HD-DVD and Blu-ray only on 64b Vista

Bill Ravens wrote on 8/31/2006, 6:07 AM

I love the way this industry evolves.
http://www.apcstart.com/site/dwarne/2006/08/1139/microsoft-cuts-another-feature-full-hd-playback-in-32bit-vista
Now, it seems, M$ will only allow HD-DVD and Blu-ray playback in 64 bit Vista because the 32 bit version won't be compliant with copy protection. Oh, and by the way, 64 bit Vista is severely lacking in the full range of necessary drivers for most apps. The concumer, AKA, you 'n me, get the shaftola, once again.

Comments

ScottW wrote on 8/31/2006, 6:17 AM

This is only an issue if you want to play your commercial movies on your PC. Really, I don't see this as being that big of a deal.

The real issue is unsigned drivers. With an unsigned driver, MS cannot promise that there isn't some kernel mode code running that has the ability to defeat copy protection. The studios find this unacceptable and hence the requirement.

So basically, it sounds to me like Vista is going to require that all drivers be signed. This has a much larger impact, since a number of hardware vendors don't currently go thru the signing process; likewise, things like driver bug fixes are frequently released unsigned.

--Scott

farss wrote on 8/31/2006, 6:20 AM

Don't you just love the way people try to rewrite history!

M$ have no real interest in DRM, in fact they're dead against it, hence their spat with Sony and the Blu-Ray camp. Sony just couldn't cope with the concept of us being able to stream HiDef around our homes which was core to M$ plans for HTPCs and the wired house.

So M$ are forced into a corner. Anyone can write a 32bit driver that bypasses DRM, it's only with Vista that they can enforce driver signing and hence placate Sony and the rest of Hollywood.

Bob.

p@mast3rs wrote on 8/31/2006, 6:28 AM

This rumor was debunked hours after the MS person made the statement.