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maxyourmacs Author

Level 1

15 points

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

Hello,

Well, I'm surprised there hasn't been more of a storm over this one already but I expect there will be.

Just got a new MacBook last week and finally found a mini Display Port -> VGA adapter so i could use my 19" external display. I rented a movie from the iTunes store yesterday and when I tried to play it on my external display, it gave me a warning/error that the display was 'not an authorized HDCP display' and it would not play. Plays fine on the small MacBook screen, just nothing external. To make it even worse, i tried all the movies that I have purchased from the iTunes store with the same result... NONE of them will play on anything but the MacBook's small 13" screen. This is crazy unacceptable.

Has anyone else run into this yet or have any ideas of something I may be overlooking in order to get purchased movies to play on an external display?

Thanks!

MacBook unibody C2D 2.0/2.0/160, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Oct 26, 2008 8:12 AM

Top-ranking reply

Al Knowles

Level 1

5 points

Posted on Nov 4, 2008 9:58 AM

Same problem here as well. I guess they want to be sure we HAVE to buy an
Apple TV.

Not gonna happen.

I'll buy DVD's at my local retailer before that happens.

View in context

339 replies

Jan 3, 2011 8:56 AM in response to dwdrums31

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.

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Chung ta den voi noi that fami

Jan 3, 2011 9:18 AM in response to xmatt

Yikes. I expect a lot of people are going to stop buying any video content from the iTunes store. Every one of my macs (laptops included) are connected to external displays, whether DVI monitors, HDTVs, or projectors. There is no way I'm buying any content that might not play when I upgrade -- the entire reason I do all this stuff with Macs is that it just works. If Apple is forced to do this with HDCP, then I wish they would have stuck with DVI and miniDVI.

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Ban se chon du hoc o dau?Ban da nhan hoc bong du hoc chua ?hay ban da biet tu van du hoc o dau chua? du hoc singapore co phai lua cho hop ly?

Jan 4, 2011 11:34 PM in response to maxyourmacs

There is a solution to this, y'know?

You right-click on the movie/tv-show in iTunes, select Version from the pop-up menu, and then select Standard Definition (SD) from the list.
Then it'll play on your iMac/MacBook etc regardless of what external monitor you have connected.

If you go to the Preferences window, go to the Playback tab, and select "Play videos using standard definition version"
Then you can watch all your videos that you purchased without the error message appearing.

Jan 23, 2011 11:53 AM in response to illitrate23

Thanks illitrate23 for the tip!

hhelenhh

Level 1

4 points

Jan 25, 2011 3:28 PM in response to illitrate23

That would work if you had not already downloaded your show(s). I downloaded just the HD versions of a number of TV series and now I cannot watch them on my TV. I must say I am ticked about that.

It wouldn't be so bad if iTunes kept my list of purchases stored so that I could re-download...but it doesn't. So anyone in this situation is just SOL.

I, too, won't be purchasing any video from iTunes unless this is fixed. If it is the fault of the content creators, then iTunes must note the possible viewing issues BEFORE the customer clicks "purchase". This is akin to buying a pair of shoes and then not being allowed to wear them.

Cmon Apple....get with the program!

H
PS--I have had a Mac since they came out, so I am NOT anti-Mac, just anti-stupid-policies, especially policies that penalize honest customers.

Brentk

Level 1

19 points

Feb 26, 2011 12:13 PM in response to illitrate23

People don't buy LCD and Plasma TV's and projectors so they can watch standard definition content.

With these restrictions on HD, movie studios are practically begging people to pirate.

dkowitz

Level 1

0 points

Apr 8, 2011 7:52 AM in response to maxyourmacs

I rented tron and had same auth problems. I deauthorized and reauthorized my PC. Then restored ATV2 and now works fine. May check "rentals" on the ATV2 drop down screen instead of movies. See if that works.

Apr 11, 2011 3:57 PM in response to maxyourmacs

Same problem I tried to watch an episode of House on my new monitor and it comes up with the same error. It is quite annoying. I might get an Apple TV though not because of this but because they are awesome.

Apr 11, 2011 3:58 PM in response to illitrate23

The problem with that is we want to watch it in HD. But that is a rather decent solution.

DarelRex

Level 1

0 points

May 21, 2011 6:55 AM in response to DarelRex

Update: I now own an HDMI cable so the issue is gone. Also, I have the new, tiny, black Apple TV box, so I can rent movies directly, and stream them from iTunes via iTunes sharing. Guess I didn't need any of those cables after all! Hooray Apple. 😁

May 21, 2011 7:36 PM in response to DarelRex

DarelRex,

I've tried two MiniDisplay-to-HDMI cables in order to hook my MBP up to my Epson projector and play HD content. It seems to work for a while, but then the picture starts blinking in and out and the "HD protected content" dialog box pops up.

I don't have a TV, so the AppleTV can't help me.

What brand of HDMI cable were you using? Either I've had two lemons, or the projector's HDMI connection is unstable.

DarelRex

Level 1

0 points

May 21, 2011 7:53 PM in response to Badlydrawnboy

Hmmm.. you know what? Now that I think about it, I'm not 100% certain I ever tried this exact thing with the HDMI cable. I got the cable and I assumed it would solve the problem, but then I got the Apple TV and so I haven't needed the cable. So I can't say for sure that the HDMI solves it. Sorry.

natefair

Level 1

0 points

May 26, 2011 1:25 PM in response to maxyourmacs

I have a solution. You cannot play the HD video, but you can play it as standard definition. Open iTunes, right click the video, and select SD under "version." It will now play through my new MBP to my projector. Not HD, but at least it is visible.

In my experience this is not a cable issue. That happens when HD compliant devices inexplicably do not work.

Slavsta

Level 1

4 points

Jun 14, 2011 12:54 PM in response to maxyourmacs

Ridiculous! An Apple Mac Pro connected to an Apple CINEMA (repeat, CINEMA!) HD (repeat, HD!) Display won't play an iTunes-purchased movie. FIne, but at least warn me first. Yes, I do own THREE appleTVs, but why not even a warning?!

Jun 15, 2011 3:39 PM in response to maxyourmacs

Agreed - Recently upgraded my old PPC (which had no problems playing HD movies!!) to a new 2011 Mac Pro Tower with Apple Cinema Display - Since PPC is no longer supported by Apple, and HD rental or purchased movies just wont play on the new 2011 Mac Pro Tower with Apple Cinema Display, I just have to laugh when the sole reason for buying a Mac is because of it's tight integration and things just work... right?

Maybe I missed the ad where Apple changed it's name to Lemon?? And yes a warning on Apple products or at least on iTunes would be expected before allowing a download that will not work - wonder if consumer affairs is onto this??

I know retail stores wouldn't have a problem with an exchange or refund on a faulty DVD or product - my advice stop wasting money trying to find a solution to a problem that is Apple's to fix!

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