Now this is a sure way to kill computers

[SilverBlade]

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/12149

[waheed]

Analsyt predicts Hollywood may demand DRM in larger HDD's
Posted by Seán Byrne on 24 July 2005 - 00:21 - Source: Toms Hardware Guide

Just a few months ago, hard drive manufacturers announced the development of perpendicular polarisation recording technology, which can easily double the hard drive capacity as this recording method is much more efficient over the horizontal polarisation recording technology used in current hard drives. However, according to Toms Hardware, a senior analyst, Michael Cai predicts that Hollywood may force hard drive manufacturers to implement DRM, especially once the smaller physical sized drives using perpendicular recording technology start being put to use in portable video devices such as the rumoured video iPods.

The current DVD generation incorporates copy-protection and all the next generations of DVD will incorporate some sort of DRM / copy protection system . However most hard drives do not support any form of copy-protection at the hardware level. As hand-held video devices are only at their early stages yet, Cai expects Hollywood and other content providers to try and place some form of copy protection on hard drives, even if it means enforcing new legislation that mandates the support for DRM capabilities.

With such large hard drives coming in the near future, Cai mentioned that this may be a major concern for Hollywood, especially if one can carry a large quantity of recorded programmes across a geographic boundary. This is another reason for the major push in the infamous broadcast flag that was suppose to be enforced on all digital TV sets by July 1st this year, before an Appeals Court ruling blocked it. It may seem odd trying to copy-protect programmes freely available on terrestrial TV, however the purpose of the broadcast flag enforcement was to prevent consumers from exporting recorded programmes outside the US, such as over the Internet.

Scotts Valley (CA) - Harddrives using perpendicular recording are on track to hit the market in early 2006 with capacities of up to 160 or even 200 GByte in 2.5-inch form factors. Consumer electronics using these devices could follow soon thereafter - but Hollywod may have a say in how quickly these monster drives make their way into portable audio and video players, Tom's Hardware Guide has learned.

More space for portable consumer electronics is a no brainer. Who wouldn't want more space on their iPods and enough room for several movies on PMPs and currently rumored video iPods? Some analysts claim its not as easy as just building these new drives into devices. If there is to be a roadblock, it may come from content and media providers, including Hollywood studios, which may seek to enact regulations or legislation mandating the inclusion of digital rights management (DRM) facilities in CE devices that use high-capacity drives, as Michael Cai, senior analyst with Parks Associates, told Tom's Hardware Guide.

The moment you become capable of reading and writing movies and transporting that content across borders, Cai said, "Hollywood can get really concerned. What if you can carry like 20 movies with you all the time, and they can't control the content any more?" It's the possible crossing of geographic boundaries that's the problem, Cai said - a problem that wouldn't crop up if the media device were made to sit on your desktop at home, no matter how small it becomes.

The full article can be read here.



Even if hard drive manufacturers are forced to incorporate DRM within their hard drives, this will not stop someone from storing copyrighted content in an unprotected form on the hard drive. For example, I remember when Secure Digital memory cards were launched, there were mentions about how these had built in copy protection support to prevent unauthorised copying of music and other copyrighted work. However, even though quite a lot of portable audio and video devices support SD cards, I am not aware of any portable devices that make use of DRM within the card itself. Should some new legislation mandate the support for DRM in hard drives, it is unlikely going to be of much use, unless the devices that use these hard drives make use of DRM at the HD level.

[RabidDog]

Like portable hi-capacity hard drives arent already available?? They might get a little smaller eg 2.5" as opposed to 3.5" but whats an inch between friends.. SD memory cards and Multimedia cards tend to be interchangeable EXCEPT SD cards cost twice as much..Hollywood is running around screaming with its hands in the Air, and things just keep washing over them... affordable Dvd burners, DL media, superfast internet, efficient codecs, and large portable hard disks, can it get any worse?

[ROF]

I don't see how this could effect anyone except those who tend to "play by the rules". Most people who transfer to a portable, do so in a non-secure way, with non-secure files. That means DRM in portable devices is just a way a passing on an add cost to the end user in both lost functionality and lost purchasing power.

Hollywood should know by now that anyone who wants to watch a movie on a portable device knows they have to remove any sort of copy protection or DRM in order to do so, unless they plan on carrying around a bunch stored purchased optical media. I say add this DRM or whatever to a portable device. Just don't expect a wide array of adopters, especially when devices currently available play media non matter what the DRM is. I'd imagine there will be others who will continue to provide such environments for the end user.

This seems kinda like the Windows OS. Sure, you can spend the extra money and get an operating system full of DRM and bloated with code, or you can use an operating system that allows you to do more, while keeping costs to a minimal and no DRM.

It's just that simple. If you buy a product, you should read what it does, understand what it does, realize it's potential and limitations before putting it into your shopping cart. Failure to do that and you can only blame yourself.

[lordsmurf]

"Hollywood can get really concerned. What if you can carry like 20 movies with you all the time, and they can't control the content any more?"

Where to begin?
What a load of crap. Who would do this? Nobody, save a few dorks.

[ROF]

"Hollywood can get really concerned. What if you can carry like 20 movies with you all the time, and they can't control the content any more?"

Where to begin?
What a load of crap. Who would do this? Nobody, save a few dorks.

This dork for one. I'd like to be able to carry around hundreds of movies and be able to watch any of them at the touch of a few button. Toting hundreds of DVD's and thousands of CDs or optionally one portable device containing them all is a no-brainer for media junkies.

[mobo57]

I for one hate the idea. I am a "road warrior" and spend 60 to 70% of my time traveling. Sitting in business class or in a hotel in Cairo, Amsterdam, Hong Kong... it is nice to have several movies loaded on my laptop or external drive to view at my pleasure without the needed disks. Having to go through all of the crap associated with this DRM is bullshit. Just making me more convinced that I need to migrate over to Linux based systems sooner than later.
These guys at the MPAA and RIAA are pushing for the stars, but are accepting the moon. The problem is, we as consumers are loosing our rights to the moon light. After they get the moon, they will try for the next few stars. Eventually we will loose that too.
I have a media center at home running orb. It's nice to be able to use my laptop and a broadband connection at an airport or hotel half a world away to watch my local channels in my language, instead of just CNN or the local stations in a language I can barely understand.
But with the way things are going, that's next.
Their motto should be:
Yes you can! But only when, where, and how WE SAY YOU CAN!!!

[AlecWest]

As I've said before, it's this kind of thing that will drive me away from computers and back to my library ... to check out books. I bought my computer to serve ME, not serve the media conglomerates. And if their plans come to fruition (and no way can be found "around" them), they can take my computer and shove it up where the sun doesn't shine.

[jdizzy40]

Smurf, like me you dated yourself when you said "Dork". Funny thread though!