RealNetworks publicly launched RealDVD, a new program that makes it possible for PC owners to easily rip their DVDs to a computer with digital rights management (DRM) security included.
It will typically take between 10 to 40 minutes to rip anywhere from four-to-eight GB of data, and users have the ability to watch the movie as it’s ripping. Each ripped DVD is encrypted so it cannot be inadvertently shared or stolen by others. In addition, it’s possible to save the movie to a portable HDD or USB key, then watch it on up to five other computers that have RealDVD installed.
The regular DRM from the DVD and Real’s additional level of DRM will make it more difficult for people to rip DVDs and try and put them on a peer-to-peer network.
The ability to only watch the ripped movie on computers with RealDVD, and that the cut off limit is five, shows there are some DRM issues some users will not like. But assuming the software is easy enough for anyone to use, it’s likely some users will overlook any DRM issues.
DRM issues aside, users will be able to rent or borrow DVDs and rip them using the software, because RealDVD does not have an integrated method to authenticate whether the person ripping the movie actually owns it.
RealDVD is available on sale for $29.99 for a short time, with the normal retail price set at $49.99. Buyers can pay $19.99 per license for any additional licenses.
15 Comments
This is how Real keeps it real...Real DUMB! Thanks but no thanks, I can use AnyDVDHD and rip anything including Blu-ray content, then use it however I want, no strings attached.
Miklo
Ive got DVDFAB Plat.It's all any one could possibley need.
Hey crabbyappleton, can you rip bluray disks and play them on your home DVD Player??????
http://www.cdfreaks.com/jochem/../im...ies/7/clap.gif Having said that, in 5 years, when my plasma gives out and I go to a 60+ inch 1080p screen for dirt cheap and IF Blu-ray is still around, I could rip them to my HTPC disc array and play them all I want, or look at them directly from the competively priced - 50 dollar BD ROM. All I would have to do is upgrade my AnyDVD to the HD version. Then I can skip all the DRM nonsense and French/English piracy warnings, Coming attractions etc.
Time to go get your eyes checked then if you can't tell the difference.
Maybe you should just go back to the old CRT Tv's from 20 years ago, i'm sure you won't be able to tell the difference on those either. Take a look at the chart at this site and read the article- it is the same you can read anywhere, but this is a good site. This comparison is with a 50 inch screen which doesn't sound like a big difference from 42- but it is. I would say 50 inch is the bare minimum for 1080p for max enjoyment, and 60 inch is preferrable at 12 - 14 feet:
http://www.carltonbale.com/2006/11/1080p-does-matter/
"What the chart shows is that, for a 50-inch screen, the benefits of 720p vs. 480p start to become apparent at viewing distances closer than 14.6 feet and become fully apparent at 9.8 feet. For the same screen size, the benefits of 1080p vs. 720p start to become apparent when closer than 9.8 feet and become full apparent at 6.5 feet. In my opinion, 6.5 feet is closer than most people will sit to their 50" plasma TV (even through the THX recommended viewing distance for a 50" screen is 5.6 ft). So, most consumers will not be able to see the full benefit of their 1080p TV."
Why not just run along now and create a new user name and try again. You just got caught not knowing what you are talking about and can't figure out a way to debate like an adult so you make inflammatory remarks - this is what is sad- being ignorant and childish at the same time. The TV I have was about 3,000 dollars when I bought it and was quite nice at the time. It has been about 5 years, but I am not ready to upgrade as I am quite satisfied with my Panny 7UY for now. In fact, I love it!
Dude, you are out of your league here.
They lost the argument. Anyone that starts calling names has nothing more to argue and has lost it. This goes for ANY argument. By the way, you are absolutely correct in pointing out the differences between resolutions.
@fordmanbill
You can "shrink" it down to a DVD9 and play it on your PC's DVD drive with a UDF 2.5 driver and something that plays mpeg2 transport streams. You will not be able to do this on a standalone.
What changes with screen size, and is the reason 1080 is better than 720 or 480 on larger screens, is the pixel pitch. When you expand a 480 pixel line to cover a 50" screen it starts to get soft and fuzzy. Even a 1080 pixel line has the same problem when it gets enlarged too far. The perception of this soft and fuzzy effect changes with viewing distance as well. So all of it goes into the equation, where resolution, viewing distance, interlace or not, all come together to affect your enjoyment. So saying 1080p is wasted on a 42" isn't really accurate, there's more to it than just the screen size.
Yes there is more to it than screen size. One other thing to miss out on and is probably more important than resolutions, is properly calibrating your contrast, brightness, sharpness, ect. to get proper colors. If I were to spend alot of money on a HD TV, you are damn sure I am going to have some kind of calibration help. I purchased "Digital Video Essentials" a long time ago for $20 and it was money well worth spent for my analog TV. Most auto settings like Sports, Theater, Mild, ect. are not even close to what it should be. Manufacturers, like to jack up the "red" level for some reason so the reds are usually over saturated to begin with. Also, most people jack up their contrast thinking that it "looks" better not knowing that they are reducing the life span of their TV. With that said, you can get an awesome picture just by taking a little time and adjusting your picture settings properly and improving the life span of your TV. It becomes even more important especially with these high dollar HDTV.
Most popular headlines
Grandmother is falsely accused of file-sharing (11)
- Wed 3 Feb 03:00 by JaredNewman
- Piracy
A woman falsely accused of downloading copyrighted movies might've lost her Internet connection had she not taken her case to the media.
PS3 closing ground on Xbox 360 (1)
- Sat 6 Feb 14:00 by Randomus
- Game Consoles
After years of trailing the Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Xbox 360 on the sales charts, the Sony PlayStation 3 continues to close the gap on the Xbox 360.
Blame Blu-ray for lack of PS3 game downloads (14)
- Thu 4 Feb 09:00 by JaredNewman
- Game Consoles
Don't expect Sony to offer its full game catalog for download over the Playstation 3 any time soon.
Murdoch: Avatar DVD won't be 3D (17)
- Thu 4 Feb 00:00 by Randomus
- Blu-Ray writers & players, LCD TV
News Corp. CEO Robert Murdoch confirmed the DVD release of Avatar won't have 3D support, with no word on a possible 3D Blu-ray version.
