Version 3.0 and MV

One clarification....


"the VCR's MV circuitry would mess up the recording on the tape."


VCRs don't actually have "MV circuitry". Basically, MV takes advantage of a VCR feature in a way that was not originally intended. The result is the same, but it's not as if the VCR is designed for macrovision.



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"It's like living in the future."


[This message has been edited by an infinite number of monkeys (edited 10-24-2000).]

Quote:
There are plenty of threads in this forum that have the detailed answers, so I'll try to be real quick.


SS should get 3.0 in about 3-5 weeks (it was 4-6 the last I heard and that was about a week ago.)


MV is Macrovision and it is a technique to prevent unauthorized duplication of source material that carries it, like videotapes or DVD's you buy in stores. Both SS and ReplayTV branded units handle MV. ReplayTV units handle it by recording the signal as-is and playing it back with the regular output, which allows you to watch programs you've recorded on the unit, but if you tried to dump it to a videotape through a VCR, the VCR's MV circuitry would mess up the recording on the tape. This is was most people think of as ideal.

The SS will reject any source that comes in with MV protection, so it will not put it on the hard drive at all. This is seen as less than ideal for two major reasons. One is that it prevents legal uses such as time-shifting (i.e. I can't watch this thing now, so I'll put it on some media that I can watch it on later.) Second is that it seems to misinterpret some broadcasts as having the MV protection when in fact they do not, thereby preventing the viewing of material at all, including live.


If you can return your SS, you should do so at once and get an official ReplayTV branded unit, so that you never have to deal with the MV issues above. You'll also get 3.0 quicker. And in my humble opinion, you'll have tech support people who actually care about you.


*****Daniel