Microsoft Invents A 'Play-Once Only' DVD

auckland map writes "Microsoft has developed a cheap, disposable pre-recorded DVD disc that consumers can play only once." From the article: " Buying an ordinary DVD of a new film costs between £15 (E22, $26.40) and £20. Microsoft's new disc will enable the studios to release a "play-once, then throw away" copy for as little as £3, much the same as renting a video or DVD. But unlike a rented DVD, the new disc allows consumers to decide when they watch films and there is no need to return it. The new generation of DVD disc will spearhead a fresh assault by Microsoft on the home-entertainment market." Update: 10/06 03:38 GMT by J : Kinda important to read the followup story.

Comments

DivX died a fast, well-deserved death

[billstewart]

One of my friends bought a DivX player, but he was a gadget-freak and it was the Internet boom, so the only real constraint for him was shelf space near the TV, plus the problem of finding worthwhile content to rent and time to watch it. Everybody thought it was a pretty dumb idea, and if I remember correctly, the DRM system got cracked after it was mostly dead anyway, so the crack was strictly another nail in the coffin as opposed to the destruction of an industry.

Netflix, by contrast, was a low-tech approach (except that DVDs were still early-adopter back then) that absolutely rocked, because it matched what most customers generally wanted to do most of the time.

Meanwhile, back in reality-land...

[Overly Critical Guy]

Microsoft Denies Single-Play DVD Plan

On Tuesday, Microsoft refuted earlier reports that it plans to introduce single-play DVDs aimed at curbing music piracy. A Microsoft representative told me there is no single play DVD initiative at the company, denying a report that first appeared in "The Business."

"It appears there is considerable confusion coming from [the] article in The Business about features within Windows Media DRM that allow for single-play of promotional digital materials," a Microsoft spokesperson told me. "This has been an option for content owners to use for some time with the Windows Media format--but not for the MPEG2 format found on DVDs. Windows Media DRM technology allows for a wide range of business models and scenarios, but it's important to realize that this is at the discretion of the content owner to implement and that the market will dictate whether or not these features are compelling enough for consumers to make a purchase."

Slashdot article WRONG, Microsoft isn't doing this

[Overly Critical Guy]

Surprise, surprise. Sure would be if fact-checking was a requirement of being an editor around here.

Microsoft Denies Single-Play DVD Plan

On Tuesday, Microsoft refuted earlier reports that it plans to introduce single-play DVDs aimed at curbing music piracy. A Microsoft representative told me there is no single play DVD initiative at the company, denying a report that first appeared in "The Business."

"It appears there is considerable confusion coming from [the] article in The Business about features within Windows Media DRM that allow for single-play of promotional digital materials," a Microsoft spokesperson told me. "This has been an option for content owners to use for some time with the Windows Media format--but not for the MPEG2 format found on DVDs. Windows Media DRM technology allows for a wide range of business models and scenarios, but it's important to realize that this is at the discretion of the content owner to implement and that the market will dictate whether or not these features are compelling enough for consumers to make a purchase."

DixV the codec is not DIVX the failure

[ahecht]

Basically, DivX the codec was named to make fun of Circuit City's DIgital Video eXpress. From http://www.divx.com/support/what.php:

      When we say "DivX," we are not referring to the Digital Video Express
      (DIVX/DVE) service previously marketed by Circuit City. If you need
      information about Circuit City's DIVX, you might try the DIVX Owners'
      Association.