Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Analog sunset begins, all the new Blu-ray players will only output HD via HDMI]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/10/analog-sunset-begins-all-the-new-blu-ray-players-will-only-outp/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/10/analog-sunset-begins-all-the-new-blu-ray-players-will-only-outp/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/10/analog-sunset-begins-all-the-new-blu-ray-players-will-only-outp/#commentsLas Vegas Sunset The chicken littles have been worried about this since long before the first Blu-ray (or even HD DVD) title was ever released, and the first step towards the analog sunset has officially come. Any new Blu-ray player announced after January 1st 2011 will only output HD via HDMI -- players that started shipping last year can still be sold until the end of this year though. If you just love component video, you might figure you'll be able to get a player today and continue to enjoy it for years to come, but maybe not. You see the studios also have the Image Constraint Token (ICT) which when set on a title will tell every and all Blu-ray players to down convert analog output to 540p. The only reprieve is that if its set on a title, it must be marked on the box, and of course it can't be retroactively set (any title you own now will continue to play exactly the same way it does on your existing players). We're waiting for final confirmation, but apparently the ICT hasn't been an option to studios until now so start looking for the icon on your latest purchases. The final stage in the sunset is 2013 when analog outputs will be removed from Blu-ray players completely, but we suspect we'll have better things to worry about by then like ultra HD or digital distribution.

Analog sunset begins, all the new Blu-ray players will only output HD via HDMI originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AACSanalog sunsetAnalogSunsetBlu-rayICTimage constraint tokenImageConstraintTokenMon, 10 Jan 2011 21:34:00 EST<![CDATA[CableCARD recordings and Blu-ray play at full resolution over analog outputs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/01/cablecard-recordings-and-blu-ray-play-at-full-resolution-over-an/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/01/cablecard-recordings-and-blu-ray-play-at-full-resolution-over-an/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/01/cablecard-recordings-and-blu-ray-play-at-full-resolution-over-an/#comments
Yes we know this is not news, but you'd think it was based on the various stories around the web like this one from Yahoo Tech. We don't mean to pick on this one specifically because honestly it is a very common mistake -- although this particular article is way off as the newer Macs do support HDCP -- but as draconian as CableLabs and the AACS can be, the analog hole is still open. Now that doesn't mean these DRM requirements aren't crazy or that this protected path we always hear about is a joking matter, but it is all for naught when the HD signal hits the analog outputs -- the digital outputs do require HDCP though. This means you can watch any Blu-ray Disc or digital cable program recorded with an ATI Digital Cable Tuner at full 1080i via VGA or component -- Blu-ray Discs can be played back at 1080p via VGA but component doesn't support it. Now we're not trying to say this will always be the case, as both technologies support down-rezzing via analog outputs, but as it stands now these bits have never turned on. Now to the main point of this particular article, which is why Macs don't have a CableCARD option. Our best guess would be that Elgato doesn't want to pony up the $200k for the CableLabs certification process and honestly we don't blame 'em.

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CableCARD recordings and Blu-ray play at full resolution over analog outputs originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AACSanalog holeAnalogHoleblu rayblu-rayblurayCableCARDDCTElgatohdHDCPICTimage constraint tokenImageConstraintTokenMacOSXSun, 01 Feb 2009 20:41:00 EST