or will not have just to see tv or to hear music. Even going as far as including a method to turn off your player so it no longer functions and you are required to buy a new player to continue to watch whatever you have on your shelves now. (blu-ray)
What has this meant to me? Well, I’ll tell you what it has meant. I walk into these electronics stores and I see unreal prices in the thousands for a HDTV. Pictures look really nice. Doesn’t do me any good if down the road they consider that one fair game to turn off and make dead. They haven’t managed to really get HDTV off the ground. No one has come down firm on a recognised standard as the lock in of what HDTV will consist of.
If anyone remembers, there have been format wars all along. The customer is always expected to tote the price for the priviledge of the latest greatest. After the betamax/vhs wars, I sort of said this rat race isn’t worth it. When they come out with something new, there is no guarentee that this particular format will be viable in 2 or 3 years. That isn’t really enough time to develop a decent library from an individuals point of view. What good does it do to get a library if in two years or so that equipment isn’t sold anymore? You’re left right back where things have always been, repurchasing over and over those items you like. I for one am tired of the repurchase which is an unneccessary and burdensome cost to doing business with the cartels.
I no longer buy subscription feeds to tv. Given that the majority of the movie channels are rerun city, I don’t feel that I am getting my moneys worth. Seeing the same movies for half a month over and over and then after that time frequent repeats mixed in with the latest 2 week reruns leaves me feeling it would be cheaper to go rerent the same movies if that was what I was in to. Quality of programming is seriously lacking also. I mean just how many soaps and reality shows can one watch without at some point becoming totally bored to death? Sitcoms were never an interest to me and for the life of me I can not see what someone gets out of such mindless entertainment.
Yet here again we are talking that no one has gotten down to firm decision time and already the market has the equipment out there in the customers hands. A decision that it won’t play on existing HDTVs at the quality that was the sales point for the initial purchase is nothing short of false advertising to the tune of millions of dollars to those that have already purchased such equipment. Prehaps if the quality of HDTV isn’t allowed to be broadcast we should as the public demand of those that can’t make up their minds for a refund nationwide or a replacement OUT OF THEIR POCKETS!
October 9th, 2005 at 2:01 pm
well I am definately not buying a new one and I would be so pissed if they make me (or try) to see hdtv content on my hdtv I purchased last year. Its a 52 inch widescreen unless they reimbuse me and add a holding value (my room for storage for a year) to the ticket price they will pay me for it. So all together, I charge double or nothing for them a**holes.
October 10th, 2005 at 6:33 pm
At some point the public at large is going to realize it is being duped and get fed up with all this mean spiritied greed then will simply spend it’s entertainment dollars elsewhere. It’s not like there’s nothing else to do.
Maybe I give the human race too much credit…
October 10th, 2005 at 7:41 pm
Even the prettiest hostage is still a hostage. I would not buy anything that can be deactivated at the whim of some cartel member. As for satelite and pay TV, the channels consists mostly of reruns and loads of mindless crap. I pay for satellite TV for my family because they enjoy a couple of shows. However, when broadband comes to my area, I will cancel my subscription and start downloading my entertainment. As far as I am concerned, I know of a great place where the cartels can put their blueray and mindless channels (hint: It’s where the sun doesn’t shine.).
By the way, has anyone watched The Scene - Episode 13? It was a nail biter. http://www.welcometothescene.com
October 10th, 2005 at 7:42 pm
Downloading is a great option if you just must consume their crap.
October 11th, 2005 at 3:20 am
Meh, like i watch tv anyway. Higher resolution tv is still just tv.
Same old crap, but you get to see it in more detail.
Like that’s a good thing?