Group Launches New DVD Security Features

[SilverBlade]

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/tech/story.jsp?floc=FF-APO-1700&idq=/ff/story/0001/200...60.htm&sc=1700

Gee, spend millions/billons of dollars on new security instead of movies worth the ticket price.

Good going Hollywood!...this will be cracked just like everything else.

[hudsonf]

quote: "Eventually, the two sides must convince DVD fans."
I'm convinced, I'll stick with regular DVDs.

[bazooka]

The security features will be broken.

[Teutatis]

"Current DVDs are easily hacked, allowing them to be pirated at a cost to the movie industry of more than $3 billion annually, according to Blu-ray."

It's convenient for the movie industry to also own the news media. That way they can print whatever the hell numbers they want without facing the slightest scrutiny. Instead of $3 billion, it might as well have been a $3 quadrillion.

[lordsmurf]

"Current DVDs are easily hacked, allowing them to be pirated at a cost to the movie industry of more than $3 billion annually, according to Blu-ray."

It's convenient for the movie industry to also own the news media. That way they can print whatever the hell numbers they want without facing the slightest scrutiny. Instead of $3 billion, it might as well have been a $3 quadrillion.

That is a very good point.

[AlecWest]

The BluRay/HD-DVD brouhaha is shaping up to be a "deja-vu" of the Quadraphonic stereo SQ/Discrete format battle ... which consumers dissed out of existence.

True, not all format battles result in such a debacle. But, the reason why there was a "survivor" in the VHS/Beta format battle is because videotaping was a "new thing" ... whereas in the SQ/Discrete format battle, it was merely an improvement to an "existing thing." And that's what BluRay/HD-DVD is ... an improvement to an existing medium (standard DVD movies).

As a person who bought into the Quadraphonic stereo phenomenon, buying both SQ and discrete hardware so I'd be compatible with the final "winner" in the format war, let me tell you that I was mightily impressed by the improvement in sound delivery. But Joe and Suzy Sixpack were not impressed at all. Likewise, people who have HD systems are probably mightily impressed by the improvement in video delivery. But will Joe and Suzy Sixpack be equally impressed? The vote is still out. Frankly, I've seen standard-resolution TV and HDTV side by side. And while I can see an improvement, I'm not convinced the improvement is worth the price.

[hudsonf]

I'm with Joe and Suzy Sixpack. HDTV is OK but I'm totally happy with regular tv.

[ebenton]

I own a 42-inch Sony LCD Projection HDTV. I also own a "traditional" DVD player, and I rent an HD DVR/cable box from my cable company. While the picture quality, and obviously the dimensions, are easily noticeable between HD and non-HD pictures, I don't believe it is dramatic. Many of my cable channels are available in both HD and non-HD, or regular digital video. Switching back and forth between the two broadcasts shows a somewhat noticeable difference in picture quality. If you ignore the 16:9 vs the 4:3, it is somewhat less noticeable.
Traditional DVDs are even less distinguishable from HD.
These are just *my opinions*. It is entirely possible that the perceptions are peculiar to me, but I also doubt that Joe and Suzy Sixpack will feel compelled to by HD, Blu-Ray or HD DVD if they get a chance to compare before they buy.
However, things being the way they are, they will probably buy based on marketing hype and peer pressure, if they can afford it. If they can't afford it...well, that's what credit is for.

[gll99]

BluRay/HD-DVD and new security! How will they get us to switch?

Until one of those is mainstream who the heck but a few with money to waste will bother?

With billions at stake, the industry can't produce movies in anything but regular dvd until they can get us to switch over. They will have to produce the movies in old style DVD since every movie disc that they produce in those new formats will lose money until they can generate enough sales. Adding new content like how the movie was made and such will not be enough to switch too many users.

The best way they could get us to buy the new players would be in a one for one swap. They would lose money on the hardware but make it back in movie sales. Once a large enough number are switched over to the new format(s) then the rest of us better be ready for the disappearance of the DVD as we know it.

How long will it take to get us to switch over? If they let the normal marketplace decide then I suspect the new formats won't go mainstream for 15 or more years. That's an awful long time for technology to pay off before getting pushed by something new. An aggressive trade campaign could shorten that by half or better.
Anything requiring online security checks would be a non starter. I don't think people llike to be controlled to that extent and too many would balk at the idea. I don't even like those companies who pretend that you have to send in a card to register for purchase in order to activate warranties when they know full well that the law prevents such limitations.

With those kind of time spans and market forces at play what are the chances that any encryption technology will hold up.