Audio Video News

"Digital copy" is the name of a feature about to make its debut on Fox's DVD release of Live Free or Die Hard. The disc will include a version that can be bumped to a computer or Windows PlaysForSure compatible portables.

Digital copy may come with future Fox DVD releases. PlaysForSure devices are available from Archos, Creative Labs, Dell, RCA, Samsung, and Toshiba.

Here's how the Hollywood Reporter describes digital copy: "To utilize the Digital Copy feature, consumers can insert Disc 2 of the Live Free DVD into their computer. A menu will pop up, giving users the choice of either executing the Digital Copy application or launching the DVD special features. If the Digital Copy application is selected, the computer will verify the proper requirements and ask the user to enter a 16-digit serial code, found inside the DVD case. After selecting a destination--either the computer's hard drive or a connected PlaysForSure video player--the transfer will begin, and the program will be ready for playback after about five minutes."

Digital copy is not exactly the same thing as managed recording, which enables DVDs to be legally custom-burned at store kiosks; or managed copy, perhaps coming someday to Blu-ray and HD DVD.