Self-Destructing DVDs Make a Comeback
Didn't we already go through this ten years ago? Flexplay Entertainment is making good on its threat -- er, promise -- to produce rental DVDs that self-destruct 48 hours after they've been opened.
The technology's not all that new; Flexplay DVDs have been around for about five years, though on a more limited scale. The premise remains unchanged: Flexplay's patented disc adhesive reacts to oxygen when the DVD's package is opened, beginning a slow chemical reaction that renders the disc unreadable in 48 hours.
The idea is that you can rent a movie without having to worry about when you'll watch it -- the disc remains playable so long as it's sealed -- or about returning it. Staples will start carrying Flexplay DVDs this month, for $4.99 each.
But like I said, we've done this dance before. It was in 1998 that a bunch of retailers offered us DIVX (no relation to the video codec), a -- wait for it -- self-destructing DVD format for renting movies, with a 48-hour viewing window. PC World's Dan Tynan echoed the prevailing sentiment when he included it in his 2006 article The 25 Worst Tech Products of All Time; the technology was on the market for barely six months before it was yanked.
The Staples and Flexplay folks are probably banking on the fact that unlike DIVX, Flexplay discs don't require a proprietary player. But beyond that, is there really any benefit? People who think it's too much trouble to return a disc to the video store have likely already got Netflix queues as long as my arm. Plus, DVDs that aren't new releases are cheaper than ever -- given the choice of renting a disc for $5 and owning it for $7, a significant number of people will opt for the latter. It looks to me like history will be repeating itself.
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For the love of God can we not find enough to fill our landfills. Do these people completely have their heads up their butts.
Leave it to the movie industry with their DRM issues to come up with another stupid idea. Hmmm I guess the next public service message should be 48 hours to watch and eternity in a landfill.
Wait why not create a system where computers are obsolete and sent to the trash heap every 2 years. Well that seems to have caught on quite well.
wait maybe we can use one time use plastic bottles and trash them.
History always repeats for some, they make this crap and then complain when they get poisoned by it.
I forgot who wants to handle plastic discs that have added chemicals in them.
DivX had much bigger problems than a simple time limit. You touched on it with the mention of proprietary players, but more specifically, you had to have it hooked to a phone line to get authorization to play your movie and once you started it in one player it could not be moved to another player. So not only could you not watch at your friend's house after the time limit had started, but the DivX company was able to keep tabs on you. This is far less obnoxious. I still think its too expensive, environmentally irresponsible and what's to stop someone from ripping the disc and making it an unlimited use movie?
I think they have a larger goal this time around. I saw this video on youtube about a new dvd rental kiosk. Have never seen it anywhere else. What do you think it is...who is behind it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY_UAbXfWcg
I think they have a larger goal this time around. I saw this video on youtube about a new dvd rental kiosk. Have never seen it anywhere else. What do you think it is...who is behind it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY_UAbXfWcg
Has anyone looked at flexplay.com yet? It's actually pretty funny how they try to put a positive spin on this. Especially with the video (http://www.flexplay.com/how_it_works/) However, they do mention recycling DVDs when you're done with them either by just throwing them in your own recycle bin or using their recycling service. Still, that's not going to stop the average viewer from throwing it away, and the landfill problem continues. I can't wait to see how long this takes before they scrap the idea.