270w ago - SlySoft has released v6.4.0.0 of its AnyDVD HD software, which means it can now remove BD+ protection from Blu-ray discs.

The release also has some other upgrades and bug fixes as follows:

- New (Blu-ray): Removes the BD+ protection from Blu-ray discs! (for increased compatibility with titles released by Twentieth Century Fox :-))
- New (Blu-ray): Added option to enable / disable BD+ removal
- New (DVD): AnyDVD ripper no longer uses the Windows filesystem, it has now its own UDF parser / reader. Discs which cannot be read by Windows can now be copied with the AnyDVD ripper.
- Fix (Blu-ray): Black display with some BD discs, e.g., "Layer Cake", second release, "The Fugitive", "Wild Things" (all Region B)
- Fix (DVD): Small bugfix in "repairing defective disc structure" function of AnyDVD ripper
- Fix (DVD): Problems with some Arccos protected titles, e.g. "The Grudge", R1, US
- Some minor fixes and improvements
- Updated languages

289w ago - It was reported in October that the "impenetrable" BD+ Blu-ray copy protection technology had been defeated thanks to SlySoft. The AnyDVD 6.1.9.6 BETA is now available, enabling the back up of BD+ movies.

To quote:

New (Blu-ray): AnyDVD ripper copies BD+ titles

New (Blu-ray): Removed "BD+ not supported" warning, as all available BD+ titles can be copied with AnyDVD ripper, or can be watched on HTPC without HDCP using PowerDVD 3104 and AnyDVD. Reports indicate, that burned BD+ titles work on PS3 and standalone players as well.

Note to Twentieth Century Fox: As you can see, BD+ didn't offer you any advanced security, it just annoyed some of your customers with older players. So could you please cut this crap and start publishing your titles on HD DVD? There are thousands of people willing to give you money.

Note to people considering to invest in HD media: Please buy HD DVD instead of Blu-ray. HD DVD is much more consumer friendly (e.g., no region coding, AACS not mandatory). Don't give your money to people, who throw your fair-use rights out of the window.

New (HD DVD & Blu-ray): Support for more MKBv4 titles
Some minor fixes and improvements

Updated languages

293w ago - SlySoft claims AnyDVD now contains code that will be able to crack new DRM that may be added or changed in the future. The feature, officially called an "AI scanner" is supposed to work similarly to antivirus software, which can heuristically find new viruses. AnyDVD is a popular program for removing copy protection from DVDs, HD DVDs, and BDMV discs.

"The AI Scanner in AnyDVD is a new, pro-active copy protection circumvention method," said Giancarlo Bettini, SlySoft's chief executive, in a statement. "It allows the user to make safety backups of his DVD movies even if the newest anti-piracy technology is used. It is our belief that the AI Scanner will even work on protections yet to be released, so we see this as a future-proof technology. This is indeed a hard nut to crack for the copy protection industry."

As Blu-ray in particular was designed with an option to support changing DRM with player firmware updates, it's likely that AnyDVD's AI claims will be put to the test sooner rather than later. While it's possible it will work as advertised, SlySoft will certainly continue to provide program updates as new copy protection features are cracked. It looks like this is more of an attempt to reassure potential customers that future copy protection will always...