Short Bits: Managed Copy, Media Center University, Sideshow
The dream of legally copying a Blu-ray Disc to your hard
drive and streaming it to other devices might be over before it starts. Managed Copy, the cornerstone of the AACS
content protection system might never actually get off the ground, reports
Consumer Electronics Daily (CED).
While the finalized AACS specifications could be done as
early as summer (well over a year late), it is not likely to include Managed Copy according to the
report. The issue appears to be content
licensing, with studios having not always having the content rights to allow
for a Managed Copy. Such a good idea that might never be....
Update: I've heard conflicting reports about this, CED has yet to publish anything to the contrary however.
Sideshow remotes and devices are not coming fast enough in
the consumer market, but it looks like the high end guys are getting into the
market. Crestron
now has Sideshow support in their ZigBee-compatible MLX-2 handheld remote and
the APAD keypad. Sure would be nice if we could get some Sideshow love in the
consumer market.
CE Pro also has a collection
of articles and guides for their Media Center University geared toward integrators
and installers. You need a CE Pro account to download them, but lots of
good stuff in there especially if you’re a CI looking to get started with Media
Center.