AppleTV and HDCP

Question

AppleTV and HDCP

Since reading about Apple's adoption of the Display Port connector on the new Cinema Display and its associated use of HDCP DRM in some of the HD content available on iTunes, I'm left to wonder about HDCP's effect on playback through an AppleTV connected to a non-HDCP compliant TV.

I bought a Panasonic plasma TV about a year ago in hopes of using it with an AppleTV to rent HD movies from iTunes. If it turns out that I can't watch HD movies because of my nearly new television, I'll be quite upset. Can someone who has a setup like what I've described tell me how their AppleTV works and what they expect in the future as part I this new DRM technology?

Posted on Nov 26, 2008 7:46 AM

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Answer 1

Chenks

Level 5

7,435 points

Nov 26, 2008 8:07 AM in response to Phillip Breske

HDCP has been in appletv since v2.0 was released some time ago.
HDCP is standard across almost all HD platforms (and not just apple).

all HD TVs "should" support HDCP.

should also note that HDCP is via the HDMI port.
HD component connections do not support HDCP as far as i am aware.

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Answer 2

Nov 26, 2008 8:53 AM in response to Chenks

So, an AppleTV connected via HDMI to an HDTV "should" play all iTunes HD content +at HD resolution.+ Is that what you're saying?

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Answer 3

Chenks

Level 5

7,435 points

Nov 26, 2008 9:01 AM in response to Phillip Breske

Phillip Breske wrote:
So, an AppleTV connected via HDMI to an HDTV "should" play all iTunes HD content +at HD resolution.+ Is that what you're saying?

providing your TV supports HDCP, then yes.

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Answer 4

steph3n

Level 1

4 points

Nov 26, 2008 3:09 PM in response to Chenks

Hi I have a pioneer plasma only 1 year old and I cannot switch the HDCP on.

My Apple tv is wired thro the HDMI socket.

I have rebooted reset tried most things...

Any ideas?

It used to work fine...

All movies now say that they cannot be played because of HDCP even ones that I bought some time ago and played fine then. They will not play now!

If I buy the red green blue colored wires will this work?

regards
Stephen

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Answer 5

Chenks

Level 5

7,435 points

Nov 27, 2008 1:10 AM in response to steph3n

turn off both the TV and the appletv (full off at the mains).
disconnect the HDMI cable.

turn the TV back on
turn the appletv on
re-connect the HDMI cable.
try playing movies again.

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Answer 6

steph3n

Level 1

4 points

Feb 1, 2009 7:09 AM in response to Chenks

Hi tried it and did not work and I have now bought the component video and audio cables and they dont work either just a blank screen and the HDCP message if I keep the HDMI cable attached!

Any other ideas?

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Answer 7

Chenks

Level 5

7,435 points

Feb 1, 2009 7:13 AM in response to steph3n

if you have both the HDMI and component cables connected at the same time, then the appletv will use the HDMI and ignore the component, as HDMI takes precedence over component.

you will need to disconnect the HDMI cable if you want to test component, however you should not that component connection do not use HDCP at all, so if the content you are trying to play demands HDCP, then you can only use HDMI.

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Answer 8

thx67

Level 1

13 points

Feb 28, 2009 3:02 PM in response to Chenks

Ok, since the update im now having the hdcp problem? Havent changed the tv etc, its a 1080p sony and didnt have problem downloading hd content until the patch? Any ideas?

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Answer 9

Alley_Cat

Level 7

20,560 points

Mar 1, 2009 12:49 AM in response to Phillip Breske

Which model Panasonic TV ?

I have a PX70 (not full HD) which is nearly 2 years old which works fine with AppleTV, and a more recent PZ82 (full HD, non standard model for a particular store) which also works with AppleTV.

I've not applied the latest update as I can't see much point at the moment.

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Answer 10

thx67

Level 1

13 points

Mar 1, 2009 2:29 AM in response to Alley_Cat

My advice to you is DONT apply the update yet, if its working ok with downloads then leave it as the patch is supposed to speed up your downloads. Irony is I didnt have any problem with downloading before the patch, now I cant download rentals at all due to the hdcp error.

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Answer 11

Mar 16, 2009 10:07 PM in response to Phillip Breske

Yet another frustrated user.

I have verified my TV and cable are HDCP compliant, yet have suddenly started getting the same error message.

Check out http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9132347&#9132347

Frustrating to say the least

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Answer 12

Jun 13, 2009 2:19 PM in response to Dano Monticelli

Does Apple not think it would be advisable to check our apple tv connection before taking our money. Just had the same thing happen to me. Downloaded a movie (no problem there) and then tried to play it - sorry cannot due to HDCP connectivity.

This is the third time I have had problems with Itunes rentals this year. I think the apple tv is going in the bin. Apple is making enough money without me subsidising them

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Answer 13

Jun 16, 2009 9:21 AM in response to Phillip Breske

UPDATE: turns out my issue was a physical/hardware one....

My Apple TV had a bad HMDI port on the back - no cable would work

Replaced the unit under warranty - no problems since then....

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