Sky's HDTV

"Alan Truelove" wrote in message
news:[email protected] eranews...

Am I right in thinking there will be a gadget to allow non-HDMI viewing
equipment to view HDMI material?? Ie; some kind of a dongle
Otherwise, there will be little chance of people going HD with their
current equipment.

You will need to buy new "HD Ready" equipment.
Even much of the current equipment out there that is capable of showing HD
resolutions doesn't have the necessary HDCP capability.
You will need HDMI/HDCP.
And given that the whole reason for implmenting this content protection is
to stop HD piracy the industry will frown upon (and sue) anyone trying to
sell any device to bypass this.
Of course this has never stopped the inventive/devious/enterprising person -
like life, piracy has a way. But don't expect to see them in your local
Dixons.

There will also be pirated material based on current US HD broadcasts that
dont use HDCP. I expect that will continue, but eventually perhaps that
loophole will be tightened.

But in EU/UK you are pretty much going to need HDMI/HDCP from day one for
Sky HD and HD DVD.

Loz

"loz" wrote in message
...

You will need HDMI/HDCP.
And given that the whole reason for implmenting this content protection is
to stop HD piracy the industry will frown upon (and sue) anyone trying to
sell any device to bypass this.

Of course this has never stopped the inventive/devious/enterprising
person - like life, piracy has a way. But don't expect to see them in your
local Dixons.

But if these devices are sold to enable the customer to view rather than
copy, then no copyright laws are broken. Just like Macrovision can be
disabled to enable one to view via projector.

"David Marshall" wrote in message
...

In article [email protected] ews,
Alan Truelove wrote:
Am I right in thinking there will be a gadget to allow non-HDMI viewing
equipment to view HDMI material?? Ie; some kind of a dongle?

The Sky HD box will have SCART/coax/etc. outputs at standard resolution.

Then why get a new box. Isn't that exactly what we have now??

In article [email protected] ews,
Alan Truelove wrote:
The Sky HD box will have SCART/coax/etc. outputs at standard resolution.
Then why get a new box. Isn't that exactly what we have now??

The Sky HD box will have SCART/coax/etc. outputs at standard resolution *AS
WELL AS* the HDMI and DVI connectors we've already discussed.

Dave
--
Email: MSN Messenger:

"Alan Truelove" wrote in message
news:[email protected] eranews...
Am I right in thinking there will be a gadget to allow non-HDMI viewing
equipment to view HDMI material?? Ie; some kind of a dongle?

The Sky HD box will have SCART/coax/etc. outputs at standard resolution.

Then why get a new box. Isn't that exactly what we have now??

Because as the poster says those outputs are for standard resolution.
You need the new HD box (and the new connections) for HD.

Actually I am not sure I have seen confirmation that the HD box will also
output SD via scart/coax - will it?

Loz

"Alan Truelove" wrote in message
news:[email protected] eranews...
"loz" wrote in message ...

You will need HDMI/HDCP.
And given that the whole reason for implmenting this content protection is to stop HD piracy the industry will frown
upon (and sue) anyone trying to sell any device to bypass this.

Of course this has never stopped the inventive/devious/enterprising person - like life, piracy has a way. But don't
expect to see them in your local Dixons.

But if these devices are sold to enable the customer to view rather than copy, then no copyright laws are broken.
Just like Macrovision can be disabled to enable one to view via projector.




The technology to prevent viewing on a non HDCP screen is exactly the same as
the technology to prevent recording onto a non HDCP device.
The system has to be broken/hacked/circumvented either way and as loz says
the industry and it's hounds will be onto them like a shot.

Nobody not even the industry considers Macrovision to be anything but paying
lip service to content protection, I believe that they have to make the effort to
protect a movie to back up any court action they could take at some future time.

Basically if you want access to all the content via SKY's hardware then a HDCP
display (HDMI or DVI) is the only option. Having said that there probably will be
content that doesn't carry HDCP from SKY and third party channels on the platform.
It's still up in the air as to what other connections the SKY+ HD will have, a scart
socket seems reasonable as well as s-video for SD channels but a component option
would make sense if they hope to appeal to the thousands with displays of sufficient
resolution but no HDCP.

Still a lot of questions need to be answered


Mike C

"Alan Truelove" wrote in message
news:[email protected] eranews...
"David Marshall" wrote in message ...

In article [email protected] ews,
Alan Truelove wrote:
Am I right in thinking there will be a gadget to allow non-HDMI viewing
equipment to view HDMI material?? Ie; some kind of a dongle?

The Sky HD box will have SCART/coax/etc. outputs at standard resolution.

Then why get a new box. Isn't that exactly what we have now??





More or less

High Def is a premium niche product and will be for quite a few years while the price
tumbles and content both free and pay increases.
If you do not have a suitable display or are not prepared to buy one when SKY HD
launches then save your money and only upgrade when you are ready to make the
investment or the natural TV replacement cycle kicks in.

SD broadcasts are not going anywhere and so any HD subscriber will need full access
to those channels, it may be that a simple scart/s-video is just as good an option as
routing SD via the HDMI output.


Mike C

In article ,
loz wrote:
Actually I am not sure I have seen confirmation that the HD box will also
output SD via scart/coax - will it?

According to http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds19616.html (which is
reporting Sky's Press Release, I assume), it will. It'd seem daft not to.

Dave
--
Email: MSN Messenger:

Alan Truelove wrote:

I am down on record as saying I don't see the point of HD. Unless the
material is specifically recorded at the higher definition(s), then there
will be no benefit from viewing it on HD equipment. How many programmes
do you know are currently being recorded in HD??

Actually quite a lot are.


Think of it like DD5.1. Great when you hear it, but how many programmes
on normal TV channels do you know, are being broadcast with it??
Absolutely none. Not a sausage. Not one programme goes out with DD5.1 (let
alone DTS) on BBC, nor on Sky One, and nor on any of the other non-movie
channels.

They may not be being broadcast in DD 5.1 but the source material is
there. Modern films are of course almost universally recorded in DD
multi-channel as are TV programmes like Stargate SG-1 etc.

When someone decides to throw the switch and include the DD feed in
the signal those with suitable receivers (Sky + is one) will instantly
get the benefit.

--
Digibox problem? : A reboot solves 90% of these.
The Sky Digital FAQ: http://tinyurl.com/6u4p9
How to get UK TV overseas: http://tinyurl.com/6p73
Fed up with logos / red buttons? : http://logofreetv.org/
BBC gone? : http://www.astra2d.co.uk/
----
Only the truth as I see it.
No monies return'd. ;-)

"Jomtien" wrote in message
news
They may not be being broadcast in DD 5.1 but the source material is
there. Modern films are of course almost universally recorded in DD
multi-channel as are TV programmes like Stargate SG-1 etc.

When someone decides to throw the switch and include the DD feed in
the signal those with suitable receivers (Sky + is one) will instantly
get the benefit.

So why haven't they done it yet, heh?!? SG-1 is definitely not broadcast
with DD5.1 - I've just checked. So why not, if they can?