Author Topic: A sign of the end of times (Read 1216 times)

Charon · « **Reply #15 on:** October 11, 2006, 03:49:03 PM »

Is there any way to aftermarket spoof it with some sort of add on module I could plug the component cables into with an HDMI interface on the other end?

Charon

Skuzzy · « **Reply #16 on:** October 11, 2006, 03:55:39 PM »

No way to spoof it. It's in the hardware. Software cannot touch it.

HD content is not ever supposed to be delivered over component. It is only supposed to be available via the HDMI/DVI connection.

Now, converting component input to HDMI/DVI is all good. The data coming from the component path is still 480, so it will not have to pass HDCP muster.

Charon · « **Reply #17 on:** October 11, 2006, 04:03:21 PM »

I was wondering about a hardware handshake from the module itself, but then I suppose you would have to do a digital to analog conversion as well, and of course the hardware would likely be illegal in some way regardless.

Charon

Skuzzy · « **Reply #18 on:** October 11, 2006, 04:08:06 PM »

There is no reason to try and spoof it. The output over the component cannot be over 480. The device delivering the content through the component connection will restrict the output to 480.

Basically, there is no way to get HD content via a component connection. HD content being defined as any video content exceeding 480 lines of resolution. HDCP prevents HD content from being delivered over anything other than HDMI/DVI connections (sans the actual broadcast in the case of HD broadcasts).

Sure, you could have a box accepting component inputs, then the box does a 3:2 pull down conversion to get to 720 and output that on HDMI/DVI. Perfectly legal to do. There are boxes on the market that do that today.

Charon · « **Reply #19 on:** October 11, 2006, 04:25:52 PM »

Quote

The output over the component cannot be over 480.

Is that a physical limitation of component cabling/interface? I was under the impression I could get HD at 1080I though my cable provider via component. That's all I have on my supposedly HD "ready" TV for an input, other than composite or S-video, so I hope so at least for that.

I think I might have been confusing in stating the goal. I have an HDTV with component inputs. Future media players will require HDMI for exchanging HD video. But, what if...

The HD output from, say, a Blue Ray player is connceted via HDMI to a hardware box with an HDMI interface on one end. That interface then says "Hello, I'm a fellow HDMI system" and receives the data stream. Then, could that received digital signal signal be converted to analog component by the intermediary hardware box and then be sent out the other end to my HD-enabled TV via a seperate componet interface?

Charon

Skuzzy · « **Reply #20 on:** October 11, 2006, 04:33:14 PM »

Nope. Once the HDMI box says "Hey I can handle it!", then it goes to put it out over the component outputs, it downsamples it to 480 to do so. This is a requirement of the HDCP specification.

Technically, there is no reason why you cannot deliver up to 1080i over a component connection. It just is being disallowed via HDCP.

By the way, you bought a TV set which is "HD Ready". I believe that "HD Ready" simply means you have to add an HD tuner to receive HD broadcasts. If the set does not have an HDMI or DVI port, it cannot meet HDCP requirements, which means it cannot display HD content at resolutions higher than 480p from a DVD player, for example.

Charon · « **Reply #21 on:** October 11, 2006, 04:42:19 PM »

Well, at least I'm covered by the tuner and broadcast programming then. 480p isn't all that bad, and I already have a media library of DVDs so a big FU to blue ray for a number of years to come. Somehow, I don't think there will be a rush of people looking to make the leap anytime soon. Is anybody hear really chomping at the bit to move to this technology? I don't see "that" big a difference between 480p and 1080i - I wonder about 1080p?

I can only hope this leads to a massive consumer backlash as soon as more people start to realize these problems. The TIVO hit will certainly contribute to the cause. Lets hope for a continued bumpy road with this crap

Charon

Skuzzy · « **Reply #22 on:** October 11, 2006, 04:47:46 PM »

There is a huige difference in the quality from 480p to 720p. Quite frankly, I think 720p looks better than 1080i.

1080p is going to take a while to be widespread. It can be had with some very expensive equipment right now, but there are not many televisions which will natively support 1080p.

I took the plunge on an HD TV, only because I got a incredible deal on it. It works fine with the DiSH HD PVR (720p), so I am content right now.

But I am watching what is happening with great interest.

By the way, anyone notice Hitachi/Maxell just developed a new 5 1/4" optical disc (not the holographic one) which can hold a terra-byte of data on one side?

Chairboy · « **Reply #23 on:** October 11, 2006, 04:53:36 PM »

One of many reasons I'm currently assembling parts to build that MythTV box. Cool new development, since I have a Comcast digital box w/ Firewire out, I can get the local HDTV stuff that usually goes over the air without needing to buy an HDTV capture care. The FCC forced comcast to activate the firewire and offer anything that's available via ota in clean, MPEG-2 digital streaming goodness.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #24 on:** October 11, 2006, 04:57:26 PM »

Yep, over the air transmissions are not subject to HDCP. HDCP was/is only meant to be used for pre-recorded media and to prevent copying of HD content. You can record over-the-air, but none of the HD DVD (HD or BluRay) players will play it back at full resolution.

Course, MPEG-2 really sucks for HD content. When MPEG-4 is finally the norm, things will look much, much better.

Sundowner · « **Reply #25 on:** October 11, 2006, 05:03:23 PM »

Add the latest copyright scheme to the mix....

October 10, 2006
Protect DVD-Video - A slap in the face for PC and Media Center owners

The movie industry seems determined to continue on a course where it happily erodes the rights of legitimate users, all in the name of securing profits. The latest example of this comes in the form of a DVD copy protection technology called Protect DVD-Video which actually prevents a DVD being played on a Windows PC using Windows Media Player, Windows Media Center Edition or any software players based on DirectShow.

Protect DVD-Video is the brainchild of a company called ProtectDisc. Part of the copy-protection mechanism is a non-standard UDF (Universal Disc Format) file system which results in the IFO file on the DVD (this is the file responsible for storing information on chapters, subtitles and audio tracks) appearing to the PC as being zero bytes long. ...

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/index.php?p=114

Regards,
Sun

Nilsen · « **Reply #26 on:** October 11, 2006, 05:07:18 PM »

Ill sit here and watch what happens when the dust settles on the HD-DVD/Blueray fight... Im in no hurry. My B&O Tv will last for another decade and give me what i need. DVD is good enough for me. The movies doesnt get any better just because they are HD.

Ill upgrade when one standard wins and a couple more generations of flat panel tvs have reached reasonable prices.

Beeing a part of early adopters/inovator of any new AV system type thing is even more expencive than beeing one of those benchmark/3d mark chasing computer geeks....

J_A_B · « **Reply #27 on:** October 11, 2006, 05:33:53 PM »

My console TV and VCR still work great.

I buy new technology when it suits me, not when it suits some corporate bigwigs.

J_A_B

Masherbrum · « **Reply #28 on:** October 11, 2006, 11:02:47 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Nilsen
Ill sit here and watch what happens when the dust settles on the HD-DVD/Blueray fight... Im in no hurry. My B&O Tv will last for another decade and give me what i need. DVD is good enough for me. The movies doesnt get any better just because they are HD.

I have YET to see an "HDTV" have a better picture than my 27" JVC that has been calibrated. My brother has a 53" D-ILA JVC that I calibrated to get a better than mine. He more or less changed the settings and hiked up the color right after I left.

The TV I REALLY want is a 37" Widescreen Loewe Aconda (CRT). There isn't a TV under $7000 that can touch the picture quality (from Pioneer Elite on down).

Really the best bet IS to stand pat and see where the chips fall.

Debonair · « **Reply #29 on:** October 12, 2006, 01:22:06 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by J_A_B
My console TV and VCR still work great.

I buy new technology when it suits me, not when it suits some corporate bigwigs.

J_A_B

zOMG u console TV guys:mad:

(i used to be in the TV/VCR repair .biz, console meant an extra guy for the pickup & delivery)