Intel Viiv

Viiv (IPA: ['vaɪv], rhymes with five) is a platform marketing initiative from Intel. Like Intel's Centrino and vPro, Viiv is a computer platform certification for a particular combination of Intel products as its primary components. It is an open specification for an Intel-based Media Center PC.

Specifically, Viiv is a particular combination of CPU, mainboard chipset, software, Digital Rights Management and network card. It is intended for primary use as an in-home media and desktop platform with the ability to operate as a normal PC or as a hardware media player/centre - running applications, playing DVDs, CDs, MP3, photographs and games as well as subscription-based, DRM-restricted content such as LOVEFiLM, Napster and SKY.

Release

Viiv 1.0 was released on January 5, 2006 during the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Upon release, Intel had already made agreements with companies including ESPN, Movielink, T Mobile, TiVo, Yahoo, AOL, Napster, Virgin Records, Gametap, Adobe, Google, DirecTV and Pinnacle. Content providers will be able to encrypt media and allow it to be played on specific processors. ESPN will provide high definition streams and over 300 March Madness games and MTV will be converting Comedy Central, MTV, VH1 and mtvU programming.

Viiv 1.5 has updated features including matrix storage and integrated Media Server.

Intel® Viiv™ software version 1.6 has the same functionality of Intel Viiv software version 1.5 and supports Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate, 32-bit versions.

Marketing

With Viiv, Intel attempts to become the center of electronic-based home entertainment. Intel is repeating the marketing model for the very successful Centrino platform which was their first branded platform.

AMD, Intel's largest rival, is attempting to directly compete with Viiv through AMD LIVE!^[1]. AMD LIVE! is focused on the Athlon 64 X2 CPU, Windows Media Center Edition and a number of partners in the media and entertainment industry. AMD has not announced any compatible subscription services for films or games, hardware specifications or bespoke software.

Further confusion to both Intel's Viiv and even more to AMD's LIVE! offering is the launch of Microsoft Live as a direct competitor to Google mail, maps, search and other offerings.

Digital Rights Management

The Viiv platform allows for content providers to protect their content such as subscription-based movies, games and music using DRM technology. The Viiv platform does not add or remove DRM from media content or make any changes to how DRM-protected content is handled. DRM works on Intel Viiv technology-based PCs just like they do any other electronic device. ^[2]

As well as DRM-restricted content, Viiv systems are able to play unrestricted non-DRM content such as DivX and MP3 without modification^[3]. Systems can also operate peer-to-peer networks such as Bittorrent, Kazaa and Soulseek without restriction.

Viiv 1.5 systems will support technology called DTCP-IP (Digital Transmission Content Protection over Internet Protocol) that protects content sent over a home network. Devices do not need to include any Intel technology to play content protected by DTCP-IP. This technology will only address content being sent from the PC to other devices on a home network.

Technology in Intel's new desktop Core 2 Duo chips using the Intel Core microarchitecture features optional components for supporting the Trusted Computing Group's copy protection protocol TPM. In the case of Viiv, this would be to ensure that no device on a home network could enable recording of subscription content ^[4]. The inclusion of TPM in Viiv 1.5 and 2.0 is yet to be confirmed.

Features

To be certified as a Viiv-technology based, PCs will all feature dual-core processors:

Alongside one of the following chipsets:

Intel 975X Express, 955X Express, 945G Express, 945P Express, 945GT Express, P965 Express, G965 Express or
Mobile Intel 945GM Express Chipset

And one of the following network adapters

Intel PRO/1000 PM, PRO/100 VE, or PRO/100 VM

Some of the other features for Viiv PCs include:

Intel Matrix Storage Technology for setting up a RAID 0, 1, 5, or 10 array.
Support for up to 1080i high-definition television
Optional Integrated Media Server (IMS) - software designed to allow other portable devices in the same network.
64-bit processor ^[5] running a 32-bit operating system.
Gigabit ethernet controller (only with Intel PRO/1000 PM Network Adapter)
Integrated digital video recorder (DVR)
Optional TV tuner
At least 5.1 channel audio, up to 7.1 audio
Intel's Quick Resume technology: allows on and off in a few seconds like a normal VCR or DVD player
Windows XP Media Center Edition with Update Rollup 2 or Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate, 32-bit versions.

As of March 2006, Viiv PCs started at approximately US$700.

Media Discussion

News and Reviews

Criticism

Intel Corporate Links

References

[1] AMD LIVE! Announcement

[2] CNET: Intel's position on DRM

[3] Computer Power User: Viiv description

[4] Tom's Hardware: Intel LT Steers Clear of DRM

[5] Intel: Product description

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