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Hands On: Windows 7 With ‘Copy Freely’ Support
Select any computer or NAS on the network, or pick ‘All Computers’ to share unprotected content
"It looks like all of the FiOS channels are showing as unprotected (Copy Freely)," he says. "This could be awesome!"
Microsoft announced during CEDIA Expo 2009 that Windows 7 Media Centers would support Copy Freely (CF), one of the designations applied to TV programs by their providers. (The other tags are Copy Once and Copy Never.)
In the past, Media Center did not recognize the CF tags, so no CableCard content – even regular local broadcasts – could be shared. You could copy content to a NAS or other device, but you could only play back the programs on the original PC or through a Media Center Extender.
And since virtually no one is making Extenders anymore -- except Microsoft with its Xbox -- consumers will be more likely to use mini PCs as extenders. Now the CF programs can be shared among them.
Selecting 'All Computers' brings up a list of Copy Freely Shows on all Win 7 PCs in the house. Before CF support, no CableCard content could be shared between PCs.
FiOS appears to have a particularly generous content protection scheme, according to Flickinger, who has yet to find protected content. Even premium channels appear to be unprotected.
"I used the MCIA DCT Diagnostics Tool, let it scan the channel lineup, and list the subscription and current CCI [Copy Control Information]," Flickinger explains. "They all listed as Copy Freely. Of course, the provider could enable the CCI bits, but life is good for now."
On the other hand, rumor has it that Time Warner Cable and other MSOs are tagging virtually everything as Copy Once (protected). There may be little CF content except from basic broadcast channels.
Win 7 CF content can be put on a USB stick and shared with any computer or simply broadcast across the network. That's something
And the other notable benefit of CF support "is that now we can use the automatic commercial skipping software," Flickinger says. "Previously, it was not able to open and scan the protected files to calculate where the commercials were. Now it is able to do that. Life is good."
Now, if you want to stream any live (not recorded) CableCard content over the network -- protected or otherwise -- you can do that with S1Digital's new Digital Entertainment Platform. So all PCs in the house can enjoy premium HD content from a single S1Digital server.
Digital Content is one of 6 pillars of EHX Spring 2010, Orlando, Fla.
Microsoft Windows 7
 | 5 Reasons Windows 7 is Good for Installers Windows 7 will lead to more competition, more integration with A/V components, more automation functionality, more system design options and more revenue. Windows 7 Launch Party: CE Pros Gone Wild With all that hootin' and hollerin' over Windows 7, we wonder how these guys can call themselves pros! 10 Useful Add-Ons for Windows 7 Add Hulu to Windows Media Center, tweak hard-to-find settings and more." Stream HBO Over Internet with FiOS, Windows 7 Windows 7 support for Copy Freely, coupled with Verizon FiOS's generous content protection scheme, enables Windows Media Center to stream premium content over the home network or the Internet. Hands On: Windows 7 With 'Copy Freely' Support In the past, you could not share CableCard content -- even non-protected content -- from a Windows Media Center PC; now you can (and skip commercials, too!). Microsoft: Add Own CableCard, Switched Digital Video, Copy Freely Microsoft at CEDIA Expo 2009: Easy to add digital cable tuners (DCTs) to any Win 7 machine, fixes for switched digital video, and the ability to copy freely for tagged content. | |
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6 Comments
Oops, thanks Ben. Forgot about that. I was thinking more of the OTHER STBs. Will edit…
I figured that with the per-show DRM modifications, we’d soon get to the next thing to worry about: why is this show copy-protected and that one isn’t. Also, of course TWC will copy protect everything and make the discussion moot. arrrggghh!!! The irony is that I am MUCH more inclined to try shows on cable channels (like Mad Men) if I can record them on my Media Center and watch them in my spare time on my laptop. Content providers must realize that people rarely want to sit in front of the TV these days to consume their media. All these providers are doing is forcing us into just ignoring their craft. Is THAT what they really want?
While this is indeed exciting, don’t forget this is a Microsoft produc…
(I wanted to finish that sentence but my IE8 session froze…)
The taskbar has seen the biggest visual changes, where the Quick Launch toolbar has been replaced with pinning applications to the taskbar. Buttons for pinned applications are integrated with the task buttons. These buttons also enable the Jump Lists feature to allow easy access to common tasks.The revamped taskbar also allows the reordering of taskbar buttons.JN0-303 To the far right of the system clock is a small rectangular button that serves as the Show desktop icon. This button is part of the new feature in Windows 7 called Aero Peek. Hovering over this button makes all visible windows transparent for a quick look at the desktop.In touch-enabled displays such as touch screens, tablet PCs, etc.,ase certification this button is slightly wider to accommodate being pressed with a finger.
Clicking this button minimizes all windows, and clicking it a second time restores them. Additionally,ccie there is a feature named Aero Snap, that automatically maximizes a window when it is dragged to either the top or left/right edges of the screen.This also allows users to snap documents or files on either side of the screen to compare them. When a user moves windows that are maximized, the system restores their previous state automatically. This functionality is also accomplished with keyboard shortcuts. Unlike in Windows Vista, window borders and the taskbar do not turn opaque when a window is maximized with Windows Aero applied. Instead,ccip they remain translucent.
TiVo has worked with TiVoToGo for years. So yes you can just copy a show to a USB drive and play it on another computer.