RealNetworks publicly launched RealDVD, a new program that makes it possible for PC owners to easily rip their DVDs to a computer with digital rights management (DRM) security included.
It will typically take between 10 to 40 minutes to rip anywhere from four-to-eight GB of data, and users have the ability to watch the movie as it's ripping. Each ripped DVD is encrypted so it cannot be inadvertently shared or stolen by others. In addition, it's possible to save the movie to a portable HDD or USB key, then watch it on up to five other computers that have RealDVD installed.
The regular DRM from the DVD and Real's additional level of DRM will make it more difficult for people to rip DVDs and try and put them on a peer-to-peer network.
The ability to only watch the ripped movie on computers with RealDVD, and that the cut off limit is five, shows there are some DRM issues some users will not like. But assuming the software is easy enough for anyone to use, it's likely some users will overlook any DRM issues.
DRM issues aside, users will be able to rent or borrow DVDs and rip them using the software, because RealDVD does not have an integrated method to authenticate whether the person ripping the movie actually owns it.
RealDVD is available on sale for $29.99 for a short time, with the normal retail price set at $49.99. Buyers can pay $19.99 per license for any additional licenses.
DRM protection for ripped DVDs? Imposing restrictions on ripping will only divert users to other projects that allow ripping without restrictions on sharing...
Oh..I see- I need to pay Real 30-50 dollars, then swap one DRM for another in order to get my Fair Use rights back....sort of.
This is how Real keeps it real...Real DUMB! Thanks but no thanks, I can use AnyDVDHD and rip anything including Blu-ray content, then use it however I want, no strings attached.
Who was the Einstein that came up with this idea? Ohh yea, I see this taking off, not! Sometimes, it makes me wonder how nature is going to keep the human race in check by weeding out the idiots. Well Mother Nature, here is your chance. 
LAME,LAME,LAME Give me a break why would anyone wanna pay for this sort of garbage? Its really gotten old, big corporations trying to control how ppl watch and use music, videos and whatever else that cam make a buck from. As someone said I have and use AnyDVD and Clone DVD, also DVDFab Platinum works great, hats where I spent my money (sorta lol)The point is IMO leave us alone and mind your own business big companies. We wil find a way to defeat your B.S....I don’t wanna sell anything I just wanna copy and use as I see fit. If I own a DVD or CD with software and it gets unusable I wanna have a copy so I don’t have to buy a second time. Miklo
I don't HAVE Blu-ray, I only have a 42 inch 1080i plasma so it would be retarded to buy a Blu-ray device right now. When sitting 10-12 feet from the screen, while running a DVD on my Oppo 971- you cannot tell a difference on this size screen.At least not weenough for me to shell out the bucks for one of these things right now.
Having said that, in 5 years, when my plasma gives out and I go to a 60+ inch 1080p screen for dirt cheap and IF Blu-ray is still around, I could rip them to my HTPC disc array and play them all I want, or look at them directly from the competively priced - 50 dollar BD ROM. All I would have to do is upgrade my AnyDVD to the HD version. Then I can skip all the DRM nonsense and French/English piracy warnings, Coming attractions etc. 
you cannot tell a difference on this size screen.At least not weenough for me to shell out the bucks for one of these things right now.
Time to go get your eyes checked then if you can't tell the difference.
Maybe you should just go back to the old CRT Tv's from 20 years ago, i'm sure you won't be able to tell the difference on those either.
Maybe you need to learn more about this tech, before you waste more of your money or pop off at the mouth. A 42 inch screen is no good for 1080p, when sitting at a normal viewing distance. I have seen proper setups for 1080p including projection systems with screens some 20 feet across. These are amazing- even 1080i video feed of a football game upscaled to 1080p on this setup was like you were there on the field, when sitting 20 feet back. A 42inch screen at 1080p at 10 feet is a yawn fest. Plus as I say, I only have 1080i.
Take a look at the chart at this site and read the article- it is the same you can read anywhere, but this is a good site. This comparison is with a 50 inch screen which doesn't sound like a big difference from 42- but it is. I would say 50 inch is the bare minimum for 1080p for max enjoyment, and 60 inch is preferrable at 12 - 14 feet:
http://www.carltonbale.com/2006/11/1080p-does-matter/
"What the chart shows is that, for a 50-inch screen, the benefits of 720p vs. 480p start to become apparent at viewing distances closer than 14.6 feet and become fully apparent at 9.8 feet. For the same screen size, the benefits of 1080p vs. 720p start to become apparent when closer than 9.8 feet and become full apparent at 6.5 feet. In my opinion, 6.5 feet is closer than most people will sit to their 50" plasma TV (even through the THX recommended viewing distance for a 50" screen is 5.6 ft). So, most consumers will not be able to see the full benefit of their 1080p TV."
Maybe you should quit your whining instead of acting like such a know it all. Perhaps if you weren't a cheapa$$ and got a bigger tv, you wouldn't be on here whining. Oh wait that ain't going to stop you, that's pretty much your life, how sad indeed.
I am not whining I am stating facts. I am not a know it all, but I know more than you, as do most people that visit this site. It was quite apparent after your first remark. No one here will support your arguement as it is just flat wrong!
Why not just run along now and create a new user name and try again. You just got caught not knowing what you are talking about and can't figure out a way to debate like an adult so you make inflammatory remarks - this is what is sad- being ignorant and childish at the same time. The TV I have was about 3,000 dollars when I bought it and was quite nice at the time. It has been about 5 years, but I am not ready to upgrade as I am quite satisfied with my Panny 7UY for now. In fact, I love it!
Dude, you are out of your league here.
Haha....a guy using a children's cartoon as an avatar is telling me to stop being childish...oh the irony.
@Crabbyappleton
They lost the argument. Anyone that starts calling names has nothing more to argue and has lost it. This goes for ANY argument. By the way, you are absolutely correct in pointing out the differences between resolutions.
@fordmanbill
You can "shrink" it down to a DVD9 and play it on your PC's DVD drive with a UDF 2.5 driver and something that plays mpeg2 transport streams. You will not be able to do this on a standalone.
From a resolution standpoint, there is NO difference between 1080i and 1080p. They both display 1920x1080 pictures. The 1080i can look less pleasing to some people if they are in the group of folks that percieve and are annoyed by the flicker of an interlaced screen. But that isn't resolution. And if viewing distance and screen size is being determined for a resolution, then there is no difference between the two 1080 formats. So 1080i on a 42" will be the same as 1080p.
What changes with screen size, and is the reason 1080 is better than 720 or 480 on larger screens, is the pixel pitch. When you expand a 480 pixel line to cover a 50" screen it starts to get soft and fuzzy. Even a 1080 pixel line has the same problem when it gets enlarged too far. The perception of this soft and fuzzy effect changes with viewing distance as well. So all of it goes into the equation, where resolution, viewing distance, interlace or not, all come together to affect your enjoyment. So saying 1080p is wasted on a 42" isn't really accurate, there's more to it than just the screen size.
@Chuckwagon
Yes there is more to it than screen size. One other thing to miss out on and is probably more important than resolutions, is properly calibrating your contrast, brightness, sharpness, ect. to get proper colors. If I were to spend alot of money on a HD TV, you are damn sure I am going to have some kind of calibration help. I purchased "Digital Video Essentials" a long time ago for $20 and it was money well worth spent for my analog TV. Most auto settings like Sports, Theater, Mild, ect. are not even close to what it should be. Manufacturers, like to jack up the "red" level for some reason so the reds are usually over saturated to begin with. Also, most people jack up their contrast thinking that it "looks" better not knowing that they are reducing the life span of their TV. With that said, you can get an awesome picture just by taking a little time and adjusting your picture settings properly and improving the life span of your TV. It becomes even more important especially with these high dollar HDTV.
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