Next-Gen DVD Cripple Option?!?

You should read this first. In short, the article is about content providers having the ability to "cripple" the component outputs on HD-DVD players like below.


Toshiba's first model for HD-DVD. Retails for $500 at Crutchfield.

A bit shocking, isn't it? To give content providers (like movie studios) the option to downconvert the component outputs to 960x540. While I can see why they would allow this to happen (for older, non-HDTVs), it is an utterly absurd solution. One additonal reason is to help the public with the transition from standard 480i/p content into eventual HD content. Yet, an underlying, hidden reason to do this is to help circumvent piracy. But copy-protection schemes have been broken in the past.

A better solution is to allow the players to do their job, which is to display in 720p/1080i, with the ability to downconvert to 480i/p. This option should be set by the consumer at the player's settings menu, and default to a specific setting.

In any case, this could be a hot topic concerning the next generation DVD war between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. And this option will only set to confuse less knowledgable consumers in the short run.