Article: New MacBooks + Protected Content = Sadness

The Internet is buzzing with the realization that Apple’s new notebooks are actually limiting what you can watch on external displays. Seriously. The High Definition Content Protection (HDCP) protocol is employed with Apple’s DisplayPorts, preventing users from displaying iTunes purchases and rentals on external displays.

Unlike in the past, when you could show DVDs or videos on whatever display you wanted, users receive a message stating “This movie cannot be played because a display that is not authorized to play protected movies is connected. Try disconnecting any displays that are not HDCP authorized.” While this may not seem like a big deal, this is preventing users from showing movies and TV shows on a larger desktop display while they are working on things (which I do all the time on my MacBook Pro) or a projector.

It seems right now, only certain items are affected, but if this is the way things are going, are people going to have to authorize their displays like computers? Furthermore, does this mean that people are going to have to buy Apple TVs if they want to show content on an HDTV? How about those who bought 30″ Cinema Displays and want to watch Iron Man?