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

huh?

[simonharvey]

Hasnt this already been posted to slashdot already?

We can only watch (OR COPY) it once

[Palal]

If we can watch it only once, we can copy it once.

Re:Here we go again...

[shokk]

P.S. If you want a cheaper, limited-use DVD now, just buy one, watch it, and sell it on Ebay! Who needs Microsoft for that?

But that's not what they're after. They want something that comes close to providing a recurring cost, which gets them more than the cost of today's full-priced products. For an example, just look at TiVo's move to cellphone plan styled pricing. If you buy the full-cost DVD and resell on EBay, the original company still only sees income from that first amount you paid and never another dime for the life of that product. Here, they are gambling that you will tell a friend about a great movie you just saw - you won't be able to loan it out, your friend will have to go buy it.

Just like the move to downloadable games in the console industry - you can't resell it, so the company is guaranteed to get money when someone else wants it. Don't want the game anymore? Tough, just erase it, and if you want it back again, maybe the system will remember that you once bought it. Already te MMORPG games cannot be turned in to a store for credit (not smart stores anyway) because the serial number is considered non-transferrable.

The software industry has been talking for years about software as a service. Why? Recurring costs for the consumer equals a steady revenue stream which equals financial stability and looks good in the eyes of Wall Street. Companies will do this en-masse once a standard appears in the industry. The standard has just showed up to the party.