DVD Player Chipsets To Support Windows Media Files

An Anonymous Coward writes: "According to this article in EETimes, Microsoft previewed its next generation Windows Media technology, and said that chipset makers that account for 90% of home DVD players will be including the technology in their upcoming chipsets. I hope the various courts looking into Microsoft's monopoly examine this closely, there is a lot of potential for Microsoft to extend its monopoly here. The next logical step would be for them to pay movie studios to produce Windows Media format movies that are available before or cost less than regular DVD format, that is, if they are made available in regular DVD format at all! This would also be a neat way for studios to force us all to upgrade our existing DVD players use the now-cracked CSS." Ton van der Liet points out this article on ZDNet, writing: "Microsoft touts the advantages of Windows Media, such as longer playback. Wasn't MPEG-4 supposed to do this? And aren't the newest Windows Media codecs based on a draft of the MPEG-4 standard?"

Comments

I DO NOT want WMP technology in my DVD player...

[microbob]

I DO NOT want WMP technology in my DVD player...

I'll refuse to buy one that includes.

You DVD manufactures listening to me? I *know* you read slashdot.

eh

[mrphrtq]

When MS starts pushing to get their media formats implemented into hardware, it won't have as much opportunity to change. With the pace of video codecs these days, your DVD player will probably be obsolete by the time you get it home.

Re:Stand Up For Your Beliefs and Rights - Use your

[irony nazi]

Are you worried that Microsoft would actually come up with a codec that was harder to crack than the DVD CSS? I don't think so.

Since Microsoft couldn't even do the DVD CSS correctly with their XBox, how would they come up with their own format.

I hope that I'm not the only one to spot just how ironic this whole thing is.

Re:I'm pleased...

[32xts]

It'll be interesting to see if Ogg Vorbis comes up with a better codec to compete against the WMA 8 format.

Maybe, maybe not. You can, however, rest assured that they will come up with a sillier name.

Here we go again...

[Ghengis]

Does this mean that we'll have to upgrade our DVD drives every 4 months because their "obsolete" or "MS integrates IE 5 with DVD drives" or "MS has a hotfix for DVD security hole number 348647285"?

Re:I DO NOT want WMP technology in my DVD player..

[Anonymous Coward]

just like slashdot is boycotting gifs. Except for the slashdot icons.

Re:It's for a new version of WMP

[nsanit]

It's double the DVD quality and 5.1 sound.

You only get 5.1 sound if the movie was recorded that way, and most DVD's (at least in my collection) are already 5.1 sound (assuming the movie was recorded with the eoncoding).

A new media format alone cannot add sound that's not in the recording. Anyone can remaster the sound track and add the other channels with current media formats.

Better quality? I dont see how it's possible to get better picture quality with same antiquated technology that is inside most people's TV.

Everyday I think M$ is turning out to be more analageous (sp) to Taco Bell in the movie Demolition Man.

Lol

[TheCrunch]

WMF DVDs.. hahah.

Attempting to download decompressor, please wait..
Could not download decompressor.
Attempting to download decompressor, please wait..
Could not download decompressor.
Attempting to download decompressor, please wait..
Could not download decompressor.
Attempting to download decompressor, please wait..
Could not download decompressor.

And then you get audio only. I for one can't wait.
The MS software DVD player shipped with 2K doesn't work properly. Windows Media Player is dodgy as f*** and now they want to combine the two into DVD players that can't even be patched when they realise the players won't play or crash when you try to skip etc.. Hah. What farce.

At least when Sony DVD players crash they have the decency not to show you a bluescreen.

I've opted for a tiny PC by the TV to use as DVD player. At least I can patch / update / get cracks for the necessary software so that I can actually watch the DVDs I've paid lots of money for. Heh.

Re:I DO NOT want WMP technology in my DVD player..

[tenman]

would you WMP in a house,
would you WMP with a mounse?
...
I would not buy them in the rain,
I would not buy them on a train,
I would not could not with a mouse,
I would not could not with in a house,

I DO NOT want WMP technology in my DVD player... sam I am!

Ch ch ch Chia!

[suso]

For a second there, I read that as "DVD Player Chiapets to support windows media files". I need another drink, or maybe I've had to many.

Re:Is there a threat to existing DVD players?

[Rogerborg]

• Consumers would backlash harshly against [an enforced upgrade of their players in the next 5 years]

• DVD Manufacturer: Hey, Joe, give us $200 for a new DVD player or you won't be able to watch any new movies.
• Joe: God damn! Go screw yourself! Hey, elected representative, stop them!
• Congressman Kickback: Sorry Joe, but that would be interventionist and Big Government. You always say that said you hate Big Government, right? Right? So vote with your dollars. It's not my fault!
• DVD Manufacturer: Ooh, sorry Joe, for your convenience and security, you can only buy the new players and DVD's now. Congressman Kickback sponsored a bill to mandate that, to protect you from evil foreign terrorists who finance themselves through piracy. It's not our fault!
• Joe: This sucks! This is total BS! Watch me backlash! Rant! Rave!
• DVD Manufacturer: By the way Joe, American Pie 6: The Smell of Pie is out today.
• Joe: Ooh, here's $200!

Something like that?