RSSUsers of iTunes video can't play back their own content
By Tim Conneally | Published November 18, 2008, 3:49 PM
The newest MacBooks and MacBook Pros are Apple's first devices with the Mini DisplayPort as their standard video out. But owners are discovering that display port comes with an extra added bonus, which they may not have asked for.
High definition content protection (HDCP) is being used to protect iTunes video purchases from being played through anything but direct Mini DisplayPort connections.
As a result, even when using Apple's Mini DisplayPort to VGA adapters, as Engadget, among others, recently found out, a lot of content from iTunes simply will not play back, even in QuickTime or through Boot Camp.
Any attempt to play back certain content through an external monitor will return the error message: "This movie cannot be played because a display that is not authorized to play protected movies is connected. Try disconnecting any displays that are not HDCP authorized."
Naturally, complaints in Apple's support forum have been coming in, one user began having problems just over a week ago:
"I updated my ATV the day 2.2 came out," the user wrote. "I have watched HD iTunes content fine up until 2 nights ago, when all of a sudden I started getting the HDCP error. Even shows I'd watched as early as 3 or 4 days ago are giving me the same error. Nothing has changed on my system and I've even done a factory restore and re-installed the 2.2 update. I've also switched cables, turned the ATV on/off/on/off with and without the HDMI cable connected."
HDCP has been the subject of criticism in the past, especially when Windows Vista was released, because it was not supported by the majority of PC monitors available at the time.
This is yet another attempt to protect intellectual property rights. It seems like it is usually at the expense of the experience of the end user.
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|This is old. I think people were warning about DRM "benefits" 10 years ago? Does this surprise anyone?
If you care about the data, you should never protect it with ANY form of DRM or run it on a OS that does the protecting for you.
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|iTunes sucks! It's a big piece of crapware from Crapple and the other one is Crapple SlowTime
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|agree it should be called RESTRICTED video content.
One more reason NOT to buy a rotten apple
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|LOL
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|And not to buy Vista, Blu-Ray, etc.... All this DRM s*** sucks. Apple and Microsoft are being forced into all this DRM bulls*** by the MAFIAA.
And at the end of the day, more people are torrenting and ripping DVDs and now even Blu-Ray so they can access the content they want to. Some people would have never even considered BitTorrent get pushed there by this DRM bulls***.
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|MAFIAA
LOLz- that's too funny
and sadly much too accurate...
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|Genius, HDCP is an industry standard.
Duh...
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|Rotten Apple iTunes = bloatware!!
Zune software is much better than iTunes
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|And the nitwit MS fanboy and troll shows he hasn't a clue as to the meaning or significance of HDCP.
And the clueless idiot tries to turn HDCP into a platform dependent issue.
LOL!
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|that same old idiot barks again! dumb @ss when did I say that? I just said that crappy iTunes is bloated and nothing else you IDIOT!! next time read the post properly before BARKING!!
LOL
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|You ignorant moron he is right. Seems like you are a troll and gay partner of internetworld7 and Stevie Jobless :P
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|Way to stay on topic then.
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|The subject is HDCP , 'dumb@ss'.
Try reading the above article and post something remotely related to the subject, dimwit.
Your personal non sequitur hangups with things Apple notwithstanding.
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|Most LCD flat panels that have digital video connectors (DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.) are HDCP compliant. There's never been any reason to use an LCD monitor with a computer that does not have a digital video port due to the horrible picture quality.
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|Definitely a factor worth considering when I make my decision on a new notebook...
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|More like those Apple buyers do not read the specs.
Serves them right for falling for a logo and I hope Apple does not cave and offer then something for nothing.
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|I have figured out a way to batch convert all of my wifes purchased iTunes music files to regular MP3 at once.
It's nice being able to listen to songs she paid for on more than one portable device.
As far as the videos go, anyone who purchases them from iTunes is a sucker.
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|And to think that some have had the audacity to suggest that Apple has not copied a few things from MS! ;-)
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|What was that about Apple customer satisfaction?
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|I have to laugh at this one...
Thats what the computer noobs get for buying protected video content.
Boycott that protected video bullsh*t!
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|Maybe we should start call that RESTRICTED video content and not "protected", because for sure WE are not protected.
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|Haha..... owned. Dont really understand people bothering buying content over iTunes, there are so many better and cheaper alternatives out there.
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|It's like buying a car and being told it only drives in one town. Well, good on Apple anyway for sucking millions out of their willing followers.
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|"High definition content protection (HDCP) is being used to protect iTunes video purchases from being played on non-HDCP compliant devices."
Call me mad, but what do you expect?
It's not going to work if it's being protected by HDCP and you're plugging in a non-HDCP monitor.
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|You're not mad, that was a bad edit. Thanks!
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|Apple tech(genius) support must have better things to do then help people watch movies. I have a feeling that M$ tech support people never get calls like this.
Not like you can play any of this stuff outside iTunes or apple toys..
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|Its impressive that so few of the self-entitled here understand what that means!
Of course, why should appliances actually perform compliant to standards?
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|They could use the ICT to limit the resolution...
But of course, it's Apple, so whatever they choose is the best decision. At least, according to the fanboys.
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