Intel's SGX deprecation impacts DRM and Ultra HD Blu-ray support

[BadThad]

It sucks that Intel is doing this; however, the blueray DRM has been cracked long ago and there are MANY utilities available to strip all it out. I have a blueray drive on my PC but rarely use it, I prefer to watch movies on my TV but very rarely insert a disk of any kind these days.

This is a big deal but it isn't since there are many alternative work-arounds.

 

[Daniel Sims]

As has already been noted, this DRM has been broken for a long time now. It's just further proof that DRM in the long run only serves to inconvenience paying customers why try to follow all the rules.

But 4K discs aren't the only problem when it comes to playing 4K content on PCs. 4K streaming is also severely restricted. All the major streaming services only let you go up to 1080p (or in some cases 720p) when streaming through a browser, the only exceptions being YouTube (when not playing YouTube-purchased content) and Netflix (in Microsoft Edge only). The others won't even let you stream 4K content when using native Windows Store apps. The only thing stopping you is their DRM.

 

[wiyosaya]

As has already been noted, this DRM has been broken for a long time now. It's just further proof that DRM in the long run only serves to inconvenience paying customers why try to follow all the rules.

Blu-ray, yes, but 4K UHD blu-ray encryption has not been cracked - yet.

 

[Daniel Sims]

Blu-ray, yes, but 4K UHD blu-ray encryption has not been cracked - yet.

People can already rip UHD Blu-Rays though...

 

[Vanderlinde]

It's due to the licencing costs of SGX.

intel no longer want to pay.

 

[wiyosaya]

People can already rip UHD Blu-Rays though...

Where? With what? Link, please!

 

[Daniel Sims]

Where? With what? Link, please!

I'll just say someone in this discussion already mentioned it...

 

[wiyosaya]

I'll just say someone in this discussion already mentioned it...

OK. Thanks. It looks like there are some possible caveats in that your UHD drive must support special features of the mentioned software. The latest beta of AnyDVD HD also supports it if that software is installed and that special feature is also supported.

Basically, one might need to flash drive firmware in order to be able to make it work. When I first looked into it, the flash process was tedious, but it looks like someone might have made it much simpler.

 

[Gezzer]

WRONG!

You are committing piracy by trying to force others to support your DRM malware scheme

Stop Pirating our hardware to support your criminal activity

Dude?!? You okay there? Really... Do your self a favour. Step back and take a deep breath. That response is not what I would call a well thought out and reasoned one. It's more like you're lashing out at everyone and anyone as you obsess over one tangential fact. Not healthy bro...

 

[Gezzer]

This is just going to increase piracy.

Totally agree. I used to pirate a lot of stuff. I also bought a lot of the same stuff too. This is true of most people that pirate IP. As I said I used to and still do, but very seldom now. Why? Steam, Spotify, and Netflix, or similar platforms. Consumers will always take the easiest route to get the content they want. That's why DRM and excessive litigation always eventually fails and the market wins, even if it's the pirate market...

 

[hwertz]

FYI, sounds like Linux has solutions for bluray 4K playback, no SGX required.

 

[TekCheck]

FYI, sounds like Linux has solutions for bluray 4K playback, no SGX required.

Could you specify, please?

 

[TekCheck]

Consumers will always take the easiest route to get the content they want. That's why DRM and excessive litigation always eventually fails and the market wins, even if it's the pirate market...

It depends which market and which consumers. I have just ordered Dune 4K UHD disk and hope to have a better experience on PC comparing to streaming it. First things first, lossless audio surround bonanza which is impossible over Prime or any other online platform. Secondly, more specular highlights on BD HDR than streamed content. Fingers crossed it works well.

4K streamed movies tops at ~25 Mbps. The same movie from BD disk could go up to ~80 Mbps on home theatre. This is another reason why it is worth fighting for support of UHD playback on PC. There are still consumers who care about quality over quantity and convenience ;-)

 

[Bullwinkle M]

Dude?!? You okay there? Really... Do your self a favour. Step back and take a deep breath. That response is not what I would call a well thought out and reasoned one. It's more like you're lashing out at everyone and anyone as you obsess over one tangential fact. Not healthy bro...

Dude?!? You okay there? Really... Do your self a favour. Step back, take a deep breath and realize what this walled garden Monopoly has done to you

Do you really think that I am the one with the problem?

You are seriously messed up

Stop obsessing over those who can actually see what the problem is

 

[TekCheck]

Do you really think that I am the one with the problem?

You are not the problem here, of course. BD Association has a problem.
Your tone was criticised.

 

[Hastings298]

I am simply astounded that Intel would omit an absolutely essential feature from its latest processors. One may not be happy with the fact that certain content creators insist on using some form of DRM with media containing their content, but it's just a fact of life that we ordinary individuals have to live with and can't change.
So a PC without SGX is a PC that can't play most commercial pre-recorded 4K BluRay discs at full resolution. What's next, PCs that can't play DVDs or CDs?

Probably... the fact that you can enjoy any media at all without a 30 minute conference call with the lawyers at Disney and Microsoft seems to be a major inconvenience for these companies.

 

[Hastings298]

You have reasonable protection as long as you keep it off the internet and off of my hardware

I do not want your books, movies, or any other crap with hardware based copy protection

You have no right to violate "my" hardware to protect "your" alleged rights

If you believe that I am wrong, then "I" have the right to violate "your" hardware and encrypt all your drives with ransomware

Did I say ransomware?
Sorry, I meant DRM

My one sided Licensing Agreement being forced upon you is as good as any other being forced upon me.
You know....
Terms that I clearly do not agree with yet am unable to use my machine as I see fit until they are agreed to through blackmail, extortion or ransom by Corporate Scum

By forcing your malware onto my hardware, you hereby agree that everything on your drives belongs to me, to do with as I please

I can now encrypt everything on your drive for copy protection as it is now my data

If you wish to ever use my data again, you must pay me a rans..... I mean..... Licensing Fee

You see, if it's Legal for you to force that crap on me, I can certainly do the same for you

Win/Win

ENJOY!

As long as companies put invasive DRM in their media, I pay them nothing. It's that simple. It's rare that I actually want to watch or play anything they produce but you better I believe I won't pay more than pennies to watch/play something that is wrapped up in incomprehensible legalese and DRM. If other people are ok with that stuff then good for you but I'm out.

 

[TekCheck]

As long as companies put invasive DRM in their media, I pay them nothing

There needs to be a reasonable solution for all. Intellectual and artistic property must be protected, unless released for free at courtesy, and PC users need to have a simple way to play desired and legit content they bought.

 

[rmcrys]

There needs to be a reasonable solution for all. Intellectual and artistic property must be protected, unless released for free at courtesy, and PC users need to have a simple way to play desired and legit content they bought.

All buyers pay an amount of money (UHD movie or music) and want to be able to play it on all devices. If you buy an UHD movie and the DRM doesn't allow you to convert that movie to see on your smartphone on the train, back it on your NAS up etc., then many won't want to buy.

DRM makes media uninteresting to own because you are very limited. It is the same as buying a $50.000 car which only allows you to travel on your city. That is against consumers.

If UHD disks would cost $7 without DRM they would sell a lot more (many researches prove that producing and releasing a DVD costs around $1, Blu-Ray $1.5 and UHD around $2); if you ask $15 with DRM and even say where you can play it (only some Intel CPU's, etc) then people find another ways (streaming, piracy, don't buy or see at all...).

I can say that when DRM was breakable I bought a lot of movies; now that UHD is much more complicated, I rather not to spend a dime.

 

[TekCheck]

DRM makes media uninteresting to own because you are very limited. It is the same as buying a $50.000 car which only allows you to travel on your city. That is against consumers.

True, I agree.
It is also true that courts in many countries have been trying to close many piracy websites, with more or less success. As much as DRM needs to change, so that you could watch your favourite movie on NAS and any platform you owe, consumers also need to be more honest and protect intellectual property of purchased media by not sharing it. Tango is for two.

 

[captaincranky]

This issue of Blu-ray copy guard extends well past 4K content, all the way down to the "lowly" DVD. When a release is published on standard Blu-ray and DVD, some of the Blu-ray's copy prevention strategies are incorporated into the DVD as well.

So, when I had a Blu-ray drive installed in my desktop, I put in a DVD, "Black Widow", and Windows Media Player refused to play it.. The very same disc, played in a standalone player without hesitation.

Solution, you ask? Yank the Blu-ray turd, put a standard DVD drive back into the computer, and, "All is Well, That Ends Well" Or actually "Black Widow", in this case.

In my old school, ignorant of progress.confusion. FVF is what I can manipulate easily, so DVD is what I'll content myself with.

(Isn't it funny that, "content", and, "content" are spelled the same? Gosh, English is sure quirky).

 

[Bullwinkle M]

Solution, you ask? Yank the Blu-ray turd, put a standard DVD drive back into the computer, and, "All is Well, That Ends Well" Or actually "Black Widow", in this case.

That is completely unbelievable, since Blu-Ray drives read DVD's as well

I have never owned a CD reader, DVD reader or Blu-Ray reader for any of my computers

They only play copy protected garbage

Every single CD, DVD and Blu-Ray drive I've ever owned was a recorder

Any drive that only plays other peoples garbage has no value for me

 

[rmcrys]

True, I agree.
It is also true that courts in many countries have been trying to close many piracy websites, with more or less success. As much as DRM needs to change, so that you could watch your favourite movie on NAS and any platform you owe, consumers also need to be more honest and protect intellectual property of purchased media by not sharing it. Tango is for two.

There is no tango to dance: corporations want to make believe that you "buy" something but things are still theirs and they make what they want (money and limit use). Again, the society went to "if I pay it is mine and I do what I want with it".
Piracy is only a parallel thing that happened, happens and will happen and most people will don't access it (the few are mostly very young people that study or don't have a job or very badly paid).

So if corporations still do their thing, buyers will do their's: I can't backup? I won't buy.

Corporations want to justify DRM with 0.001% piracy; on the other end they lose 50% of the sales (or more) due to DRM. People pay streaming and do more piracy (if they want to "own" some title).