QuickTime 7.5.7 Fixes SD-Playback on External Displays

Apple has released an update for users of its unibody MacBooks (including the revised Air), addressing widespread playback issues with standard definition content. The update allows SD iTunes movies to play over the new MacBooks' DisplayPort to older displays.

The Apple Software Update reveals the following (on new-generation MacBooks):

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.

For the time being, the update is solely available through the Mac OS X Software Update mechanism on the unibody MacBook, MacBook Pro and the revamped MacBook Air. The update aims to fix widely publicized issues surrounding playback of purchased movies on external displays without HDCP support.

According to AppleInsider, this is known to include any display that attaches through the VGA adapter. After installing the update, users should be able to playback similar content on DVI-equipped displays, without HDCP encryption built-in, while high definition (HD) media isn't immediately affected.

An older ArsTechnica report revealed that Apple had apparently acquired a license for the technology, tying iTunes content to its new hardware. Using it across its DisplayPort-enabled MacBook line, the new license prevents transmission of purchased iTunes content to devices that don't include support for HDCP.

The report pointed out to a high school teacher, who attempted to play Hellboy 2 on his classroom's projector with one of Apple's new notebooks. Not surprisingly, he was denied the action through an error, which notified him that the content could not be played because he was using a display not authorized to play “protected movies.” The teacher was using a Mini DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter, plugged into a Sanyo projector that was part of a Promethean system.

According to the same report, only some iTunes Store video files are tied to 2 or 3 of Apple's FairPlay digital rights management software.