Short Bits: Digital Copy, tru2way, Big Media
Remember just last month when I said “I’d like
to see companies embrace the fact that DVD is still the mainstream format?” Based on a story in CED from this past week
studios are starting to realize that’s the key, with one Warner exec saying “….64 percent of
consumers said having a digital file gives better value.” This story was
about including protected digital copies of films on DVDs (Example) which I think is a great idea and needs to happen much more often (on all DVDs).
Now let’s also see it work the opposite way too, if I buy a digital download
allow me to get the physical DVD at a discounted price (or free? Yeah right)
I know I haven’t covered tru2way much yet, but that’s
because there isn’t much to say.
Quickly, tru2way is CableLabs basically renaming the CableCARD 2.0/OCAP platform. Of course a large majority of the media
doesn’t understand any part of it; CNET even asked if tru2way can succeed
where CableCARD failed. Just so we
are clear, tru2way is a platform for CableCARDs. It’s now a two-way platform instead of
one-way like all previous devices. It
will require use of the exact same CableCARDs (which are
all two-way). MegaZone
did a good job explaining it, yet CNET didn’t retract the article or edit
it despite the fact it is 100% incorrect.
Two-way CableCARD for Media Center isn’t
likely to appear until Windows 7.
Speaking of CNET (now owned by CBS), anyone else find it
ironic that big media conglomerates have purchased these smaller outlets which still
post on things like breaking copy
protection on DVDs? Hey CBS, if your
new media outlets are going to report on breaking copy protection, let’s just
skip the formalities and disable things like CGMS-A on Showtime, AACS on CBS
Blu-ray Discs, CSS on DVDs, etc.
