[mythtv-users] Blu-ray support from Apple or Linux. branched from VDPAU capable mac mini thread

[jarpublic at gmail.com]

> I like the idea of using an external Blu-Ray drive. First you can move
> it from frontend to frontend as needed and is much cheaper than buying
> one to fit in the Mini. You can even find some nice external
> enclosures that wouldn't look horribly ugly next to the mini.
>
> Just a thought. Not that there is any software for OSX that can play
> Blu-Ray discs yet though...

Apple would have to implement a protected media path (like Vista did)
to enable full support for blu-ray. In order to get licensed for
blu-ray/AACS the OS has to provide a protected path for video and
audio. Microsoft took a lot of heat for doing this in Vista so they
could get AACS licensed, but they are also the only game in town when
it comes to blu-ray. This is also why, like with DVDs, Linux will
never play blu-ray discs legally in the US. Here is a good article
from ars technica discussing the issues:
http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2007/08/aacs-tentacles.ars.
Interestingly back in 2007 he predicted that Apple would have blu-ray
support. But as more time passes and HD downloads get more prevalent,
it looks like Apple may never support blu-ray.