klkyte

http://news.sel.sony.com/pressrelease/2021


Seems SONY has made a decision to manufacture new sets using the DVI standard incorporating copy protection. Best I can understand it, the xbr450 I just bought doesn't have the required adapters. You gotta be kidd'n.


Am I off base on this ????

emthree

Hi Klkyte:

Unfortunately, I don't think you are off base at all. This is one of those news releases that seem a lot more innocent than they actually are. This essentially means all CRT and rear projection HDTV compatible sets will be redundent. They won't be able to play the full 1080i high definitiopn broadcasts unless they are equipped with this DVI inputs. The sets with just with the component inputs will be able only to play the downgraded 480i/p signal. I just bought a Toshiba 50HX81 TV and it is such a bummer that it is obsolete even before it is delivered to-morrow. I am seriously considering cancelling or returning it within the 30 day window.

AdminJoe

I would wait until more press releases are released confirming this. Being that their are millions of HDTV sets out there, I see this as something that will not win over, just like DIVX.

If it does, your OTA antenna still will receive HDTV 1080i, but you prolly wont be able to get movie channels in 1080i, something I dont care about anyways, being that I collect DVD's.

__________________
*Joe the Admin*

Harvey S

Most present HDTVs are actually just HD capable or HD ready meaning they have no tuner. If you bought one you were told it would be great for DVD's but would need a separate HD receiver to get true HD signals. This also applies to over the air HDTV signals. You need to get a separate tuner to pick up the OTA signal. Thing is that under the new proposal these tuner boxes will also have the DVI output as well so that the same limitations that apply to other sources (cable and satelitte set top boxes) will also apply to OTA signal reception. You'll be able to tune the signal but the box will separate the encrypted high res signal and send it out only over the DVI connector. All you will see at the component output will be a 480 line signal.

thoennes

This really stinks - I just purchased an XBR450 as well.

What's to stop them putting this decryption decoder into the HDTV tuner and then output the decrypted signal on component video?

Harvey S

Two things stop them. first in order to use the deencryption technology manufacturers sign a licensing agreement saying they won't do this. Second if someone does it anyways (lets say an asian company markets a bootleg device) the new standard includes the ability to send a code in the HDTV signal that will disable any unauthorized device. Checkmate.

On the bright side, a lot of pressure will be placed on SONY and other manufacturers to provide an upgrade path for sets like our XBR450's. I can't see why they wouldn't build a module that goes inside the set and provides a dvi input and deencrypted component output. It would be OK to do that because the entire module would be inside the set which would prevent the component signal from being passed along to a recording device, which is what this is all about.

Tyler Durden

Joe - You should be concerned about DVI capability even if you don't care about its impact on PPV movies and the like because HD DVDs, if and when they arrive, are likely to be encrypted in some way potentially requiring TVs to have a DVI input. I had bought a 65' XBR2 and recently took it back after reading all of this DVI hubub and will likely wait until August for the DVI-ready units. I too would not care as much about PPV movies but taking away potential HD on DVDs would cut me real deep.

In the meantime, we need to fight to protect the rights of the current 2.5+ million HDTV owners such as yourself and ensure these TVs are used for their intended purpose - to receive 1080i transmissions for all types of programming.

thoennes

I completely agree about protecting our rights. It's very important for people to let their congressional leaders their feelings about this.

There is a Senator (Hollings? Name escapes me right now) that is trying to spearhead this effort for Hollywood. It goes WELL BEYOND HDTV. The impact of his legislation is downright scary.