[mythtv-users] Silicondust Makes CableCard Announcement

Simon Hobson linux at thehobsons.co.uk
Sat Jan 9 17:41:46 UTC 2010


jedi wrote:

>  > Really? And when did you have that experience? I play all sorts of
>  > "alien" and "DRM-free" content on my OS/X machine!...

>     When? As soon as I tried to start playing or manipulating something other
>than a quicktime file. I still havent gotten vob access sorted out for Apple's
>tools although 3rd party applications seem less limited.
>
>     Only really odd example is how iMovie will barf on the same video if it is
>read straight off the camera rather than exported through iMovie directly.
>
>     Sure, if you are geeky you can dinker around with Perian and other things
>for awhile. I didn't realize how much I had gotten spoiled by apt-get until
>I tried getting all of my videos playing in quicktime and Front Row.

You seem to be confusing problems with file type/player compatibility 
vs DRM. Nothing you'd described is a DRM issue. There's a big 
difference between crippling stuff with DRM and just not including 
support for all formats.


However, I would agree, Apple do like DRM (even if they **claimed** 
'the bad boys made us do it' with iTunes and music). The difference 
is that not a lot of people have actually noticed.

iTunes and iPods are carefully designed to be incompatible with 3rd 
party stuff - enforced by DRM and proprietary interfaces. The ability 
to link third party products (whether software or remote speakers for 
example) directly into iTunes is severely restricted. We all know (I 
hope) hope locked down the iPhone and iPod Touch are.

Even simple things like the power connector on my current laptop. 
Have you seen any third parties producing compatible (and I'd expect 
a LOT cheaper) power supplies ? No ? Well that's because no-one dares 
- Apple have stated that the MagSafe connector is covered by patents 
and no-one can afford the legal bills that would undoubtedly come 
with any competing product. FWIW, I don't believe there are any 
**valid** patents applicable because it does NOT do anything that is 
patentable due to prior art.

Apple really does try to out-MS MS - and I think they are succeeding. 
The difference is that they are such a small target compared to MS, 
and in general the sort of people that care don't tend to be Apple's 
main market.


Lastly, I forget the details, but there is already some DRM stuff 
embedded in the OS. It was introduced several years ago with no 
announcement and only came to light when it malfunctioned and stopped 
professionals doing such things as editing their own videos.

-- 
Simon Hobson

Visit http://www.magpiesnestpublishing.co.uk/ for books by acclaimed
author Gladys Hobson. Novels - poetry - short stories - ideal as
Christmas stocking fillers. Some available as e-books.


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