Something that comes up often in my posts about different technologies coming to Windows Vista is why are they always limited to Windows?  Well, the answer is that most of them are just not.

Starting with CableCARD, the OpenCable Unidirectional Receiver (OCUR) was specifically created to bring native digital cable to PC’s.  It was a mix between CableLabs and Microsoft, I’m assuming Microsoft approached them to help build the Media Center platform.  OCUR’s are not limited to use in Windows, however.

As is stands right now, Vista Media Center is the Home Media Server (HMS) that CableLabs defines as certified for use with OCUR’s.  Not only can additional companies outside of ATI/AMD develop OCUR’s, but additional Operating Systems can be work.  If Apple really wanted to add CableCARD support to OS X, I’m sure they could.  They would need to work with CableLabs to ensure the content protection framework in OS X (which is non-existent at this point, AFAIK) fits within the already set rules and regulations that go hand and hand with CableCARD, just as Microsoft did in Windows Vista with Protected Media Path (PMP).  This is a very costly and difficult process.  So difficult and costly, Apple would likely rather you buy from the iTunes Store and call it a day.

Remember that Microsoft has been working on CableCARD support in Windows for years now, you could see the start of things in Update Rollup 2 (Windows XP) where OCUR entries made it into the registry.

This same process applies to anyone wanting to support CableCARD on Linux.  However, because of the nature of Linux, I doubt you will ever see a good solution here.  The solution basically ends up being TiVo.  Your happy copy of Fedora Core isn’t going to see CableCARD support, sorry.

Since details on the DIRECTV and Dish add-ons for Media Center haven’t been released yet, it’s hard to say if the same applies.  Notable even more closed then Cable, I bet they will keep stuff exclusive to Windows.  However again, if Apple really wanted it I’m sure they could work out something.  Linux again, not so much (in an open form).

HD DVD and Blu-ray are basically the same deal.  I’m sure Apple will end up supporting Blu-ray Playback in OS X, they do have a nice seat on the BDA after all (yet, they have supported burning HD DVD for over a year, nothing for BD IIRC).

Since OS X is more closed by nature, it will not be as hard to develop a playback solution for.  Apple basically handles all of its own drivers (since it controls the hardware), so that takes a little off of development.  Since QuickTime (or whatever DVD application they ship) really doesn’t work in a DirectShow-like fashion, they could get Blu-ray (or HD DVD) playback gong using the same sort of protected sandbox as InterVideo and Cyberlink do.  Part of the reason for PMP in Windows is to open up playback of this media to other applications, notably Windows Media Player and Media Center.  This way, it’s all integrated and it flows.  I hate the sight of PowerDVD opening on top of my Media Center UI just to play back an HD DVD.

No matter how they do, they will be forced to the same restrictions any other AACS-certified playback device/application.  They will have to respect ICT, they will have to respect HDCP (which brings up a good point, do they have any HDCP enabled components shipping?), etc.

Apple could add support for these things if they wanted, but Cable/Sat don’t really fit Jobs vision.  iTunes is the place to be, why waste development time to bring Cable/Sat to OS X?  Blu-ray (and/or HD DVD) Playback will eventually come to OS X and will have the same restrictions that you see in Windows and other standalone players.

Linux is just to open of an OS to enable playback of this protected content.  For a consumer installed machine, developers are going to have a hell of a time passing the bar set by organizations like AACS and CableLabs.  Linux will still rule in the embedded market as it does today, the consumer based installs will be going no where fast, unless some huge changes are made to the platform (don’t count on that, all hell will break lose when “DRM” is part of Linux).