Comments on: Self-destructing DVDs – Already Extinct?

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:24:41 +0000

The best way to sell time-limited DVD’s is through a burn on-demand kiosk. Then we have the option to rent virtually anything. I found a company that claims to do this:
http://www.ondemandrentalkiosk.com

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:22:33 +0000

well the way around downloading movies so you don’t have to meet a judge is to rent the movie then use any of the many available dvd backup programs that allow people to make copies of disk’s, that is impossible to trace so you are very unlikely to get caught doing that unless your stupid and tell a bunch of people or sell copies to people you don’t know.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:56:46 +0000

Um, yeah. Download is an option, but I’ve love to see the justification in front of a judge if you do it without paying for the movie. “But, downloading is better for the environment so it’s not really immoral.” Gimme a break. It’s still copyright infringement, no matter how environmentally friendly it may or may not be.

Now, I can definitely see building up a library on my PC and using that instead of discs. I can see using NetFlix or Blockbuster, or RedBox – especially if the rental places are on the way to/from work or similar. I can also see owning certain movies. I still think this particular idea is just another effort by a dying system trying to squeeze what it can from the consumers. I also seem to remember the last time this was tried, the discs didn’t work properly and died unevenly or too soon – I’m assuming that’s gotten better.

FWIR – DivX was a “phone-home” system. You needed a player connected to a phone line to verify your right to play the movie. The actual compression technology for video is pretty useful, though – allowing a regular DVD to compress down easily to CD size with no appreciable quality loss to most people. There was a competitor to DivX that did this before and it just didn’t work too well.

In other news – any word of how well this tech is selling? That would be interesting.

By: adrian

adrian — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:42:43 +0000

Just download the movies onto your pc.
and no this is NOT immoral or “wrong” in my book.
just so happens that it’s part of the buyer/consumer
system which has limits that is destroying our
way of living on earth….. until others realize we
gotta move away from identifying ourselves as consumers and buyers( or at least find another environmental friendly ECONOMIC-system),until then, this will be immoral to those, and not to me.
hence my collection of movies on my pc :)

By: Rene

Rene — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:46:52 +0000

I agree that video on demand is the best alternative. There is no driving to the store, driving to return de dvd nor late fees. However, I assumed the discussion was for the situation in which this alternative was not available. In that case, I would prefer the alternative of not havig to return to the store just to return the dvd. And yes, walking and bike is better than driving, however, these alternative are not always available.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:56:59 +0000

I remember seeing these “self destructing” DVD’s in 7-11’s and other quick-mart type places a few years ago during the test marketing phase. It’s definitely not a new thing at all. It didn’t take off then, and it will not take off now, for dozens of reasons. It was rejected primarily due to consumers concerns about environmental issues. Since then, the company has expanded (somehow) and has struck some deals with environmental groups (paid off people). Technically they can be recycled, but chances are people will throw them in the trash can.

About the hacker thing, well duh, it only takes 20 minutes (45 on a slow computer) to rip any DVD onto the computer and then you have it forever. Yes it’s illegal and immoral, but it is the same as wrapping it in a vacuum-shrink cover or putting the dvd player in an oxygen free environment in order to get more life out of it. One day, corporations will realize that hackers are the most environmentally friendly group of all!

I would be happy to pay for a DRM free digital-only copy, since my computers are linked up to my home theater anyways.

By the way, DivX is an Audio+Video Codec named after the company who also released the DivX Player, DivX Inc. The quickly-doomed disposable dvd was called DIVX and required special DVD players… the failure cost Circuit City over $100 million. To add to the confusion, some modern DVD players will play videos encoded with the DivX codec, and will be marked “DivX compatible”.

Go figure. Sometimes it seems technology takes two steps forward and one big step backward.

By: a2bguide

a2bguide — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:09:21 +0000

The idea would be great for goverment classified documents and maybe gov inter-office crap.once used then history,sounds so much like politics!What do they care what they cost or where they wind up!lol

By: CJ

CJ — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:59:36 +0000

Who said anything about Blockbuster? I would rather download from online! With more and more free wireless access to the internet, there’s even more opportunity to not have to drive, ride, OR walk (though we still need exercise) to the nearest video store if you don’t already have highspeed internet at home.

By: kevin

kevin — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:55:23 +0000

Are you serious? You can walk or ride a bike to Blockbuster, but the DVDs in the landfill will never go away. Think about how many DVDs will be filling up the planet in 50 years if this idea caught on.

By: Rene

Rene — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:20:20 +0000

I wonder if the trip back to Blockbuster to return a DVD will cause more harm to the environment than the extra DVD in the landfills. It will probably take a 5 mile trip to the rental store just to return the DVD. With the price of gasoline and its impact on the environment, I feel it is probably better to throw away the DVD. However, I must admit that your idea of a flashdrive alternative sounds very attractive.