How Do The 2View Limited Viewing VHS Tapes Work?

batosai writes "I recently read an article about a video cassette that will allow 2 viewings from a pre-recorded source which can them be recorded over and used like a regular video cassette tape. I haven't been able to find anything about how this works. I was hoping someone here might be able to enlighten me." Interesting idea here, and for those that find themselves going thru a lot of video tapes in a month, probably worthwhile. Tapes using this technology are due to hit the Netherlands sometime in May and the indicators point to a possible US release as well although no date is mentioned. An interesting fact from the article: "Introduction of a limited-play cassette has been attempted on several occasions over the past 15 years in the United States without success." What technology was behind those earlier attempts and why did they fail?

Comments

And then what?

[JediTrainer]

I guess it's a neat idea in a way in the case of a video store which doesn't want to bother collecting video tapes from rentals, but isn't it correct that this could have a harmful effect on the environment?

I guess it's nice to have the video tape to keep when you rent a movie, but in my case I rent a lot more movies than I record stuff, so I'd end up with lots and lots of extra video tapes. So from my perspective, I paid extra for these tapes (since after all, the extra costs will be passed on to the consumer) which I don't need, which I will likely just throw out.

On the other hand, if I like the movie I can shelf it for a little while and then watch it again, perhaps a couple of months/years later when I'm interested. In this case, it's kind of nice. I have no idea how it'll work, however.

Is it also possible that these tapes might become as famous as the free AOL floppies? Perhaps if companies in a marketing campaign were to distribute the movie trailers on videotape to you, and you'd end up with the free tape later, that'd be pretty cool. But then again - why not just use regular videotape in that case? Seeing this, it looks like the only market is rentals, where people want to keep the tape.

I don't know - if I'm interested, I can always rent it again. I'm not sure if I'd be willing to pay the extra $2 or $3 (CDN) to keep the tape in this case. I'd rather take my chances that if I want to see the movie again, I'll just go back to the store and rent it another night.

I don't think of this the same way as the DivX standard, though, because we're not ending up with useless coasters after we've watched our movie. At least the tape can be used, even if most people might not want or need it.

Video Tapes

[mlong]

I remember the "play once" tapes I used to get from consumer research firms. They had a magnet embedded that erased the tape after it had passed over the head. I'd be curious to know how they are doing the reusable tapes

Re:Video Tapes

[SEWilco]

Hmm.. That erase-after-viewing magnet might be the basis of this 2-play tape system.

It would be easy to put the magnet on a mechanism that would move the magnet into erasing position the first time the tape is rewound or the first time the tape plays past a certain point.

When the tape is played the second time, the tape would past that magnet which damages/erases the recording. The same mechanism which moved the magnet would move it away from the tape to a permanently locked position, thus allowing the tape to be used normally.

Re:Video Tapes

[JediTrainer]

If I had moderator privileges, I'd moderate this as insightful. That's probably how the darned thing works.

Now the catch is - what's to prevent a movie pirate from removing the magnet? All you need is a screwdriver, right? Cheap way to get a permanent movie; it'd probably cost about $5 to "rent", versus the $20-odd to purchase. Maybe someone would even turn around and sell the "fixed" tapes on the street.

Re:Video Tapes

[Wakko Warner]

It'd also be easy to remove the magnet. But am I violating the DMCA if I do this? Would I be doing the same if I showed others how to do this by means of a web page?

- A.P.

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* CmdrTaco is an idiot.

I've said this before..

[TheTomcat]

I suspect that rental chains will be unaccepting of this new technology.

Blockbuster makes a full night's rental from me every time I forget to take a movie back on time.

They could never collect late fees if this technology was used, which, I suspect, would hurt their income, significantly.

hmmm

[nomadic]

I don't know what kind of lifespan this idea would have; I mean, we're already moving to DVDs, and will presumably get to directly transferred digital in the next few years, so I don't know who would invest in this.
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