I again looked at the Widevine site and it's been updated giving a better understanding of what Widevine provides and in this site:
http://montyinmedia.wordpress.com/2010/12/04/google-to-acquire-widevine-heaven-sent-or-a-devils-deal/#comment-11
It appears that Widevine is used by Netflix as well as Lovefilm and VUDU. The Lovefilm application on the PS3 store is 2 megs in size.
My understanding is that Widevine has an ecosystem that
manages DRM as seen in the chart on the link below. It's a classic cloud computing ultraviolet model and those according to Adobe use Access for the DRM tools it provides.
Widevine does not provide a downloaded player or DRM tool, they modify the built in H.264 hardware codec and encryption software or SOC with keys and that is the management that Widevine supplies for DRM.
On some platforms Widevine has, in cooperation with platform developers, provided the DRM tools that are included in SOC (may be true for 2009 or older Samsung blu-ray but newer include Air 2.5).
Widevine also does not provide the UI (javascript or Java) and the UI javascript server does not even have to be in the same server platform as that providing the streaming video.
I believe that
Widevine requires Adobe Air in many platforms for Adobe Access as that provides the tools for DRM and the Javascript for the UI. This is why Netflix from the XMB on the PS3 waited for Air's official release October 2010. In the past Java has been used for the UI and built in hardware codecs were used for H.264 video. All blu-ray players contain Java and a H.264 codec; HDMI was required and simplified DRM protection for Blu-Ray Players.
Javascript UI: Pointed out to me in this forum is that any PD code requires acknowledgement in the product unless it is only linked to PD code. If Adobe Air is being used by Widevine, Widevine does not need to acknowledge the code. Most modern javascript is based on Webkit which is PD Licensed code and has to be acknowledged. I also believe that as a tool used by/linked by other application, they also do not have to acknowledge. Sony should not have to acknowledge it also, Adobe on their Sites must list it.
http://www.widevine.com/tv_everywhere.html
Widevine’s intuitive DRM management tools offer total control over the encryption, key management, distribution and consumption of digital media. Preconfigured policies, digital rights and encryption are applied to inbound assets, automatically registered with Widevine and the CMS, then uploaded to a destination partner network or CDN. Subsequent delivery to CE devices is secured using Widevine’s multiplatform DRM client. (The downloadable Widevine DRM client is a plugin that can be cross platform as it would just be industry standardized information plugged into a Native language DRM TOOL like Access.)
On CE devices the client is in part a plugin, Widevine uses built in hardware SOC that provides the H.264 and has standard plugins for Keys to enable decryption and Adaptive streaming, the Widevine client downloads as a "plugin" and uses the tools provided.
On a PC it would use either Silverlight or Flash (Access) for the tools provided just like CE equipment and the Widevine client downloads and "plugs into" Access
As bandwidth conditions change, Widevine’s adaptive streaming adjust the bit rate to the highest quality video. For an added level of protection the Widevine client monitors, detects and responds to tools that pirate content even after content has been decrypted.
Edit: confirmed, Widevine uses the tools built into the platform for Javascript UI, DRM, adaptive streaming and H.264 codec.
http://www.widevine.com/pdf/wv_common_reliance.pdf
Edit: Most likely it is using Adobe Air in the PS3. Sony ported Air to the PS3 because Adobe would not support Power PC platforms. DRM tools need APIs for processes and addresses that might be sensitive information. It is better done by Sony than having to provide this information to Adobe or Widevine.
Porting industry standard DRM tools and player to the PS3 because of the cell and unique nature of the GPU in the PS3 would be something best left to Sony and
done for one DRM tool not multiples. Widevine will not be used by others to manage DRM and they may not be allowed or want to use a Widevine tool for DRM and would probably prefer Access. (The downloadable DRM plugin can be cross platform as it would be industry standardized information plugged into a Native language DRM TOOL like Access.)
Adobe Air 2.5 supports multiple format video streams including HTTP progressive H.264, Flv, QuickTime with a
video player and Adobe media server 3.5 and later the same. This is also something that needs coding in native language and
must interface with the DRM tool.
With future updates to the PS3, Flash and Air will probably need to be updated. The DRM tool "Access" is highly sensitive to changes in the PS3 OS because it needs to report on multiple PS3 features for a "Fingerprint" ID and to detect commercial blocking and "scrapers". For the most part this is taken care of by Sony with, if they follow industry standards, a small protected (encrypted) prom or portion of firmware which contains information necessary for Access or any industry compliant DRM tool.
Edit side note: This explains why Netfix was available on an Xbox from the main menu before the PS3, Widevine could use Silverlight for the DRM and adaptive streaming tools. On all other platforms Netflix waited for Adobe Air's release October 2010.
There are multiple errors and misunderstandings in news articles about these features. The industry has changed in the last 6 months leaving many of us with incomplete understandings of processes now being used.
News articles are doing a poor job at reporting on this in that they are using terms incorrectly. For instance, they mention that the Samsung 2010 blu-ray players already have the Widevine DRM
client installed.
What the article should have said is that the Samsung 2010 Blu-Ray players are already compatible with the Widevine client not that the client was already in the blu-ray player. We know from other Articles that Air 2.5 is in these blu-ray players. That would have two DRM tools in them. What is more likely is that with Air 2.5 in these blu-ray players, Widevine can use the javascript and Access DRM TOOL in them to manage DRM. Managing DRM in many cases involves using the tools provided and downloading a
client plugin that uses a standard for DRM that most CE equipment have with SOC versions of DRM tools and javascript engines.
