A warning for those thinking of renting on Apple TV Take 2 but who only have a DVI connection on their television…
As my DLP HD TV is a few years’ old, it doesn’t have an HDMI connector. Therefore, I connect my Apple TV to my television via an HDMI to DVI connector.
When I tried watching a Standard Definition movie rented via Apple TV, I got a warning that HDCP was required, so either I had use an HDMI to HDMI connection or downgrade to a component connection.
With my particular television, the picture sharpness suffers quite a bit when using component, as I have to downgrade in resolution from 720p to 576i to see any type of picture on the screen.
I then decided to try renting from iTunes using one of my Macs to see if I could then watch those without an HDMI to HDMI connection. Unfortunately, those rented movies also require HDCP for playback on the Apple TV.
So, I will have to make do with component video for all my Apple rental films - at least until I can afford a new HD TV!
written by Mike Bradbrook \\ tags: Apple TV, Apple TV Rentals, HDCP
February 15th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Just finished watching a standard definition rental on Apple TV downloaded directly to Apple TV using the HDMI to DVI cable on a early generation Samsung DLP. (4 years old)
No problem.
February 16th, 2008 at 3:15 am
I wonder if it is the movie then, and not the TV? My TV is just over 4 years’ old (it is a Sagem 50″ DLP Rear Projection TV). I tried watching Big Trouble in Little China (rented from iTunes) and Cube Zero (rented from Apple TV) and neither worked - both said HDCP was required.
February 16th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
DVI can support HDCP just as well as HDMI.
See http://www.digital-cp.com/home
It seems likely the problem is not the Apple TV, and not the cable, but more likely the fact your ‘ancient’ TV does not support HDCP at all.
By the way, as far as I am aware, all Macs still do not support HDCP (not sure about the latest video cards in the latest Mac Pros). The current Mac mini Core2Duo definitely does not have HDCP support.
This is not because Macs only have DVI connectors, but simply because Apple have not bothered to implement support for it (except on the Apple TV).
I setup an Apple TV for my parents using Component at 720p with no problems, so again it seems your old TV is at fault here. Time to get a new one?
February 16th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Thanks John - my second post on the subject comes to the same conclusion. that I need a new TV.
Unfortunately, I’ve only recently spent £375 on a new lamp for the TV so I’m not planning to replace it anytime soon - unless the TV mysteriously breaks, that is!