Clarifying Windows Vista Support of Protected HD Content in 32-bit Systems

The community is buzzing with reactions to APC Magazine’s article regarding playback of protected High Definition content in 32-bit versions of Windows Vista. However, the information shared was incorrect and the reactions pervading the community are thus (understandably) ill-informed.

The real deal is that no version of Windows Vista will make a determination as to whether any given piece of content should play back or not. The individual ISV providing the playback solutions will choose whether the playback environment, including environments that use 32-bit processors, meet the performance requirements for playback of protected High Definition content.

So what does that mean?

It is up to a particular ISV to determine which environments are suitable for their playback solutions. Not Windows Vista, and not Microsoft. To help ISVs make the playback determination, the OS will expose a list of any unsigned drivers on the system; nevertheless, it remains up to the ISV to determine whether playback will be enabled.

In other words, nothing has changed with respect to Microsoft’s policies or development plans for protected HD playback -- which we addressed at WinHEC this past May -- and nothing has been cut from Windows Vista in this regard.

Comments

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  PingBack from http://www.mstechtoday.com/2006/08/24/microsoft-clarifies-playing-protected-hd-content-issue/

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  (Almost got lost in all the excitement of today's news around HD-DVD support in Windows Vista.)
  Today...

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  PingBack from http://linuxgeekboy.wordpress.com/2006/08/27/vista-and-protected-hd-content/

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  Clarifying Windows Vista Support of Protected HD Content in 32-bit System
  The community is buzzing...

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  PingBack from http://www.christiancadeo.com/2006/08/24/clarification-on-vista-hd-support-for-32-bit-systems/

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  Alors que la France sort de sa léthargie annuelle du mois d'août, l'actualité du moment sur Vista se...

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  So there were two really big pieces of Microsoft news last week, that were talked about on practically...

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  At the Windows Vista Team Blog, Nick White tries to turn the herd before it stampedes through town…
  
  ...

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  "Microsoft revealed today that no 32-bit versions of Windows Vista will be able to play back “next generation...

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  So there were two really big pieces of Microsoft news last week, that were talked about on practically...

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  PingBack from http://rohitaggarwal.wordpress.com/2006/08/25/vista-protected-hd-content-support/

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  PingBack from http://randyh.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/32-bit-vista-and-protected-hd-content/

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  PingBack from http://puntodivista.wordpress.com/2006/08/29/windows-vista-e-i-protectd-hd-content-su-sistemi-32-bit/

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  August 24, 2006
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  August 24, 2006
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  August 25, 2006
  Please oh please ask for feedback for users on whether they want every sound customizable in Vista...including the startup sound.

• Anonymous
  August 25, 2006
  Has anyone else gotten a security certificate error signing into this web page for the past 10 days and if so why?
  
  Is this story at this point still an enigma enshrouded in a mystery to use an old phrase I learned years ago in school?
  
  Also could there be please be some "real clarification" of this information?
  
  How about a list with clarity on the number of features dropped from Vista as it hurtles toward RTM in October from 5536 + one build?
  
  On Windows Vista, DRM, and new monitors
  http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/hardware/hdcp-vista.ars
  
  Thoughts on MCE Beta Feedback by Matt Goyer
  http://mediacenter.mattgoyer.com/archives/2006/07/26/1157
  
  HKLM
  

• Anonymous
  August 25, 2006
  hey someone:
  
  Here's what I know on your questions:
  
  DD (AC3): Yes, in Premium & Ultimate
  DTS: No
  DD+: No
  MPEG-2 audio: Yes, stereo only in Premium & Ultimate
  
  MPEG-2 video: Yes, in Premium & Ultimate
  
  H.264: No (This is mandatory for both Blu Ray & HD-DVD but most if not all labels are using VC-1 for HD-DVD today)
  
  MPEG-4: Yes, we have been supporting this in XP as well.
  
  Hope this helps.