RealNetworks To Introduce a Simple DVD Copier 244
langelgjm writes "The New York Times reports that RealNetworks will begin selling RealDVD today, a software program designed to make copying DVDs a trivial task for the average user. Unlike free alternatives, which generally require some technical knowledge and make it difficult to copy an entire DVD with extras, etc., RealDVD claims to be able to copy the entire DVD, menus and all. While sure to raise the ire of Hollywood, the program does have significant limitations: the DVDs it makes will only be playable on the computer where they were created; or, users can pay $20 per computer to play the DVDs on up to five additional computers."
Slashvertisement (Score:3, Insightful)
The summary is misleading (Score:5, Insightful)
If it won't produce something that will play on a standard stand-alone DVD player, then IT'S NOT A DVD AND THIS IS NOT A "DVD Copier." This is just a ripper that adds an annoying layer of DRM to the files (umm...no thanks). And you get to pay for the privilege, no less. Woo hoo!
There are any number of one-button DVD rippers that are just as good, just as simple, and produce an actual DVD. And many of them are free. DVDfab [wikipedia.org] is just one example. It produces an actual DVD, it's as simple as it gets to use, and it doesn't cost a dime (unless you want the premium version).
PCs? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Slashvertisement (Score:5, Insightful)
"Simple" (Score:5, Insightful)
Doesn't this still... (Score:3, Insightful)
Even so, I'll agree with other
Real shoots itself in the head again (Score:5, Insightful)
Attempting to bilk people for $30 software that makes a DRM'd copy of a movie just isn't going to fly when free and non-free tools already exist that rip DVDs to any format you like. Especially when Real Networks is reknowned for producing bloated spyware laced crap. If you want to go free, find DVD Decrypter & Handbrake and you can rip and encode movies suitable for a variety of formats and devices. If you want non-free then use AnyDVD and Nero Recode. The tools are not as simple as they could be but they work and they work extremely well.
Re:The summary is misleading (Score:3, Insightful)
I don't think so. With regular ripped DVDs, I suspect you're at risk of having your laptop seized at the U.S. border. With the files produced by this tool, since it's supposedly fully licensed, you may be ok.
Re:Slashvertisement (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Yeah, was going to say (Score:5, Insightful)
It's really lame that they make stuff like DVDDecrypter illegal but still insist on sticking to the region encoding crap. In the US, the only way I can get some foreign content is to purchase it from a foreign location and use DVDDecrypter to get rid of the region encoding so I can actually view it using my region 1 DVD player.
Why is it that in a so-called "global economy" we are limited to buying and viewing DVDs produced for our own region without circumventing the encryption on the disc (thereby technically violating the DMCA)?
Real is not relevant (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:How hard? (Score:1, Insightful)
Why is this relevant, is your wife retarded?.
Re:The summary is misleading (Score:3, Insightful)
(which Disk Utility doesn't do - it's basically a GUI on dd)
The difference between Disk Utility and dd is that one is usable by anyone barely computer-literate who is capable of clicking on a single button, and the other isn't.
Free tools are hard (Score:4, Insightful)
Unlike free alternatives, which generally require some technical knowledge and make it difficult to copy an entire DVD with extras, etc.,...
What??? Maybe you're right.. there are a ton of steps..
Using DVDShrink and CDBurnerXP. Steps to copy a disk:
1) Insert DVD.
2) Launch DVDShrink.
3) Select Open Disc.
4) Select Backup.
5) Choose Backup location (make note of this location).
6) When complete, exit DVDShrink.
7) Launch CDBurnerXP.
8) Select Burn Disc from ISO.
9) Eject the source DVD and insert a blank DVD.
10) Select the source ISO.
11) Press Burn.
12) Wait
Actual time outside of the wait is about 20 seconds of real work.. Of course, I've listed EVERY step. If I detailed how to save a file in Notepad it would take quite a few steps...
1) Wait until the computer boots.
2) Click on Start.
3) Click on All Programs.
4) Click on Accessories.
5) Click on Notepad.
6) Type your message into the editing window.
7) Click on File.
8) Click on Save.
9) When prompted, select a location to save your file.
10) Press OK. (or SAVE)
11) Select File.
12) Select Exit.
Real?! (Score:3, Insightful)
They're still around?
Re:Slashvertisement (Score:4, Insightful)
Huh, AFAIK Handbrake is for both win, linux and OS X. Did I miss something?
Re:Yeah, was going to say (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Slashvertisement (Score:5, Insightful)
I don't think anyone was questioning why anyone would want to copy DVD's - just why they'd want to do so with this program. Doing so with the free stuff out there isn't THAT hard. When you figure that this software introduces DRM, locks to a single computer, and then tries to extort out $20 for the right to play on more computers, it's a pretty lousy deal.
PARTICULARLY nasty is the fact that Real seems to think that they can use DRM extortion tactics on content that don't own. That's a situation that is true regardless of whether or not the media is even pirated. If it's a major studio film, then Real has no legal ability to extra money from restricting rights to that. OR, even if it's just your wedding DVD you're copying - you are legally fine to copy it but you own the copyright yourself and Real has no legal right to restrict your usage of it.
Re:Slashvertisement (Score:5, Insightful)
What I need is a program that can automate that process so I can (for example) quickly and easily insert a Stargate DVD, and come back an hour later to 4 episode AVIs on my C: drive.
i=1
for title in {3,5,7,8}; do
mencoder "dvd://$title" -o "episode_$i.avi";
i=$(($i+1));
done
Seconded (Score:3, Insightful)
I fail to see DVD copying could be done simpler than with k9copy.
Insert DVD, click "make DVD copy", wait, done.
Re:"Simple" (Score:3, Insightful)
No way can it be simple.
Think not?
What? RealNetworks? (Score:3, Insightful)
How do RealNetworks stay in business? Are they secretly funded by Microsoft as a distraction? A front for CIA? What the heck is going on?
I look forward to the advertising campaign:
'Hey there, do you find the region encoding and DRM on DVD not restrictive or costly enough? Here at RealNetworks we have the answer to your prayers! Order today and we will double the price _and_ infect you with Hepatitis C!'
Re:Slashvertisement (Score:3, Insightful)
It comes from a semi-legit company and probably doesn't have too many spyware and popup modules included.
When did we stop talking about Real?
Legality (Score:3, Insightful)
Well, if it turns out that RealDVD works legally, then that would be a reason to use RealDVD, given that most if not all of the free alternatives are illegal.
IANAL, but I can kind of see how RealDVD might turn out to be legal, while the free options aren't. The free options mostly involve unauthorized DeCSS (a possible exception might be products that capture the output of licensed DVD player software), thereby violating the DMCA. RealDVD could, however, do what I understand Kaleidescope did: use a legally licensed DeCSS from the DVD-CCA folks, and then, because of a loophole in the DVD-CCA licensing, capture the decrypted video to a hard drive for playing back later. In effect, the claim could be that the computer running RealDVD becomes a complex DVD player with delayed playback--it decrypts DVDs perfectly legally using a licensed DeCSS, and then plays back the decrypted output later, using a DVD-R as an intermediary.
I would have thought the DVD-CCA people would have closed this loophole in their licensing after the Kaleidescope case, but maybe RealNetworks got a license earlier or something.
Re:TOTALLY worthless (Score:3, Insightful)
TOTALLY worthless
Two step process for me. Mac The Ripper to decrypt/rip the entire DVD (menus and all) to a VIDEO_TS folder on my hard drive.
Who on earth would pay for REALcrap?
Maybe those that think that, unlike Mac the Ripper, REALcrap is "legal" software from a legitimate company? TFA [nytimes.com] even mentions Mac the Ripper and calls it "illegal":
Of course, most Slashdot readers have banned RealNetworks from their computers because of their past asshole-ish behavior. They're also "sophisticated" enough to use the free alternatives. However, some less sophisticated computer users may be scared by recent news headlines of home users being sued by content creators. Software from RealNetworks makes them feel safe from litigation.