Floppyhead – Digital Media and Streaming

Microsoft has its sights set on your living room with the release of Vista, the latest version of Windows. High definition programming is the wave of the future, and Vista’s media center offers support for the next generation of DVDs, HD-DVDs and Blu-ray discs, and cable high defintion channels through CableCard. In order to ensure that the latest high definition movies can be watched on a computer operating on Windows Vista, Microsoft has succumbed to the wishes of the major content companies, as well as the MPAA and the RIAA, by loading Vista with digital rights management (DRM). Microsoft is receiving a lot of negative press about the pervasiveness of DRM in Vista with many complaining that the giant from Redmond rolled over for the movie studios with little regard for their own customers and users of Windows.

Microsoft appears to be following the blueprint perfected by Apple with the iPod. Microsoft wanted to make sure that certain technologies like CableCard support were included in Vista and was willing to agree to limitations on consumers because it knew that all DRM efforts eventually would be cracked. Apple has set the precedent for using DRM to placate the RIAA, and then benefiting from “illegal” cracking of the Fairplay DRM. Apple makes most of its money selling iPods, not music. The fact that info on how to circumvent DRM is available online, does not greatly impact Apple’s profits, since it wants to sell iPods.

For Vista, High Definition Content Protection (HDCP) is integrated into the operating system. This integration allows for high definition cable channels and next generation DVDs to be viewed on a Vista media center computer. These new features come with a price, mainly a limitation on how and where movies can be viewed, and what hardware can show movies and recorded television programs. For instance, the average computer nerd (like me!) can no longer build their own computer to use as a media center if they want to record high definition cable television. Instead, they have to buy an approved CableLabs computer. CableLabs has to approve all OEM vendors that use CableCards to view HD programming. In addition, users will not be able to move HD content from on one computer to another computer or a portable device.

If HDCP is cracked or can be circumvented, these limitations are no longer an issue and the uproar from the tech community over DRM will subside. I think this is what Microsoft is counting on. In fact, the content protection scheme for both HD-DVDs and Blu-ray discs appear to already be cracked, even before the technology has become mainstream. Limitations will be circumvented and desired features will be put back into media centers.