User Jay in Live Spaces posted some strong opinions about content migration issues of the Xbox 360. His opinions stem from his own experiences (and troubles) with the Digital Rights Management (DRM) Microsoft's Xbox 360 has. Not only has he contacted Microsoft (numerous times) about the issue, but he also submitted a complaint to the Better Business Bureau.

The complaint Jay submitted was to ask the BBB to address the issue of content migration between his Xbox Pro and his new Xbox Elite. He was able to migrate all of his data to the newer model, all except for the Xbox Live Marketplace content which had to be downloaded again. However, he found out that he didn't have full access to the XBLA games once he is offline.

He called Microsoft to resolve the issue and was told to download them again, which didn't work. He called them once more and was told that he would have to create a new profile and download everything all over again. This brings us to the core of Jay's complaint: every gamer must have access (online or offline) to everything he has purchased if, for one reason or another, he finds himself having to migrate his data.

Jay then gives suggestions on how to resolve the matter, like a complete refund of all his lost points and better security. Microsoft has yet to answer Jay's most recent complaint (unless Jay hasn't posted the response if he's received any yet). Jay finishes his post saying that if companies further continue to restrict access to their games rather than improve anti-piracy content, we as gamers will "eventually lose every right we have to use that content."

When Microsoft confirmed a Video service for the European Xbox Live Marketplace coming later this year, the next logical question that came to mind was whether a Music service will also be offered soon.

After all, Microsoft has an on-going battle with Apple when it comes to the music industry. However, speaking to gaming cite CVG, XBL General Manager JJ Richards commented that the company currently has no plans for such a service as of yet.

If you are curious about the reasoning behind this, Richards explained,

Right now, we feel like we already have music on the console. Unlike hi-def video, no one has a problem accessing music and it's totally simple to play it through the Xbox 360, with the screensaver or over your games. What I would expect to happen is we're going to think about different factors and different ways to get that content to the console.

Richards commented further that this also has something to do with DRM and what you can do and where you can do it. While Microsoft is quite capable of coming up with such service, Richards said that in the end, it's a matter of whether they can provide a better and easier service utilizing what consumers already have.

According to Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) President Dan Glickman, the Advanced Access Content System (AACS) support for "managed copy" of HD DVD and Blu-ray movies will be available before the end of the year.

This will finally let users create their own official backup copies. Whenever we talked about backup copies, we all know that there's potential for exploitation. This is the very reason why studios are going to implement some other security measures.

Accordingly, once the "managed copy" specification is already in place, studios will be able to specify what options they would like to offer and for how much. An example of which is users having an option to create just one free backup copy.

Other options include creating a version suitable for mobile usage for a nominal fee and multiple copies at discounted pricing. The HD DVD Promotional Group added that the new feature is going to be retroactive meaning discs sold prior to the "managed copy" support still have to deal with DRM.

On the other hand, the same is not true for the Blu-ray format. One major Blu-ray partner maintains that there is a fear that managed copy could be exploited and provide a backdoor to AACS security. Speaking of which, certain reports are saying that the recently compromised AACS security is delaying the release of the new feature.

Call this recommended reading: not really hard Xbox 360 news, but interesting to know about anyhow. bunnie Huang has a well-written story up on his blog about what happens when hackers and Microsoft security designers meet at The Spring Microsoft BlueHat Security Briefing 2007.

Dinart Morais (whose initials are "DRM" and is the designer of Xbox 360 security), Michael Steil, Felix Domke, Robert "RSnake" Hansen, David Maynor, Robert Graham, Kevin Mahaffey, John Hering, Rob Thomas and bunnie Huang of Bunnie Studios were there to talk about things regarding breaking into Microsoft Security.

Sessions had titles like: Death by 1,000 Cuts, Breaking and Breaking Into Microsoft Security Tools, Emerging Mobile Security Problems or How We Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Windows Mobile, and Your Tamper-Resistant Hardware Makes a Great Sport for Hackers.

See? Interesting stuff.

It was reported that Microsoft was very receptive when it comes to working with hackers when it comes to fixing found vulnerabilities and exploits before they are published. It was noted that ultimately the event was a "constructive exercise" for all the involved parties.

Read more about the Microsoft BlueHat Security Briefings here, and for bunnie Huang's account of the event - which includes images of mock executions - feel free to head to his post via our read-link below.

 

Although we can't tell for sure if the update includes the rather controversial Live Dashboard update we covered recently, we're definitely sure that an update is coming. According to the announcement on Xbox.com, we can expect the update within the week of May 7, which will expand the reach of social networking over to users of Windows Live Messenger.

Jerry Johnson, product unit manager of Xbox LIVE at Microsoft, said, "Bringing the largest IM community in the world, Windows Live Messenger, to Xbox 360 makes sense, as Xbox LIVE has really become the largest social network on television." Microsoft will be creating a more social experience for Windows Live and Xbox Live users with the new update.

In addition, Windows Live users will be treated to features that would entice them to grab an Xbox 360, while connecting them to an online community of over six million. Expect the QWERTY input device to make a debut this summer to streamline the IM experience.

Click on Full Article to view a list of features to come with the update.

The whole Internet community is reeling with the issue concerning Digital Rights Management (DRM) and user-generated online sites. As you all know, a software key that could break the encryption of HD-DVD format has been unleashed online and thousands of websites published the key.

DRM groups say the bloggers just crossed the line this time. The said key was published on Digg and needless to say, it was picked up by God knows how many websites. An executive from Advanced Access Content System (AACS) said that they are considering to confront those who published the exploit with "legal and technical tools."

The bloggers, on the other hand, commented that they are protected by the First Amendment. Digg management, for a time, removed the entries containing the key. However, the users posted an even more number of websites containing the exploit and Digg eventually acquiesce with its users. A part of Founder Kevin Rose's statement reads,

After seeing hundreds of stories and reading thousands of comments, you've made it clear. You'd rather see Digg go down fighting than bow down to a bigger company. We hear you, and effective immediately we won't delete stories or comments containing the code and will deal with whatever the consequences might be.

AACS Chairman Michael Ayers seemed amused by this as he referred to Digg's decision as an "interesting twist." Ayers added that people can talk about the pros and the cons of the matter but publishing the software key itself is a different matter. When you do that, he explained, you leave the "realm of protected speech." He also released a statement telling the users that the key is already invalid,

We will take whatever action is appropriate. We hope the public respects our position and complies with applicable laws. There has been a lot of misunderstanding. The key that has been leaked has now been revoked. This is the first round and will not be the last.

AACS, reportedly, is now employing stronger tools and copy protection system that have been designed to counter these breaches.

Two separate sources (not to mention comments in Major Nelson's blog) are throwing their hands up in frustration. Ben Kuchera of ars technica (cited here) and Jay of the FNG-Spot blog (cited by Ben) both found that their premium - paid-for - Xbox Live content (e.g., Live Arcade games) redownloaded into the Xbox 360 Elite are locked without online authentication. Meaning you have to be connected to Xbox Live as the profile that bought them to actually play these content.

No offline Arcade. That's the killer.

The warning about that had indeed been given by Microsoft before: Jay mentions a Major Nelson post; we have Kotaku's announcement. What makes this story more uncomfortable - besides the entire DRM-locking of the content - is that Customer Service, whom Ben called, proved of little help.

That call advised the ars writer "that the only way to get the games working is to get my free data migration cable." This is where Ben cites Jay citing the Major and his commenters: data migration doesn't help: you still have to be logged on to Xbox Live as the purchasing profile. Somehow Customer Service didn't get the memo.

Implication: request for DRM license-transferring and reauthentication solution from Microsoft. Probability...

A user of the Doom9 forums has reported that he has found the processing keys, media keys, and Volume IDs of HD-media (HD-DVD and Blu-Ray), on February 11, 2007, each a part of the encryption system HD-media players use. Subsequent posts to the thread to date have helped confirm his findings.

The thread itself contains his step-by-step method of finding the HD-DVD processing keys, building on past efforts and experiences - not to mention revealing the keys themselves for a given HD-DVD title. There are arguments that he has done no wrong under the law, since he's just revealing the code that is already on the disk and is not trying to circumvent copy protection.

However, the next steps might lead to piracy (and legal trouble). For that reason this article will NOT feature a link-to.

Posts later on indicate that the same technique might work on Blu-Ray titles as well. Reactions in that forum indicate that they've laid bare the current HD-DVD and Blu-Ray movie lineup on the market. There is mention that the keys could be changed by Advanced Access Content System (AACS) for future releases, though. Additionally, one forum poster argued that finding the keys on the disc doesn't necessarily break the DRM Vinci's Code because AACS could always change the locks.

Still, the discovery is spurring talk of fair use and media backups. Speaking of which, and to clarify any debate about piracy that may follow: the arguments in favor of the discovery of the processing keys do not speak of piracy, but of fair use - the freedom of the buyer of HD-DVD or Blu-Ray titles to play their titles on any player they own, in the format they specify or have (remember, for want of a cable...).

Arguably, that same freedom can be abused, which has led to piracy. It's the old debate between freedom and responsibility.

Your ethics, your call.

Someone must have rolled over in his grave when MacUser.com's Aaron Freedman wrote the following words: "I never thought I’d say this, but it seems that Microsoft has a product that works better with the Mac than the Sony equivalent." He was talking about his observation that the Xbox 360 system meshes with Apple systems, but that the Sony PS3 didn't.

However, just looking back at our coverage of both consoles, and the comments to Aaron's article, sounds like he needs to make a revision of observation.

There's the observation that "the PS3 can't play music directly off the iPod." Uh, Victor B., can you help me out here? "... the 20 GB video iPod was recognized by the PS3, but you'll need to use the above-mentioned Display All feature to view everything on your iPod." (The "Display All" feature is simply pressing Triangle to browse through - and play - the content of connected media storage devices like the iPod).

And besides, as a MacUser commenter pointed out, both the PS3 and Xbox 360 won't play iTunes-signed music content. But then again, that's Apple's DRM, not MS or Sony.

Now there are things that the Xbox can do with Apple that the PS3 can't, but that's because of the one-year lead time of the Microsoft console, which gives hackers time to play with both devices. The 360 controller could be used with a Mac through a hacked driver and the USB cable, which we won't visit for all the potential EULA repercussions. Even Aaron admits that the SIXAXIS communicates through Bluetooth, which can, in due time, talk to a Mac as well (again, with all potential EULA repercussions). And the SIXAXIS has a USB connection too, by the way.

That's Aaron's admission: in due time, hackers will probably develop more drivers and code that will enable the PS3 to communicate with the Mac and iPod and God-knows-what-else, creating a very weird menage-a-troi lovefest electronica that neither MS, nor Sony, nor Apple would have envisioned (toss in the Wii and now we have a party!). Enough said.