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01 June 2007

The AACS Licensing Authority (AACS LA) just can't catch a break. On May 22nd, Blu-ray and HD DVD titles containing the latest version of AACS (MKB v3) were released. A day later, someone going by the name "BtCB" posted the new processing key (45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2) on the Freedom to Tinker website. Its still not known how this key was retrieved. However, it has been verified to work by the folks on the Doom 9 forums.

The AACS LA has yet to respond to this. However, at this point, there isn't much they can do besides issue legal threats to websites posting the key. The group must give 90 days notice before revoking the key, giving hackers plenty of time to find a new one. Add a comment

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01 June 2007

Sony has been hit by yet another patent lawsuit. Cryptography software provider Certicom recently filed a suit against the company, claiming that Advanced Access Control System (AACS) and Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP) violate patents for Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC).

The patents-in-suit are two of Certicom's fundamental patents used in consumer electronics, in particular its world-leading version of Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). In its complaint, Certicom alleges Sony has, and continues to, infringe, contribute to and induce the infringement of Certicom's patents by making, using, importing, offering for sale and selling their products in the U.S. without being licensed by Certicom to do so. These patents are related to content protection technologies, including Advanced Access Control System (AACS) used in Blu-ray and Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP) used in wired and wireless distribution of compression audio and video. Products affected include Playstation 3, DVD players, VAIO personal computers and certain high definition TV models and audio equipment.

Considering Certicom is looking to "resolve these issues through commercial discussions and without litigation", its pretty clear that they're looking to make money off of licensing fees. Nevertheless, if they win this case against Sony, other electronics manufacturers will be vulnerable to similar suits. More information on this lawsuit can be found here. Add a comment

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30 May 2007

CoolingWell V14 Vortex 800W @Overclockers Online
SilverStone Grandia GD01MX HTPC Case @ThinkComputers.org
Gigabyte 3D Galaxy II CPU Liquid Cooling System @Tweaknews.net
PNY 8800 GTX Overclocked Graphics Card @I4U
Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC2-8500 2GB DDR2 Memory Kit @Bigbruin.com
Arctic Cooling Arctic Fan 9 @ASE Labs
ASUS P5K Deluxe/WiFi-AP (Intel P35) Motherboard @HardwareZone
Nvidia Mainstream DX10 VGA Roundup @InsideHW.com
Apevia X-QPack2 @Overclockers Online

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29 May 2007

Today CDRLabs takes a look at Plextor's ultra-portable DVD writer, the PX-608CU. Based loosely on the Pioneer DVR-K16, this stylish and compact drive is capable of 8x DVD±R, 8x DVD+RW, 6x DVD-RW, 4x DVD±R DL and 5x DVD-RAM writing speeds and a maximum DVD read speed of 8x. The PX-608CU can also be powered off a computer's USB bus, giving you the ability to burn CD's and DVD's wherever you go.

In this review we'll take a look at some of the features found on the PX-608CU and then see how it performs. Is Plextor's portable DVD writer the best choice for the person on the go? You'll have to read the review to find out.

Plextor PX-608CU 8x USB 2.0 DVD±RW/RAM

If you have any comments or questions about this review or the Plextor PX-608CU, please post them in the forum. Add a comment

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29 May 2007

Optware and Toyohashi University of Technology have developed a new hologram element for use with players supporting Optware's collinear technology. As Tech-On! reports, this new element is expected to reduce both the size and price of holographic players.

The latest element may reduce the price of players. Thus far, the company has used an expensive DMD priced at over $10,000 (USD) even for a playback-only machine in order to generate the reference light at the time of playback. The hologram element can generate the reference light with an incident light because the pattern of the reference light is transferred to the element. Thus, the recording light can be played back without depending on DMD. Although the specific price of the element is yet to be announced since it is at the prototyping stage, the company expects the production cost to be less than several tens of thousand yen.

The new element also leads to a size reduction of players. The prototype element is 20-mm square, which is smaller than DMD. In the case of DMD, the size of the portion required to generate the reference light measures 100 x 160 mm, including peripheral circuits necessary to drive DMD.

With holographic players costing more than some cars, any price reduction is welcome. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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29 May 2007

Sharp has announced that it will begin volume production of its new 3.3mm blue-violet semiconductor laser in July. With its small size and heat-dissipating CAN package, the GH04020A4G is ideal for notebook Blu-ray and HD DVD drives. Here's part of their press release, translated from Japanese:

Sharp, the royal purple which adopts the package of industry smallest diameter φ3.3mm mass-produces the low power output semiconductor laser , from July. The blue ray disk of the next generation DVD of the notebook PC (BD) and it is the device which is optimum to the playback of HD DVD...

...This product, when miniaturization is assured, in order to overcome the trade-off that temperature inside the package rises, mounted on the package of the high thermal insulation construction which developed the laser tip/chip which to electric power consumption is converted low anew. Because of this, the long-lived design of small-sized size and the highest level was actualized simultaneously.

Sharp will ship out samples on June 13th and plans to eventually produce 500,000 units per month. If you'd like to read more, Sharp's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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29 May 2007

On Friday, the Helsinki District Court threw out a case against two men charged with violating Finland's copyright laws. According to PC World, the court ruled that CSS is "ineffective" as a form of DRM.

He, as well as another man, were charged in February. But on Friday, the court dismissed the cases, determining that CSS is "ineffective" and does not "achieves the protection objective" as stated by law.

The court heard from two technical experts, one for the prosecutor and one for the defense, who testified the CSS copy protection technology does little to stop consumers from copying DVDs due to an abundance of programs and decryption tools. CSS was cracked just a few years after its release by three hackers, including a 16-year-old Norwegian.

While this decision could make DVD copying legal, at least in Finland, it will probably have a larger effect on AACS. The way things are going, this new DRM could be declared "ineffective" as well. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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25 May 2007

Earlier this month, Sony was sued by a California company called Target Technology. According to Ars Technica, Target Technology claims that the Blu-ray discs manufactured by Sony infringe upon a patent it owns for reflective-layer materials used in optical discs.

Target Technology, a company that manufactures and sells thin film alloys for optical discs, has sued Sony in the US District Court for the Southern District of Indiana for violating a patent it holds on reflective layers used in optical storage media. The patent in question, no. 7,018,696, was filed for in April 2004 and issued in March 2006.

Target Technology's complaint doesn't go into detail on exactly how Blu-ray infringes on its patents, but alleges that all Blu-ray discs manufactured, sold, and marketed by Sony are infringing. Target Technologies is demanding a jury trial, a declaration that the patents are valid and enforceable, damages, and an injunction barring Sony from future infringement.

If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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23 May 2007

Samsung SGH-i710 Windows Mobile 5 Smartphone @TweakTown
Thermaltak e V1 and MaxOrb CPU Coolers @Bigbruin.com
AMD Radeon HD 2900XT @InsideHW.com
Brando 7-inch LCD Digital Photo Frame @ThinkComputers.org
Thermaltake Volcano 4005 Heat Exchanger CPU Waterblock @Tweaknews.net
TeleNav Bluetooth GPS Navigator @BlueTomorrow.com
DFI INFINITY 965 DARK Motherboard @Madshrimps

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