Q: iTunes movie purchases will not play on external display - HDCP auth error

Apple has released an update to QuickTime that supposedly addresses this issue...

Not exactly. The Quicktime 7.5.7 update addresses an issue where non-HD iTunes content triggers off the "display not authorized message". I can now play "Terminator 2" from the iTunes Store on my 20 inch Apple Cinema Display. However, the basic issue of not being able to play HD content using the new MacBooks or MacBook Pro's and any external display except the new 24 inch LED's still stands. There'll be no fix for that one. It's just part of Apple implementing HDCP.

never mind

However, the basic issue of not being able to play HD content using the new MacBooks or MacBook Pro's and any external display except the new 24 inch LED's still stands

So nothing plays on any other HDCP compliant device except for the 24" LED?

If the display is HDCP compliant, it should play. Right now, the 24 inch LED's are the only Apple displays that might be. Not sure about other computer LCD's, and I have no reason to believe it wouldn't play on a HDTV, but I haven't tested that to make sure it works with the dongles it'll take to get there.

You're absolutely correct. I only hope Apple realizes that iTunes video content may start to develop a reputation for being confusing or unreliable when good, non-pirate people start noticing (and publicizing) that they can't view the content they've bought in full resolution on preferred display devices that work just fine otherwise.

I certainly would no longer even consider buying or even renting any iTunes HD content as I use external displays almost exclusively.

They now comply with the intent of HDCP: SD content plays on anything, HD content only plays on displays that are compliant (which is almost none right now).

I'm sure Apple had no choice but to use HDCP to get access to the studio content, but it's our job to publicize that this means law-abiding consumers of HD iTunes content only have conditional access to view that content. Don't feel like upgrading your projector/TV/monitor? Sorry, you only get SD viewing of the HD content you bought even thought your display is capable of showing it.

Maybe eventually, with enough outcry, the studios may rethink this nonsense and allow Apple to sell un-"protected" content, as is done with iTunes+ audio downloads.

I guess folks will need to start making HDCP-compliant adaptors...

Make sure to update to *QuickTime 7.5.7* thru Software update.

+"It's unfortunate that us users have to put up with these restrictions because of all the pirates."+

These restrictions are not in place because of pirates, and have nothing to do with piracy. Pirates do not duplicate movies by sampling the display cable.

Copying a movie from raw DVI signal output is like burglarizing your house through your kitchen sink drain: possible in theory with high-tech gadgetry, but pointlessly difficult and expensive. A pirate can simply rip a DVD by paying a five-dollar rental fee; why would he spend many thousands of dollars on equipment to reliably sample and record differential signalling pairs at MHz character rates? Only then to convert the raw data back to video+audio and recompress?

Piracy is a lousy excuse to make my display stop working; this is not necessary to address any existing piracy threat, or any future threat that may materialize in the lifetime of my notebook.

Not sure if this is the same thing but I'm running iTunes HD TV shows on my 50'' Samsung Plasma TV(7series) without any problem. I'm using a Mac Mini with iTunes on it, connection is through HDMI(using an adapter on the Mac Mini side) and seperate audio cable. Works like a charm and HD looks absolutely stunning on my TV.

For me, being able to play HD content from ITunes at all is relatively new and while I would love
for my costly investment in MacBook Pro to pay off in that respect, I can live with Itunes playing
only SD content on my external display. I've lived with nothing but SD for a long time. But I wonder why iTunes doesn't make the movies available in SD in the same way they do the TV shows? Or am I missing something?

OK, all. I saw this the other day:

http://www.macworld.com/article/137148/2008/11/hdcp.html?lsrc=rss_main

I think this says it all about the problems with the new MB/MBP's. As the byline says, not sure if Apple knew this would happen or not. But, to me this explains the problem.

Another trip to the Apple product feedback page seems to be in order for everyone here that feels shorted.

Until then, try to find the prior models of MB/MBP's when they are discounted at
such places as MAC Mall, Power MAX.

GG

We received our new 24 inch LED Cinema Displays this weekend, and I have verified that when hooked up to one of the new MacBook Pro's they play HD content downloaded from the iTunes Store. Looks like, for now, they are the only Apple external displays that are HD compliant.

A movie that I rented via the AppleTV would not play to to the HDCP authorization error. The message said that my DVI connector was not compatible. None of the info accompanying the promotion of the rental mentioned any HDCP restriction.

Apple refunded my purchase with the disclaimer "Please note that the iTunes Store Terms of Sale states that all rentals are final, so this is a one-time exception."

How do I know which rental will trigger the rejection and am I now stuck with the rental charges on rejected content?

Can't imagine I'll be renting any more movies until this issue is eliminated...