On 04/16/04 07:29, Impaqt said...
Actually its just got to with the Digital Millenium
Copyright Act and HDCP compatibility. Hollywood
and broadasters are scared that pirating will
run rampant with such a high quality format available
in peoples homes.
I understand that the content providers are worried about their software becoming "Napsterized," but it bugs me that the local cable company can reach into my house and turn off outputs to my TV at will. The feds used to be on our side. Copy protected software used to have to be backwards compatible. Do you suppose Macrovision would have been tolerated if it rendered all the VCRs sold in the first 6 years unusable?
There are a LOT of "High Definition"
TV's out there with DVI inputs that are NOT HDCP
compliant right now. Some of these TV's were
from Manufacturers that released their sets before
the HDCP format was finalized, Some are Commertial
display monitors that were never indended for
residential use on the Design table. Such is
the drawback of being an early adopter and purchasing
the wrong set because commertial plasmas are easy
to buy through distribution.
I would call the purchasers of QAM receivers that output 8VSB (such as the Dish 5000) early adoptors, and would expect them to be at risk. I don't think of people that bought HDTV sets in 2003 as early adoptors and most of the sets from that model year have a DVI input.
As for "They" controlling what we watch......
I havent a clue what your talking about.
If I understand correctly, the HDMI implimentation of HDCP gives the content providers total control over the equipment in our living rooms. In other words they can decide on a broadcast by broadcast basis whether or not we can make a recording, or for that matter, even view the show. I don't know if this, in and of itself, is all that bad, but it's a big fat foot in the door for Hollywood and Studio City.
I've never seen a message come up on my TV screen
from Comcast, DirecTV or the broadcasters saying
"Due to the opinion of "they" this transmission
cannot be viewed in your home"
No, not yet. HDMI is the vehicle, and not many of us have it yet. I don't know how Hollywood and Studio City will ultimately choose to use their new found power, but use it they will. And I'm pretty sure I won't like it, but hey, I'm old and set in my ways. :)