The other day we heard of a professor who could not play a movie which he purchased on iTunes via a projector output from a new MacBook.  This was due to an HDCP issue in Quicktime which disallowed him to output protected content through the new Mini DisplayPort on the updated MacBooks.  Apple has now fixed this issue with the Quicktime 7.5.7 Update. 

The Update states the following:  This update is recommended for owners of MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro with Mini DisplayPort. The update addresses an issue where some standard definition purchases from the iTunes Store do not play on some external displays.

It’s great to see Apple respond so quickly to the issue of playing our own content.  This is sure to make many new MacBook owners happy.  You can get the update via software update or download it from their page.

[Download]

  Apple’s newest display is now available for purchase via their online store.  The sign sill says "ships in November", but the option to buy button, now allows for overnight, second day or 5-day shipping.  No word yet if you can get this in the store.  The price of entry is $899 for an 1,920 x 1,200 resolution, DisplayPort, built-in iSight camera and mic, integrated speakers, 3-port USB hub, and MagSafe adapter for your MacBook.

[Apple]

  You love your new MacBook and you love all things about it.  You legally purchase your movies, tvshows, music and software.  You are enjoying its sleek style and you decide you want to output your purchased movie through the new mini DisplayPort to DVI connector, into a projector to watch with your friends.  You have everything setup correctly and you select a movie in iTunes, click play and instead of the movie, you get a nice DRM message which says "This content cannot be played because a display that is not authorized to play protected movies is connected."  This is exactly what happened to a high school teach who was trying to show a Hellboy 2 clip to his students in a classroom.  The insanity of protected content just reared its ugly head once again, bringing more harm, than good. 

Now we know this is not Apple’s fault, but when someone pays for something, we should be able to use it when and how we want as long as we are not giving it illegally to others.  The good part is that not all movies in iTunes are protected, but the bad news is we have no idea which movies have HDCP or do not have HDCP.  The best thing Apple could do is inform us of which movies have HDCP with some sort of label, such as iTunes Plus.  For now, we will just have to buy the disc and get it into iTunes to avoid such unfortunate decisions by the content providers.

  We thought the Mac Mini was gone for sure when rumors of its imminent death were rampant.  Now there are reports that it is still alive and kicking and indeed getting a refresh. 

The refresh is rumored to be getting the following updates:

1.  A new Mini DisplayPort like the new MacBooks.

2.  The Mac Mini will be able to address up to 4GB of Ram

3.  The optical drive will be changed from IDE to Sata or an option to eliminate the optical drive in favor of 2 Sata hard drives

While this update is still a rumor, it is not so far in left field that you couldn’t consider it to be the truth.  The Mac Mini is still available via Apple and is in need of that refresh we have been waiting for.  MacWorld may be the time or maybe it will be a stealth update.  Either way we hope something is kept for a cheaper option of Mac.

[via Apple Insider]