Blue-Ray: firmware hacks to be prosecuted?

[Dr Mordrid]

DRM is getting to be a real PITA;

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/ptech/09/02/dvd.format.war.reut/index.html

On top of that, consumers should expect punishment for tinkering with their Blu-ray players, as many have done with current DVD players, for instance to remove regional coding. The new, Internet-connected and secure players will report any "hack" and the device can be disabled remotely.

Dr. Mordrid

[PAugustin]

I don't think my home BlueRay player will be connected to the internet (if I get such a device at all). They cannot force you to do such a thing.

And even if computer BR players/burners might have this limitation it probably won't take long until it is hacked

[Gurm]

The old "DIVX" was cracked but the devices were never widespread. This will be cracked, too. Nobody likes having to hook their device up to the phone/Internet to get "permission" to use it.

Let's face it - porn drives sales. NOBODY wants "big brother" knowing how much gay porn they're watching. Period. This medium will die a horrifying, lingering death.

[Nuno]

So, DVD-HD will win hands down...

[GT98]

So, DVD-HD will win hands down...

I'm sure that DVD-HD or HD-DVD will have something similar to DRM on the players...

[Fluff]

Well all the people with SKY Digital in the UK have to hook their sky box up to a phone line already. AFAIK.

http://www.blu-ray.com/images/ifa2005/toshiba_05.jpg

Nice shot of the back of a toshiba Blu ray player.

What about the possiblity of firmware updates from the maufacturer? To support new media etc.

[Jammrock]

You'd be surprised how many people "spy" on your viewing habits. Digital cable boxes all send viewing information back to big brother. If you have your satellite box plugged in to a phone line it dials out late at night every week and uploads viewing information. All stand-alone DVR's do it, from Tivo to your local cable/sattelite provider.

The differences between the above and a blu-ray is that 1) the others do it "behind your back" and most people don't even know it's happening, 2) your player muct actively connect to watch any content, meaning you can't just pop in a disc and watch a movie, you have to pop it in, connect, wait, and then watch your movie, bring this specific big brother'ism into light, and 3) people have the mindset of "I bought this dics/software/content, why the %#!@ do I, who am being honest, have to put up with this crap to watch MY movie." With broadcast technology people don't care much because you don't OWN the show ... but you OWN a movie disc.

Anyway, I think Blu-ray is going to end up shooting themselves in the foot if they require a dial-up or internet connection to verify content and player information to watch BD's. It may completely change the landscape of the format war if HD-DVD does not implement the same technology.

%#@)(* DRM...

EDIT: $#!* ... picture of a prototype Panasonic BD player from IFA in German:



Notice the LAN and phone jack ports on the right hand side This is really going to piss me off....

Jammrock

[GT98]

You'd be surprised how many people "spy" on your viewing habits. Digital cable boxes all send viewing information back to big brother. If you have your satellite box plugged in to a phone line it dials out late at night every week and uploads viewing information. All stand-alone DVR's do it, from Tivo to your local cable/sattelite provider.

The differences between the above and a blu-ray is that 1) the others do it "behind your back" and most people don't even know it's happening, 2) your player muct actively connect to watch any content, meaning you can't just pop in a disc and watch a movie, you have to pop it in, connect, wait, and then watch your movie, bring this specific big brother'ism into light, and 3) people have the mindset of "I bought this dics/software/content, why the %#!@ do I, who am being honest, have to put up with this crap to watch MY movie." With broadcast technology people don't care much because you don't OWN the show ... but you OWN a movie disc.

Anyway, I think Blu-ray is going to end up shooting themselves in the foot if they require a dial-up or internet connection to verify content and player information to watch BD's. It may completely change the landscape of the format war if HD-DVD does not implement the same technology.

%#@)(* DRM...

EDIT: $#!* ... picture of a prototype Panasonic BD player from IFA in German:



Notice the LAN and phone jack ports on the right hand side This is really going to piss me off....

Jammrock

I wonder why no HDMI port on that?

[Jammrock]

It's a prototype... ?

There are 3 rear panel shots from the IFA report on blu-ray.com. 2 of them have both phone and LAN connectors. At least one of them had HDMI.

Jammrock

[Tjalfe]

those are some crazy cooling solutions too.. 2 80mm fans on a player

[rylan]

If they require a network connection to play media, then they can blow me. and I'll use DVD-HD or whatever doesn't require the stupid thing to call out. I mean how f*cktarded is that... a lot of people are getting rid of their landline phones now and using cell, and very few people have ethernet through their home, especailly sticking out in the living room by their TV.
I'm not uploading my movie viewing habits, let alone needing to run a network or phone cable across the room since that will stick out like a sore thumb.

[Gurm]

If they require a network connection to play media, then they can blow me. and I'll use DVD-HD or whatever doesn't require the stupid thing to call out. I mean how f*cktarded is that... a lot of people are getting rid of their landline phones now and using cell, and very few people have ethernet through their home, especailly sticking out in the living room by their TV.
I'm not uploading my movie viewing habits, let alone needing to run a network or phone cable across the room since that will stick out like a sore thumb.

And you're far from alone. The industry has, again, SERIOUSLY underestimated the willingness of people to be intruded upon.

[Wombat]

overestimated

[Elie]

I'll find out what port the player uses to call home and block it on the firewall outbound

[Dr Mordrid]

And then the SOB will refuse to play the media.

Like others have said: the Blue-Ray providers can blow me too.

Dr. Mordrid