Comments on: The Return of the Broadcast Flag

By: Signa

Signa — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000

Sounds easily crackable to me. just one bit? just make a small program that changes the first bit in the record stream to the proper digit so the PVR program gets to see what it wants.

By: DrewWilson

DrewWilson — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000

This was certainly my impression as well. From the sounds of things it’s very possible to get a PVR to ignore the flag. It appears that this issue only affects those who use Windows Vista to record their TV shows thus far. The important part is that it’s legal to create something that will bi-pass the broadcast flag in the US. I suppose a very legitimate fear would be that this is the tip of the iceberg for voluntary restrictions – though I’m not sure how those who would obey the broadcast flag will hope to compete against those who ignore the flag since everyone will want something that’ll record what they want not what the content industry wants.

By: starwhite

starwhite — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 16:00:00 +0000

I alpha/beta tested Longhorn/Vista from the beginning. After its all said and done I went back to XP pro. Why? You can dress a pig up in a pretty dresss and put lipstick on it in the end a pig is still a pig. Vista cannot do anything that XP cannot. Xp runs all my programs smooth fast and efficiently. Vista has a footprint three times that of XP where resources are concerned cpu memory.
Added to all this vista was not created for the home user. It was created with a pernacious form of DRM not found in XP. XP to me means freedom.