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Longhorn to Require Monitor-Based DRM

Posted by Zonk on from the it's-everywhere-it's-everywhere dept.

Mr_Silver writes "Engadget has an interesting article regarding a new feature in Longhorn entitled PVP-OPM (Protected Video Path - Output Protection Management) which detects the capabilities of the display devices you are using and manages how (and if at all) content is sent to it. In short, this means that if Longhorn detects that your monitor is not "secure" enough, then your premium video content won't play on it until you buy one that is. Who gets to decide? The content providers of course." From the article: "So what will happen when you try to play premium content on your incompatible monitor? If you're "lucky", the content will go through a resolution constrictor. The purpose of this constrictor is to down-sample high-resolution content to below a certain number of pixels. The newly down-sampled content is then blown back up to match the resolution of your monitor. This is much like when you shrink a JPEG and then zoom into it. Much of the clarity is lost. The result is a picture far fuzzier than it need be."

8 of 1,266 comments (clear)

  1. in related news by Glog · · Score: 5, Funny

    Microsoft is considering the acquisition of an ASCII art company.

  2. YESSSS by KDan · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is just the feature I've been waiting for. I wouldn't dream of buying a monitor without this priceless capability.

    Daniel

    --
    Carpe Diem
  3. Ours, all ours! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    My Computer -> Computer

    My Documents -> Documents

    My Monitor -> Our Monitor!

    Seriously, who didn't see this coming?

    1. Re:Ours, all ours! by mattsucks · · Score: 5, Funny
      Seriously, who didn't see this coming?
      Me. I don't have the right monitor.
  4. Finally... by Penguin+Programmer · · Score: 5, Funny

    A Longhorn feature that everyone hopes is vaporware!

  5. Re:What this means is by bruce_s_r · · Score: 5, Funny

    Thats the trouble now-a-days. Nobody cares about apathy any more!

  6. Re:Outstanding by FingerDemon · · Score: 5, Funny

    Where do you want to be forced to go today?

    --

    "Contrarily the lookaside buffer might not be the panacea... "
  7. Re:Outstanding by Xiaran · · Score: 5, Funny

    Already happening. Try accessing MSNBC.com's free video content with anything but Windows IE - won't work.

    You say that like its a bd thing.