Crackeado el sistema anti-copia de los discos Blu-ray

Ya se había rumoreado a finales del pasado mes de octubre, pero SlySoft confirmaba hace unos días en Press Release: AnyDVD HD now with BD+ support que BD+, el sistema de protección contra copia de los discos Blu-ray que supuestamente iba a tardar diez años en ser crackeado ya no supone ningún problema para la última versión de AnyDVD HD, su software para hacer copias de seguridad de DVDs, HD DVDs y Blu-ray:

Los estudios que se han pasado a Blu-ray pueden haber cantado victoria demasiado pronto porque la tan laudada protección contra copia BD+ es ahora también un asunto ad absurdum. Con la publicación hoy de AnyDVD HD 6.4.0.0 ahora también es posible hacer copias de seguridad de discos Blu-ray protegidos con BD+.

Richard Doherty de Envisioneering Group tendrá que revisar sus declaraciones de julio de 2007 acerca de BD+: «BD+, al contrario que AACS que sufrió un hackeo parcial el año pasado, seguramente no será saltado en 10 años». Merece la pena mencionar que sólo han pasado ocho meses desde que realizó estas declaraciones.

Desde SlySoft comentan que si no hicieron antes pública esta versión fue para ver cómo acababa la guerra de formatos entre Blu-ray y HD-DVD, en la que recientemente Toshiba tiraba la toalla en favor de Sony, pero ciertamente la victoria de esta última cada vez parece menos relevante, en especial con la disponibilidad de conexiones de cada vez más ancho de banda y formatos como el Matroska, cada vez más popular para contenidos en alta definición como comentaba Krigan en Los defectos del Blu-ray.

Yo, personalmente, llevo ya algún tiempo alucinando con la calidad que dan los ficheros .mkv en una televisión HD-Ready y no puedo menos que darle la razón.

Por supuesto es de esperar que los estudios contraataquen con versiones mejoradas de BD+ o que hagan uso de características distintas a las que usaban hasta ahora, pero, una vez más, será inútil.

(Nota de prensa de SlySoft vía Slashdot; Sensei Garfi nos pasó el enlace al artículo de Kirgan hace ya algún tiempo.)

• La nueva versión de AACS, crackeada antes de salir al mercado, el otro sistema anti copia que usan los Blu-ray y los HD-DVD.
• Amazon MP3, dos millones de canciones sin DRM, EMI venderá su música sin DRM en la iTunes Store, Phish sin DRM, algunos que empiezan a ver la luz.
• El DRM como sistema anti ventas, sólo sirve para molestar al usuario legítimo.

Star Wars para rato

Esto fue lo que dijo el director y creador de la saga más famosa del cine del mundo, George Lucas. Por lo pronto tendremos una nueva serie de animación y tendremos la serie de TV de 100 capítulos, ambientada en el Universo Expandido de la saga. George Lucas parece que no puede dar por finalizada su máxima creación, y seguramente los fans del mundo, estarán felices de ello (entre los que me incluyo). Alt1040

Thandie Newton Says Guy Ritchie's RocknRolla is a Trilogy?!

The more I hear about RocknRolla, the more excited I get. I think it has something to do with the fact that I love Snatch and have been waiting for Guy Ritchie to bring us another brilliant British heist film like that one. The delectable Thandie Newton (pictured above in the film), who stars as the female lead, spoke with MTV recently and shared some rather exciting details about the film, the least of which include that Ritchie wants to make this a trilogy. Although there's still 7 months left until its release, you can start getting excited for it now.

Guy Ritchie is one of England's finest filmmakers, but he's not necessarily the quickest. Snatch came out in 2000 and his follow-up, Revolver, in 2005. Typically more time working on a project means it could turn out better, but Thandie asserts otherwise: "We shot incredibly quickly [on the first]. There were three weeks pre-production. He just gets on with it. He absolutely does not see challenges as intimidating." I guess that's a good thing? As long as that means his next film is as brilliant as Snatch, then it sounds good to me!

Now back on topic - the trilogy. How would this work? Well, plot details are still very slim, but Thandie explains her enthusiasm: "'RocknRolla' is one of three films and Guy's keen to get going on that straight away. [The second and third films in the series] are going to be excellent. I can't wait." If you're still left scratching your head wondering how a heist plot could turn into a trilogy - you're not alone.

Thandie explains that RocknRolla is a simple game of "follow the money" but involves a variety of disparate and needy characters who eventually all come together. London's criminal underworld takes notice of a Russian mobster's shady land deal, a scam that puts millions of dollars up for grabs. Thandie plays Stella, a "crooked accountant", and is joined by Gerard Butler, Jeremy Piven, and Ludacris. Thandie also tells MTV about who lives and who doesn't, but since thats a bit of a spoiler we'll leave the decision to hear about that in your own hands.

To read up on all things RocknRolla including more on the cast, go back and read the first announcement from May and the casting announcement from late June and check out a video from the set we posted in October. RocknRolla is currently scheduled to hit theaters on Halloween - October 31st.

The Weinstein Co’s Lame Attempt to Appease Star Wars Fanboys

Earlier today we wrote about how Star Wars fanboys were planning on boycotting The Weinstein Co's Superhero Movie due to the way the company is handling the release of Fanboys. I just received a press release from The Weinstein Co, announcing that they would be releasing both cuts of the film on DVD "with the Company exploring options for its theatrical release." But I’m calling bullshit… this press release is well designed corporate spin, which gives the impression that the Fanboys have won, when in fact, this is not a win. The press release reads:

“Star War fans nationwide have built a multi-tiered grassroots effort to voice their strong support for one of the earlier versions of the film, including a campaign which generated over 300,000 emails in support for the film. Based on the tremendous feedback and interest from the fans, today's announcement will ensure both versions will be equally available within the marketplace.”

Sounds like a win, right? Nope, read further. A quote from Matthew Frankel, Chief Communications Officer, The Weinstein Company is also included:

"Over the last few weeks we have received a tremendous amount of input from Star Wars fans nationwide. While the later version tested very well with audiences, the grassroots support we have received for the first version simply cannot be ignored. We are very excited to launch these two films and look forward to giving the fans the opportunity to see both versions."

Yeah, but not theatrically. The Weinstein Co still claims that the new cut “tested very well with audiences” yet everyone I’ve talked that has seen both cuts disagrees. Rumors had circulated the web that TWC hired plants to be in the audience for said test screening, however, this has never been confirmed.

I think Star Wars fans expected that both cuts of the film would be included on the eventual DVD. The fight was to get the first (and what I've heard, better) cut distributed theatrical, instead of the Steve Brill (Little Nicky, Drillbit Taylor) edit which completely ignores the Cancer storyline. I hope that Star Wars fanboys will continue to fight, and not let The Weinstein Co to spin this obvious non-victory to the mainstream press. We must stop Darth Weinstein!

BREAKING: Guy Ritchie Plans ‘RocknRolla’ Trilogy With Thandie Newton

After taking five years post-”Snatch” to return to the seedy underbelly of London crime with “Revolver,” director Guy Ritchie is planning a much quicker turnaround after his next film, “RocknRolla.” That’s according to his new lead actress Thandie Newton, who revealed to MTV News that the director is intent on turning his latest drama into a trilogy of films - and on doing it fast.

“‘RocknRolla’ is one of three films and Guy’s keen to get going on that straight away,” Newton enthused. “[The second and third films in the series] are going to be excellent. I can’t wait.

“We shot incredibly quickly [on the first]. There were three weeks pre-production,” Netwon added of her thoughts on how quickly the crime story could begin shooting. “He just gets on with it. He absolutely does not see challenges as intimidating.”

Also starring Gerard Butler, Jeremy Piven, and Ludacris, “RocknRolla” is a game of “follow the money,” said Newton, as it connects to a variety of disparate and needy characters.

But don’t expect all those characters to return for the sequel, Newton exclaimed. After all, a lot of them don’t make it through the first.

“Well I managed to get away, but a quite a lot of them died,” Newton laughed of her doomed co-stars. “[The sequel] will follow whoever’s left.”

Newton, who plays Stella, a “crooked accountant,” is the first real female lead Ritchie has written (and, no, we’re not counting “Swept Away.”) So Ritchie must have really loved Newton’s presence to invite her back right?

“Actually, I didn’t get a whole lot of feedback because Guy hires you and you get on with it,” she chuckled.

But what do you think? Does a “RocknRolla” trilogy with Newton sound like a good idea? What expectations to you have for the series? Sound off below.