Microsoft dumps another Vista feature

SOFTWARE GIANT Microsoft has decided that 32-bit versions of Windows Vista will not be able to play back studio-released BluRay and HD-DVD movies.

The move has removed yet another promise that Microsoft made about Vista, namely that it would be backward compatible with 32-bit processors.

This means that it is almost certain that those who want to use HD-Drives or Blu-Ray and Vista will have to buy new hardware. This is good news for Intel and AMD who will have 64 bit chips available, but not so hot for those who just want install Vista on their old machines.

Microsoft's senior program manager Steve Riley made the announcement at Tech.Ed 2006 in Sydney yesterday.

He said that the reason was the Hollywood Studios told Vole that they didn't want any of their high definition content to play in x32. Hollywood fears all of the unsigned malware that runs in kernel mode can get around content protection.

Riley pointed out that most people didn't have a DVD player that you know can output a proper 1080 line non-interlaced anyway. By the time they do, he said, 64 bit will be mainstream.

More here. µ