Wednesday, March 31, 2010

HDCP - The Worst HDTV Consumer Nightmare, or the Best Digital Content Protection?

Why is HDCP?

In terms of affecting the content industry is all marketing channels - either through its over-the-air signals, Blu-ray or HD-DVD and HDTV cable and satellite must be guaranteed.

Well, the HD digital content, but DVI and HDMI offers the maximum amount of quality video available today. While great for retail, is also good for counterfeiters, DVI and HDMI connections you can use to get to a perfect video signal.

This isBackground for the emergence of high bandwidth digital content protection - also known as HDCP.

HDCP is on a three-step - authentication, encryption and key revocation - trial, video transmission and delivery at the end of the process of video display control.

Technically, the HDCP pure content, no copy protection, restrictions on copying, sharing, etc., must be held by other processes in the signal chain cable and satellite TV offeringsCassette Player, HD DVD, etc. What is High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection, there are simply no guarantees that whatever content restrictions are in place, will be performed by authenticating both the sender and recipient.

HDCP requirements for interoperability

A source requires an HDCP compatible DVI HDCP or HDMI receivers because they allow the transfer of HD content. What's more, all active components in the chain of connectivity HDTVbe HDCP compliant, otherwise it would not be able to enjoy the high definition content.

One might think that it is still possible to remain so in the enjoyment of HD content, as you have done so far - though the "old" HDTV is not compatible with HDCP, but ...

It is true that prevent most high-definition support, boxes full of high-definition video via component, but the creation of pirate copies of high resolution to ban the HDCP non-compliant productsto convert HDCP protected content at full resolution analog form - unless, allowing in particular for content providers.

What does this mean?

Connecting a source HDCP as an HD-DVD or Blu-ray, not a complaint-down receiver - at best - force-close the source device to convert the video resolution through analog outputs on a standard DVD quality, in Likewise, DVD-Audio is limited or the quality HDCP compliant DAT - Digital AudioOutputs. In the worst case - what you get is a blank problem!

In other words, if you want to be sure that you will always be able to take advantage of the full resolution of HD content on your TV or monitor, the monitor must be HDCP-eligible for support.

Why HDCP be the biggest "nightmare" for the first HDTV?

Its HDCP means using a digital interface - in particular the use of DVI and HDMI inputsOutputs. At the same time, a DVI or HDMI, does not necessarily mean that the HDCP compatibility. Many large manufacturers came in the early years of the DVI and HDMI products that are not compatible with HDCP.

Part of the reason for this anomaly is that until the last, HDCP is not necessary. In fact, this protocol for the protection of digital content, which the FCC almost a year after we began to see, was the first HDMI-enabled devices on the shelf commercial, and at a timeDVI, if you already have a number of years.

To a certain extent, this situation has one major problem that many early adopters of HDTV are turned face today - those are paying top dollar for HDTV on the first futures market. The TVs are truly capable of displaying full high-definition content, but they are not HDCP compatible HDMI (or DVI) inputs are required to digitally with the latest generation of interface High Definitionas HD-DVD and Blu-ray.

The bottom line is that it would not be able to watch high definition content on these HDTV sets. At best, what you get, a convert-down version of high definition video on the fourth component that offered a maximum resolution of 1920x1080 HD.

Down convert the image from the analog outputs will be implemented by a special flag camera - Image Constraint Token (ICT) - in the field of digital rightsManagement standards, is used to protect movies from unauthorized copying. The decision of this flag to restrict output through the player or have closed set-top box component video output is that the study or the content provider, left, which is responsible for the implementation of ICT in a drive-by drive, or content-by-base content.

Fortunately, there is a sort of silver lining in this cloud of confusion. Content providers are aware of the difficulties that the implementation of HDCP-channel surround sound with regard to knowledgethis consumer base. In one experiment, a willingness to respond to these consumers - half way - until they upgrade their current HDTV display some studies have stated publicly that they would not require converting analog down. Sony Pictures Entertainment has stated publicly that the Blu-ray discs do not wear ICT, some studies have indicated that others will follow suit. This means that display at least some of the first Blu-ray for fullHigh definition resolution for all owners of HDTV. Similarly, Universal Studios said that currently, are not down-sample content on their HD-DVD discs.

Note however that not all content providers to follow in the footsteps of Sony and Universal. For example, imagine Warner - a supporter of ICT - has indicated it intends to implement the conversion of "at least" some of his first HD-DVD discs. And still more: the studios, which are not implementedICTs are not required to maintain their current position for an indefinite time, therefore, do not be surprised to see ICT implemented across the flat a few years - especially since the current format war between Blu-ray and HD-DVD as well, and equally important is reached when the penetration of HDTV-compatible set the right level.

The Bottom Line

We believe that owners of non-compatible HDTV would still be able to get several years of enjoyment from their sets to --In other words, there is no reason to hurry up and upgrade. This means that you can take all the time until the upgrade plan HDTV, but ...

Be warned that the needs such as ICT and plans for new equipment, resources only through an output HDCP / HDMI connection, you can transform your old HDTV unnecessary! If in the process would not be able to update your equipment, you may end up with an HDTV set that does not make sense when it comes to playing back HD content!

(ForFor information on how this process works to protect the contents as well as HDCP compliance related questions, please visit the http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/hdcp.html).

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