The answer is 'maybe'...probably depending on which version of the device you choose to buy. It looks like they licensed the DVD code, and as part of their agreement they locked it away inside the box and limited the API. It's not completely free, but it will probably be free enough for me. I know I'd spend a decent amount of money for commercial Linux software to view DVDs. If the Powers That Be really had a good grasp of business and marketing, they would release several (free, at least in the no-charge sense) platform-dependant versions of the CSS libraries with a common API. They end up with just as much copy protection as they had before, and their primary product (the DVDs themselves) enjoy a wider audience. DVD information from the Indrema FAQ: Q: Will IES support DVD? A: Yes, the IES platform will support DVD playback in some models. The details of DVD support in the L600 will be announced later. Q: How will CSS, SDMI and other copy protection systems work with Open Source? A: The OpenStream architecture will allow for hooks into the API for driver level abstraction of commands. That will allow an OpenStream command to pass through to the CSS, SDMI or other handler, which will not be Open Source. This system ensures that no programmatic access to decrypted content will be possible in the IES.
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The answer is 'maybe'...probably depending on which version of the device you choose to buy. It looks like they licensed the DVD code, and as part of their agreement they locked it away inside the box and limited the API. It's not completely free, but it will probably be free enough for me. I know I'd spend a decent amount of money for commercial Linux software to view DVDs. If the Powers That Be really had a good grasp of business and marketing, they would release several (free, at least in the no-charge sense) platform-dependant versions of the CSS libraries with a common API. They end up with just as much copy protection as they had before, and their primary product (the DVDs themselves) enjoy a wider audience. DVD information from the Indrema FAQ: Q: Will IES support DVD? A: Yes, the IES platform will support DVD playback in some models. The details of DVD support in the L600 will be announced later. Q: How will CSS, SDMI and other copy protection systems work with Open Source? A: The OpenStream architecture will allow for hooks into the API for driver level abstraction of commands. That will allow an OpenStream command to pass through to the CSS, SDMI or other handler, which will not be Open Source. This system ensures that no programmatic access to decrypted content will be possible in the IES.