Disposable DVDs: Like DIVX but hopefully not sucky
- April 17th, 2008
- 8 Comments
Remember DIVX? Not DivX the codec, but DIVX as in Digital Video Express — from Circuit City — the ill-fated self-destructing DVD system from lo those many years ago. A similar idea just might be able to succeed where DIVX failed. Or not, who knows?
Anyway, whereas DIVX relied on special DVD players that could play DIVX discs (and also regular DVDs), a new disposable DVD coming from a German company called DVD-D will supposedly work in any DVD player, will cost €3.99 ($6.44 US) and will expire in 48 hours.
DVD-D Germany Ltd’s ‘Einmal’ (German for ‘once’) - discs incorporate a self-destruct chemical coating to render them unreadable after a pre-set time. The process begins as soon as the discs are removed from vacuum-sealed packaging. After 48 hours (or longer, depending on the price) the DVD gives a ‘No disc’ error when put into a DVD player or PC. There appears to be no DRM (digital rights management), so you couldcopy the disks, if you’re quick enough.
The DVD-D discs are available in Germany currently and may or may not make it stateside. I’m guessing probably not, with all the On-Demand and Apple TV stuff.
Would any of you red-blooded Americans do this? Let’s assume that they’d cost $4 apiece here, not $6.44. Let’s just forget the whole weak dollar thing never happened.
Mark (Who am I?)
4 months ago
I’d do it if it cost a penny….but 4-6 bucks? pfft, please…Isn’t that regular dvd price…in the crappy bin at walmart
Paul G (Who am I?)
4 months ago
This is really wasteful.
diem (Who am I?)
4 months ago
[snark]
Mmmmm, I love it when we generate disposable goods for entertainment. For round two we can just kick mother nature in the teeth?
[/snark]
Whiskey (Who am I?)
4 months ago
YES! just what we need! more disposable stuff that’s made from petroleum derivatives!!!
YAY!
BTW, do we really need to pay for all those menu’s, all those behind the scenes, how did we do it, the director’s philosophy, meet the cast et all? I bet that movies would be cheaper if they didn’t come with all that…
WAIT! Maybe i got confused with digital downloads?
Luke Noel-Storr (Who am I?)
4 months ago
I’m vaguely shocked that this is coming from Germany (a country fairly well known for it’s green credentials), and can only assume they will be recyclable.
Travis (Who am I?)
4 months ago
With titles like Scary Movie how can this not succeed? Seriously, why not just buy used or rent - I think the kiosks that burn a movie to a DVD-R are a better option than this and cheaper too.
Adam (Who am I?)
4 months ago
Yeah this is pretty ridiculous. It would never succeed here not when you can get netflix for 4.99 a month or go to a supermarket and get a new release dvd from those vending machines for a $1.00 and use it for 24 hrs.
r. decline (Who am I?)
4 months ago
this chemical… whats the chance that overtime it might build up on the tray and render my other discs unplayable?