Month: August 2015

Two independent surveys shows that while the popularity of SVOD services such as Netflix has changed the way consumers watch content, many still prefer to buy, rent their movies and TV shows, and many still exclusively rely on packaged media.

A survey by Nielsen found that 73% of American consumers still buy or rent movies and TV shows. Out of these consumers, 61% went for packaged media (including Blu-ray and DVD), while 53% has bought or rented a digital file, and 41% said they consumed both types of content. This means that 20% (61% minus 41%) used packaged media exclusively.

For SVOD, it now accounts for 10% of weekly viewing hours for consumers (compared to 34% for broadcast TV, 12% for video games and 7% for packaged media). Consumers also said that SVOD has changed their buying habits, with 3% saying they buy less TV shows on discs as a result, and are going to the movies less.

A separate study from Futuresource Consulting has found that 50% of survey respondents still buy discs, and the proportion of disc buyers in the US and UK are actually up compared to the last survey.

The data shows that 20% of all digital consumers still buy discs, with those in the US more likely to buy them than compared to consumers in Canada, Australia, Germany, the UK and France.

Interestingly, the data shows that DVD buyers are increasingly female, those most likely to have children under 12 at home. Consumers that are more willing to adopt new tech actually tend to prefer packaged media over digital services.

Windows 10 will prevent games with old DRM from being played, while several top torrent trackers have started to ban users who use Windows 10.

Games that use older version of SafeDisc and SecuROM will not work in Windows 10, according to Microsoft’s Boris Schneider-Johne. Speaking in a videointerview with Rocket Bean TV (and translated via Rock, Paper, Shotgun), Schneider-Johne pointed out that Windows 10's security policy prevents these potentially insecure apps from running.

"Everything that ran in Windows 7 should also run in Windows 10. There are just two silly exceptions: antivirus software and stuff that’s deeply embedded into the system," Schneider-Johne said, according to the translation provided by RPS.

"And then there are old games on CD-Rom that have DRM. This DRM stuff is also deeply embedded in your system, and that’s where Windows 10 says 'sorry, we cannot allow that, because that would be a possible loophole for computer viruses.'

"That’s why there are a couple of games from 2003-2008 with Securom, etc. that simply don’t run without a no-CD patch or some such. We can just not support that if it’s a possible danger for our users. There are a couple of patches from developers already, and there is stuff like GOG where you’ll find versions of those games that work."

Meanwhile, the privacy issues related to Windows 10 have forced several top torrent trackers to block users using Windows 10.

The biggest concern appears to be Windows 10's willingness to send private user information to an anti-piracy company called MarkMonitor. According to one tracker iTS, Microsoft has been sending "contents of your local disks directly to one of their servers".

This has forced iTS to ban its users from using Windows 10, and users with the OS will be redirected to a video explaining why the ban is in place.

Another tracker, BB, is also following suit.

"We have also found [Windows 10] will be gathering information on users’ P2P use to be shared with anti piracy group," staff from BB informed users.

"What’s particularly nasty is that apparently it sends the results of local(!!) searches to a well known anti piracy company directly so as soon as you have one known p2p or scene release on your local disk … BAM!"

But according to analysis by TorrentFreak, these privacy concerns may be overstated. For example, according to the torrent news website, Microsoft has been working with MarkMonitor for years, but only in the protection of users from phishing attempts. And the recent change to Microsoft's service agreement that has caused so much controversy, is unlikely to target third-party non Microsoft products.

TorrentFreak says that instead of scaring users with unsubstantiated claims or banning the OS entirely, torrent trackers and others should simply try and educate users on the potential privacy pitfalls of Windows 10, and help users fix some of these privacy issues.

From fake PS4s to real RIAA threats, read this and other news stories for the week ending 23 August 2015

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An update to Microsoft's Service Agreement may allow the company to scan for and disable "counterfeit games" and "unauthorized hardware".

According to the updated clause under section 7b, Microsoft will retain the right to prevent you from using these unauthorised software and hardware. Section 7b reads:

"We may automatically check your version of the software and download software updates or configuration changes, including those that prevent you from accessing the Services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorized hardware peripheral devices. You may also be required to update the software to continue using the Services."

The updated clause, first spotted by Alphr, seems to suggest Microsoft may want to retain the right to disable pirated first-party games (games published by Microsoft). There is no clearer definition for "unauthorized hardware peripheral devices", but the latter may mainly refer to unlicensed peripherals for Xbox consoles, as opposed to uncertified PCs.

The service agreement applies to Windows Phone, Xbox 360 and the Xbox One. While the service agreement does not specifically cover Windows 10, it does cover Microsoft accounts, which is heavily relied upon in Windows 10 features, including Cortana.

The updated service agreement came into effect on August 1.

The results and analysis for Blu-ray (and DVD) sales for the week ending 8th August 2015 is in. Insurgent was the week's best selling new release, and overall best seller. It was another very quiet week, in which the next best selling new release was the Divergent/Insurgent double pack, only exclusively available at Walmart.

You can read the rest of the stats and analysis here

Copyright infringement in gaming is nothing new, but in China, it takes on a different meaning.

Meet OUYE, a console that combines the PS4's chassis, with the Xbox One's controller, and then tops it off by ripping off both OUYA's name and hardware design.

Submitted to China's own version of Kickstarter, the Shenzhen based company claims the Android based micro gaming console (not too dissimilar to OUYA) features a "unique" design that took the company six months to design.

If the project does get off the ground, the console will cost project backers less than USD $70 to own (that's $29 cheaper than OUYA).

The machine will run Android 4.4.2 using an eight-core A80 processor, with a 64-bit Power VR G6230 GPU. It even includes 4K support via the HDMI 1.4 connector.

China recently lifted a 13 year ban on imports of foreign game consoles, paving the way for the real PS4 and Xbox One to enter the lucrative Chinese gaming market.

From an unexpected new codec to the expected music industry overreaction to a new piracy problem, read this and other news stories for the week ending 16 August 2015

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Copyright groups linked to the music recording industry have accused CNET owned Download.com of offering software downloads that are inducing people to music piracy.

A coalition of 16 music groups including the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) have written a letter to the CEO of CNET's parent company, CBS, asking the website to review their policy in regards to "ripping" software.

The copyright groups say that CNET's Download.com offers downloads that rip YouTube streams, including legally uploaded music videos, and other software that rips audio from video files.

The group says that using these software for their intended purposes amounts to music piracy, as the music contained in these music videos have only been licensed for use in these videos, and taking the audio out of these videos is not permitted.

"[CNET's Download.com] has made various computer, web, and mobile applications available that induce users to infringe copyrighted content by ripping the audio or the audio and video from what might be an otherwise legitimate stream," the letter reads.

"We ask that you consider the above in light of industry best practices, your company’s reputation, the clear infringing nature of these applications, and your role in creating a safe, legitimate, and innovative Internet ecosystem," the groups add.

CBS, however, does not agree with these groups' assessment, at least from a legal point of view.

Speaking to Billboard, CBS says that "all of the software indexed on Download.com is legal", and that if users decide to use the software for illegal purposes, that's an issue between the rights-holder and the user.

This is not the first time CBS and CNET have been accused of inducing piracy by offering related downloads. CNET was previously sued for offering LimeWire, uTorrent and other file sharing tools, but a judge eventually ruled in favor of the download portal.