I've read the AACS Licensing Association provided preliminary specs and allow proprietary DRMs which means a studio
could put its own control datas. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think there's no need to have official region codes.
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I think you are wrong!! All of the preliminary information as well as tests have been calculated according to the US /(Japanese) market so far! I recently spoke with a colleague who works in a field that is not directly related to the Home Business Enetertainment but there are great concerns when the Russian market is brought to the table. Restrictions, whether they will be what we currently consider as "region-limitations", will be in place: it remains to be seen if they will be part of the hardware (what you suggested above might be a possibility) or we are yet to see an improved software product (more sophisticated DVDs). The studios will simply wait to see how market and buyers will react!

I believe that there is plenty to happen ahead of us....

Ciao,
Pro-B

Regardless of how often you have seen it posted, it is not true.

I have a 37" LCD (768p) and the difference between HDTV and DVD is quite noticable. The same can be said of HDTV on my buddy's 32" HD screen.

Do you buy DVDs?

Um, okay. I suppose I am lying then. Believe what you want.

If you don't mind, can you provide me an example post of someone saying that they cannot see a difference between HD resolutions (720p or 1080i) and DVD (480p) on their HDTV (of any size)? I'd like to find out more information on their setups.

Yes, you can get around it illegally* with DVDs (so do I, I'm not passing judgement). But the point remains that you are supporting such schemes by buying these products.

If they do implement region coding with the new formats (no current word they will, but there is probably a good chance it is coming), it is likely that similiar illegal hacks will be made available for the new formats. But who knows, it is all speculation at this point.

* Unlocking a drive is a violation of the (stupid) DMCA.

What I meant Pro-B, was they have everything they need to control or lock a local market with or without official region codes.

My opinion about region coding is and always will be that you can't defend the global market in one hand and try to artificially
control it in the other hand.
People here and there whine about the prices of japanese DVDs but people in other regions of the world complain about
our prices in North America or Western Europe too expensive for them.
As in many other domains it's the law of the west, not a question of ethics (access to culture everywhere in the
world at the "right" price).

*ahem*

So has anyone picked up the Japanese discs?