First Blu-ray PC drive won't play Blu-ray movies -- We know
by Matt Burns 
posted Aug 11th 2006 at 12:19PM
Sony's first Blu-ray drive was officially unveiled a few days ago and to the surprise of many, it will not allow Blu-ray movie playback. But this isn't new. We have known this for a while as there are two things standing in the way. One, there has to be a software to allow for playback and two, your graphics card must decrypted the HDCP signal. Cyberlink is working hard on the first part and their software has been certified to playback both Blu-ray and HD DVDs but it hasn't been released yet. The only AACS-supported playback application is the OEM version of Intervideo WinDVD that's bundled with Sony's Blu-ray equipped VAIO notebook. ATI and NVIDIA both have graphics cards in the works that allow for HDCP processing but again, they are not released yet. Once both of these prereq's are met, then this drive will allow for playback, but till then, it is only going to record.
Filed under: Industry
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Andrew Clinick @ Aug 11th 2006 1:12PM
I think you're confusing AACS and HDCP. HDCP is the output technology which isn't required to play back a movie. What is required is AACS decryption since the movie is AACS protected. To do this you need to have the drive to support AACS and the player software to also support AACS. While WinDVD does support AACS and Cyberlink will soon it really doesn't matter since this BD drive doesn't support AACS so as the sony rep points out it can only run home authored (i.e. no AACS) BD discs. So you'll never be able to run BD movies on this drive.
Project Z @ Aug 11th 2006 1:40PM
Wow. Not good. Why even release this drive? You can store the same amount on a hard drive costing much much less.
WASD John @ Aug 11th 2006 1:52PM
Well from first sight I thought that the drive just would never allow Blu-Ray playback at all. That would just be stupid, but the fact that it can burn and in the future be capable of Blu-Ray playback maybe a saving grace for this drive. Hell I know I'm always looking for more storage capacity. In fact I think this is how I will do both formats. I'll get the standalone HD-DVD player and get this blu-ray burner for my media PC and then I will be future proof with both formats with the added bonus of more storage via blu-ray.
Drew @ Aug 11th 2006 2:07PM
you may want to update your info on hdcp compliant video cards. there are several currently available.
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1071342
hmurchison @ Aug 11th 2006 2:56PM
Andrew HDCP "is" required for playback. If your LCD monitor doesn't support HDCP you will not be able to view HD content from Blu-Ray or HD DVD.
Second Chance @ Aug 11th 2006 4:16PM
I thought if HDCP weren't available, it would still play, but at a lower resolution, assuming the publisher is using that feature.
Andrew Clinick @ Aug 11th 2006 5:34PM
Actually you don't need HDCP unless the DOT (flag that requires digital output) is set on the title and this flag is for future use. So with titles for the foreseeable future will output just fine over VGA or component. Of course this is also assuming that the ICT flag is not set. If it is set then it will be downresed to 540p. Of course most studios are not setting that flag either.
net net is that you'll be fine playing on your PC for quite a while yet even if you don't have an HDCP card
GhostDoggy @ Aug 12th 2006 8:22AM
S o n y = J o k e
GhostDoggy @ Aug 12th 2006 8:26AM
Sony is a joke. To support their Blu-ray equipped Viao computers they are releasing a worthless ROM drive. How many times can a corporation shoot themselves in the foot and continue walking?