[MPlayer-users] Hiro Codec

[Oliver Seitz]

>> Hiro is not a codec, it's DRM software. I presume it wont be video codec
>> programming but hacking what helps here.

> Ok, so how do we go about that? I'm not savvy with media formats, so I'm
> not even sure where to begin even.

Unfortunately I cant really help you as I'm no hacker and nearly
C-illiterate, but I can tell you my opinion about DRM. Sorry for it being
a lot of text...



Best things in life are free, like Wikipedia and MPlayer.

Some things are worth paying for, like a big-mac, a flight ticket or a
night at the pictures.

You can argue if a good quality radio programme is worth paying for, or
renting a DVD from a video store.

I myself are prepared to pay for renting a DVD. I know clearly what I get
there: I can watch a movie for a limited amount of time (until I give back
the DVD) on any player that bears the DVD-mark.

I am NOT prepared to use DRM, as I dont know what I get. I get a file
which will be playable on a specified player. Perhaps only a few times.
Maybe until next month. Probably not on an other player. Picture quality
may be intentionally reduced if my display (or even its cable) is not
certified. The value I got can be adjusted at the rights-holders will,
even after purchase. I do NOT know what I've got.

That point, in my opinion, justifies an boycott on any media employing
DRM, even those you mentioned that seem to be at no cost.

On the other hand, I dont approve of hacking DRM media as this is quite
certainly unlawful. I dont approve of getting a value without paying the
required price. If something is offered to me, I have to decide if I am
willing to pay the price. I won't take it without paying. I will leave it
on the shelf and go looking for something that's worth its price.

Even though that hiro-thing seems to be quite cheap, I will not use it on
any basis as it employs a kind of DRM. A cooperation between MPlayer and
hiro is quite improbable as MPlayer is open-source-software and
DRM-software can hardly be open-source as it will be hacked before the
first release (certainly with MPlayers releases... :-D sorry). The other
way 'round, fitting a closed-source binary module in MPlayer... cant
imagine that.

I dont mind if anyone hacks DRM systems as there is only little damage
done by that. But I wouldnt use it.

Greets,
Kiste