Want HD video on Vista? Buy a new processor

by Jordan Running Aug 24th 2006

At Microsoft's Tech.Ed conference in Sydney today, Senior Program Manager Steve Riley announced that Windows Vista users won't be able to watch next-generation HD video content unless they upgrade to a 64-bit processor. The reason has to do, of course, with DRM. "This is a decision that the Media Player folks made because there are just too many ways right now for unsigned kernel mode code [to compromise content protection]. The media companies asked us to do this and said they don't want any of their high definition content to play in x32 at all, because of all of the unsigned malware that runs in kernel mode can get around content protection, so we had to do this," said Riley. If you'll allow me to editorialized a bit, it seems obvious that the end result of this will be that movie pirates will still find it laughably easy to get around these "protections," and the only people who will actually be punished are legitimate users.

Tags: 64, 64bit, drm, microsoft, movies, restrictions, vista, windows, x64

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Fred Fry said 4:53PM on 8-24-2006

Yet one more nail in the coffin of HD-DVD.

Fabulo said 5:27PM on 8-24-2006

Sounds like there's an even better incentive to find method of code injection in the kernel. "Signed Code" my ass.

It should be now obvious that the computer *you* bought with *your* own money, to be used in the privacy of *your * own home is inching away from doing what *you* want in favor for what the media companies want your computer to do (or not do)

Close source: is it a good idea? -- Discuss

Peter said 5:53PM on 8-24-2006

The flip side of this is that even if you get an x64 machine, you are going to be hard pressed to find x64 drivers for your old peripherals. So you get to choose - use your printer and not watch HD, or watch HD but not be able to print.
Can the studios make it any _more_ difficult for people to embrace HD discs?

Bob Jones said 6:17PM on 8-24-2006

Fabulo, problem is it isn't YOUR media! You buy it with the conditions set by the owners.

It also isn't YOUR windows source code to dictate over.

Elias G. said 6:37PM on 8-24-2006

Damn, this is stupid. XP as it is right now can play HD video. So can Apples. I guess this is one more reason not to bother with Vista.

SwiftBlue said 7:02PM on 8-24-2006

*sigh* Another idiot who thinks they know what they are talking about. It's X86 and X64, not X32.

dg10050 said 8:04PM on 8-24-2006

Looks like SwiftBlue beat me to what I was going to say. :) And it's actually x64, not X64. I just feel like being picky. :P

fckthat said 4:41AM on 8-25-2006

hahahaha

dg10050, there's a difference of being picky and being fucking lame as shit.

Gil said 4:52AM on 8-25-2006

You know what will happen? People will watch more pirated flicks (in HD) because it'll be too much of a hassle to buy originals

Tush said 4:13PM on 8-25-2006

So Microsoft's "older" OS (XP) will is able to play HD, and their newer OS (Vista) wo'nt be able to without the help of third-parties????

Freaking Hilarious.

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