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Posts tagged ‘blu-ray’

Nov 18

digitalblus
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Digital Copy Blu’s

Today we (my family) received a 3-disc special edition of Disney’s Wall*E, which includes two Blu-ray discs and a DVD with a digital copy of the movie in iTunes and Windows Media formats.  I was particularly excited to have the digital copy which can be transferred to a personal computer or iPhone for playback.  I popped the DVD in my MacBook Pro and was immediately greeted by a Disney application called Wall*E, which “activates” the digital copy before transferring to ITunes or Windows Media.  Oh no, DRM rears its ugly head.

In the Blu-ray case, Disney includes a leaflet with an activation code.  As I read the information contained on this leaflet, I was drawn to the fine print at the bottom.  Reading carefully, I learned the activation code expires one year from the date of release of the Blu-ray, so you must transfer your digital copy to a computer withing one year of release of the Blu-ray movie or you are out of luck. I wonder how many people will take the time to read the fine print?  I imagine there will be some very disappointed consumers who neglect to activate their digital copies in time.  What about the people that buy Wall*E after November 18, 2009?

My next thought was whether the activation code was single-use or multiple-use.  I thought, I better do some more research and understand all of the DRM rules before I transfer this movie to my laptop.  Fortunately, Disney includes links to online help which help explain the DRM rules which apply to the digital copy.  After, ignoring the Flash based demos of how to transfer the movie to my computer, I found a link with more information, including this FAQ.

Turns out, this is a one-time activation code.  This means, you can transfer the file to one and only one computer–EVER!  I don’t think my family, with multiple computers is out of the norm, so which one?   My laptop?  My wife’s? The kids iMac?  If I transfer it to my laptop, I can watch it when I travel, transfer it to my iPhone and iPod, but what about my kids?  What about their iPods?  They won’t be able to enjoy this movie without sync’ing to my iTunes library and erasing their content and playlists.  So, I could install it on the family iMac, but then I won’t have a copy when I travel.  So far, neither options seems like a good solution.

And herein lies two of the major problems with DRM.  First, confusing usage rights and second, incoveniencing the very customers who purchase legitimate copies of content.  I will include a portion of the Disney FAQ.

Can I use my code more than once?

No, you are permitted to use your unique code only once.

How many times can I transfer my DisneyFile Digital Copy?

For the Windows Media version you can only transfer your DisneyFile Digital Copy to your computer once. After you transfer the movie to your computer, you can then transfer the movie to your compatible portable device. For the iTunes version, standard iTunes usage rules apply.

What types of portable devices will my DisneyFile Digital Copy be compatible with?

For the Windows Media format, portable devices must be Windows Media PlaysForSure compatible or Certified for Windows Vista compatible. For the iTunes format, portable devices must be an iTunes video-enabled iPod, iPhone or Apple TV.

What happens if I delete my DisneyFile Digital Copy from my portable device? Is it possible to transfer it again?

For the Windows Media format: Yes, as long as you did not delete the Windows Media file from your computer.

For the iTunes format: Standard iTunes usage rules apply.

I followed the on-screen instructions and the movie did not transfer. What do I do?

Please call 1-800-723-4763 (US)/1-888-877-2843 (Canada) for technical assistance and/or customer service.

I live outside the United States and Canada. Can I transfer the DisneyFile Digital Copy?

No, at this time, the DisneyFile Digital Copy is accessible only in the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec).

Does the unique code for the DisneyFile Digital Copy expire?

Yes, the unique code expires 12 months from the initial release of the DVD or Blu-ray disc. The unique code for The Nightmare Before Christmas will expire on August 26th, 2009.

Can I give my DisneyFile Digital Copy to someone else?

No, your movie is non-transferable and is tied directly to your computer and will not play if transferred to other computers.

How much space does the DisneyFile Digital Copy use on my hard drive?

DisneyFile Digital Copies take up to approximately 2 Gigabytes of free hard drive space. This number can vary and it is best to check the minimum requirements on the packaging.

If I delete my DisneyFile Digital Copy from my computer, can I transfer it again later?

For the Windows Media format: No. When you transfer your DisneyFile Digital Copy, to your computer you use your unique code. Codes can only be used once. Therefore if you delete your movie from your computer and attempt a second transfer, the unique code will not work. Disney strongly recommends backing up files to avoid losing your DisneyFile Digital Copy.

For the iTunes format: Standard iTunes usage rules apply.

If I cannot connect to the internet, can I still transfer my DisneyFile Digital Copy to my computer?

No, in order for the DisneyFile Digital Copy code to be verified, you must be connected to the internet. However, you only need to be connected when you first transfer the movie to your computer, not each time you watch your DisneyFile Digital Copy.

Do I need the DisneyFile Digital Copy disc every time I want to watch the movie?

No, once the transfer is complete you no longer need your DisneyFile Digital Copy disc and can enjoy your movie whenever you like.

How many times can I watch my DisneyFile Digital Copy?

You may watch your movie as much as you like, there is no limit to the number of plays.

How many computers/portable devices can I transfer my movie to?

If you select Windows Media format, you can transfer your movie to one computer and one Windows Media compatible portable device as set forth in the end user license agreement (Terms & Conditions). If you select iTunes format, standard iTunes usage rules apply.

Part of this dilemma could be resolved with a home media server with lots of storage, but I still wouldn’t be able to transfer the movie to my laptop or iPhone for playback when I am on the road.  But it does not alleviate the fact that DRM is restricting the legitimate use of content I purchased.

Two simple ideas to allow fair use

Two simple ideas to alleviate the DRM restrictions and allow fair use.  First, link the activation code to an iTunes account and allow multiple uses by that account.  Second, allow families to “aggregate” iTunes accounts under a master account.

Link activation code to iTunes account

By linking the activation code to an iTunes account, content owners could be assured that the same consumer is using the activation code and it is not being passed around the Internet.  Because Apple requires a legitimate address and each iTunes user must provide a credit card, the risk of fraud is greatly reduced.  If the content owner becomes aware of fraud, they could appeal to Apple to investigate and if fraud has occurred, the iTunes account could be deactivated–rendering the content disabled.

iTunes master account

Aggregation of iTunes accounts under a master account structure (think .Mac and MobileMe Family plans), is an idea that makes sense for a number of reasons including alleviating the restrictions of DRM.  By aggregating accounts, content I purchase on iTunes could be synchronized by family members under the same account.  This includes the digital copy of Wall*E and other Blu-ray digital copies.  Account aggregation allows us to use the digital copy in the exact same way we use the physical copy (Blu-ray disc).

This post started as yet another rant against DRM. However, since most content owners haven’t seen a DRM scheme they don’t like, I don’t believe DRM is going away anytime soon.  So, what do you think?  Would my two proposals make DRM more palatable?

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Feb 21

Video Comparison
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Blu-Ray vs. Apple TV HD vs. HD Cable vs. DVD

Video ComparisonOver at iLounge they recently tested the picture quality of Blu-Ray, Apple TV 2.0 against DVD and HD Cable.  Although not a scientific test, they paused the pictures and used a Nikon camera to capture the images, it does show the vast differences between the formats and the effects of compression.

Apple recently upgraded my Apple TV to version 2.0 and I rented an HD movie.  The startup time was very quick, less than 2 minutes, although you have to navigate a couple of menus while it buffers–very un-Apple like.  Once the download buffered sufficiently, playback was smooth.  Overall the video quality was excellent, not Blu-ray quality but sufficient to warrant the difference in price for the HD rental–an extra dollar.  The movie appeared a bit dark.  I immediately thought Apple might be covering some compression artifacts.

Overall, AppleTV is great for the impulse rental satisfying a need that Netflix (via mail) cannot satisfy (Netflix download service doesn’t work with Mac and I don’t want to watch on my computer anyway).

Oct 22

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Imagine the Sony PS3 as a digital media center

As Brier Dudley from the Seattle Times points out in his latest article,

A lot of people who bought fancy TVs over the past year or two have been looking for ways to get more digital content on their screens. They’ve been waiting for high-def player prices to fall, and for a resolution to the format war between the Sony-backed Blu-ray and the Microsoft-backed HD-DVD.

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. My repsonse: You bet they do, but not just from Blu-ray or HD-DVD discs, more and more they want to get content online. Blu-ray is great and I enjoy watching HD movies on my PS3. But more and more, I would really like to be able to access online content.

Dudley continues,

That’s where Sony is releasing an add-on TV tuner that turns the PS3 into a TiVo-like video recorder. It’s also where Sony is talking up plans for an online video and music store, similar to the ones operated here by Microsoft and Amazon.

Cool, I can watch and record TV and even download videos and music directly from Sony. Sounds great, doesn’t it? What about my iTunes library, YouTube, Flickr and all the other content available online? Will I be able listen/view that content? What about online content like Hulu? Will Sony make all that available and stream it to my PS3? Well, it’s too early to say for sure, to my knowledge Sony hasn’t been specific about online content for its PS3 platform, but based on the past behavior let’s say–I doubt it.

Dudley asks the pivotal question,

Will we keep using PCs to download and store this stuff, or will some computerish consumer-electronics gadget emerge as the new home-entertainment hub?

With game consoles in over 40% of US households and with most of the consoles in broadband connected households, the PS3, XBox 360 and Nintendo Wii, could play a pivotal roles as an entertainment hubs. The problem is each of these companies has a vested interest in building an ecosystem around their platform and only their platform. Call it an “insular ecosystem”. So when Sony builds their online content service, it will serve PS3s and only PS3s. Microsoft will counter with an expanded 360 content platform serving only 360s. And lest one forget, the PS3 (and the 360) as game platforms first and foremost.

While both Sony and Microsoft have become more comfortable with the “give away the razor, sell the blades” economics of game consoles (I am sure they would both vehemently state their hardware businesses are profitable–sure they are, because they can dump much of the costs into another category on the P&L), content and services will be rolled almost exclusively as a platform differentiator. In other words, they will view online content and services as a marketing expense to sell more hardware to sell more games.

As long as Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo create insular ecosystems, the game console as a digital hub will never take off.

For now, it is great to see the online connectivity options enhanced on the PS3. I am certain there will be more to this story.

Feb 13

Blu-Ray AND HD-DVD broken

blu-ray_hd-dvd_logoCory Doctorow has posted an article on BoingBoing discussing the recent news that the processing keys for AACS, the DRM system used by Blu-Ray and HD-DVD have been extracted. This allows the content on EVERY Blu-Ray and HD-DVD to be decrypted. This news builds on the recent news that the volume keys for HD-DVD had been compromised. Quoting from Cory Doctorow:

AACS took years to develop, and it has been broken in weeks. The developers spent billions, the hackers spent pennies.

For DRM to work, it has to be airtight. There can’t be a single mistake. It’s like a balloon that pops with the first prick. That means that every single product from every single vendor has to perfectly hide their keys, perfectly implement their code. There can’t be a single way to get into the guts of the code to retrieve the cleartext or the keys while it’s playing back. All attackers need is a single mistake that they can use to compromise the system.

There is no future in which bits will get harder to copy. Instead of spending billions on technologies that attack paying customers, the studios should be confronting that reality and figuring out how to make a living in a world where copying will get easier and easier. They’re like blacksmiths meeting to figure out how to protect the horseshoe racket by sabotaging railroads.

Arnezami from the Doom9 forum describes the moment:

But then I realized why I first didn’t find the Media Key: it was removed from memory after the Volume ID was retrieved and the VUK calculated. I also saw that in my “corrupt” memdump the VUK, Vol ID, Media Key and the Title Key MAC were all closely clustered in memory: in the first 50kb (of the entire multi megabyte file!) but there were large empty parts around it. Almost as if it was cleaned up. This gave me an idea: what I wanted to do is “record” all changes in this part of memory during startup of the movie. Hopefully I would catch something insteresting. In the end I did something a little more effiecient: I used the hd dvd vuk extractor (thanks ape!) and adapted it to slow down the software player (while scanning its memory continously) and at the very moment the Media Key (which I now knew: my bottom-up approach really paid off here) was detected it halted the player. I then made a memdump with WinHex. I now had the feeling I had something.

And I did. Not suprisingly the very first C-value was a hit. I then checked if everyting was correct, asked for confirmation and here we are.

Read more at BoingBoing

Jan 29

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AACS Hack Blamed on Bad Player Implementation

Ars Technica article. According to a statement from the AACS LA, AACS has not been seriously compromised. Yea, right.

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Jan 29

AACS Attack: a Clear and Present Danger to DRM

Group that represents AACS downplays attack, however reality presents a stark future.

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