HDCP - Part 3: What it Means for Consumers
Previously I talked about what HDCP is, and how it does what it does; as well as problems With HDCP, and why big media uses it anyway. This time we’re going to talk about what HDCP means for consumers.
It is currently nigh unto impossible to find anything with an HDCP or DVI cable that doesn’t have HDCP installed in it, so the consumer is either going to have to forego getting their digital TV with HDCP installed, or they’re going to have to put up with HDCP.
If the consumer already has something with an HDMI or DVI port that doesn’t have HDCP, and they buy something with an HDCP enabled HDMI or DVI port, then they cannot use the two together. At best, the HDCP enabled device will only cause HD content to be reduced in resolution. Worst case, even when viewing non-HD content, the consumer won’t be able to get the two to work together at all. If the HDCP compliant device is a source device, it won’t even output full HD content on the analog component source, so you won’t be able to watch an HD movie on your HD TV at all.
Luckily for everyone, the people at COX communication haven’t fallen for the HDCP hype yet, and don’t send out receivers equipped with this idiotic technology. This means that, even if it’s just with the analog component cords, all of their customers will be able to view HD content if they buy the service.
The biggest problem is that even if consumers buy everything to be HDCP enabled, hackers are currently out there hacking device keys for every product on the market. Some of them don’t share this information, but some put it out on the web. Once the central HDCP authority of DCP-LLC (a branch company of Intel) finds out about this, they revoke the device’s HDCP key, meaning that the next time your HDCP compliant gigital tuner equipped TV or cable box receives it’s periodic revocation list update, or the next time your HDCP compliant HD-DVD player or Blueray disk player receives an update on that disk, that device will forever refuse to interact with whichever one of your devices is ruled to be insecure.
That means that digital cable prices go up, because the cable company has to keep replacing leased cable boxes. Your TV will suddenly no longer receive HD content from any of your updated devices. Your TV may suddenly stop showing HD information from one of your compromised source devices. This means, best case, that you have to pay hundreds of dollars to display HDCP content again. Worse case, it means that you have to replace your device, potentially a huge TV, to display anything at all.
And that’s why, in my personal opinion, HDCP not only qualifies as a stupid, selfish, greedy move by big media; it is directly damaging to the consumer, who products are supposed to serve.
August 8th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
This is going to sound odd, but I found a post you left on a forum like 4 months ago about IE6 displaying a page wrong when IE7 and other browsers displayed it correctly. If you would be willing to contact me to let me know how you fixed it, I would be in your debt. Feel free to delete this comment in any case. My email address is entered into this form and I hope you can access it.
August 8th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Thanks for your comment response on the separateion of church and state. While the 1st ammendment does not actually use that term, it has been interpreted to indicate that there should be a separation of church and state. I am not opposed to religion as long as it does not start telling followers to start killing or subjugating non-followers. But religion does make me nervous. I am an athiest and religions do not make any sense to me. Dale Hahn
August 12th, 2007 at 7:20 am
Martin,
I’ll try to get in contact with you. Hopefully I can get you the help you need.
Dale,
Yes, “Separate” in the sense of being two different entities and “Separate” in the sense of being sent to two different corners of the metaphorical room of human existence to sit and pout are two different things.
And if you like Dale, I’d be willing to have a discussion of religion with you Dale, maybe I can help it make sense for you. Maybe not.
As long as the government protects my right to practice a religion, and protects your right not to practice a religion, that’s what that part of the amendment is all about. Forbidding Christmas or All Hallows Eve decorations because someone gets lawsuit happy, on the other hand, is going over the edge.