Single-play DVDs a Hoax

psy writes "Ed Bott's blog states that in relation to a previously posted slashdot story "a hoax can spread just as fast as a genuine news story. That's the lesson from the bogus story published in an obscure UK business magazine yesterday that claimed Microsoft is about to unleash a new single-play DVD format. Paul Thurrott reprinted the story without giving credit to the original source. Bink.nu picked up the story from Paul and reprinted it verbatim. Techdirt commented on the original story, with attribution but without any fact-checking. So did John Walkenbach. The funny part? There's no truth to the story. None whatsoever. In fact, the original story sparked a flurry of e-mails around Microsoft as people in different groups tried to figure out where on earth this story came from. After the head-scratching stopped, a spokesmen told me, they concluded that the story was not true. "It appears to be confusing an existing feature within Windows Media DRM that allows for single-play of promotional digital material. This has been an option for content owners to use for some time for the Windows Media format - it does not apply to MPEG2 content found on DVDs."

Comments

Not quite a hoax

[powerpuffgirls]

After the head-scratching stopped, a Microsoft spokesman told me, they concluded that the story was not true.

How do we know Ed Bott's comment is not a hoax too? He just said a MS spokesman told him so, but where's the source?

I believe the real story is, MS did invent this Play-Once DVD, however due to huge amount of negative comments from Slashdot, they pulled a PR spin, and instructed that spokesman to tell Ed that it's a hoax.

Re:Not quite a hoax

[macdaddy357]

Maybe Windows Vista is a hoax, too.

Re:Not quite a hoax

[TallGuyRacer]

We can only hope.

Re:Not quite a hoax

[MightyMartian]

Oh yeah, Slashdot bent the might Microsoft. We'll really get 'em tomorrow, when the whole damn story is published again. Nothing like a dupe to get Redmond shaking in their boots. I even heard that Ballmer through a coffee table and shouted "I'll fucking kill CmdrTaco!"

Haha Slashdot got suckered!

[Aaron England]

Don't you all feel bright now for bashing Microsoft? Perhaps it isn't only the editors that should check the credibility of a story?

Ummm....

[Anonymous Coward]

Slashdot? propagating rumors? noooooooooooo..... must be some other blog....

Re:Shock

[superpulpsicle]

It was probably a real idea except the people on slashdot trashed it so fast, they cancelled all project plans asap.

The Real Truth For Sure

[The Amazing Fish Boy]

Microsoft originally designed a single-play DVD. That much is true. It also had a new case. However, as time went by, they had to drop a number of features. The first to go was the 'DVD' part. Then they dropped the 'single-play' part. Now they just have a new case full of nothing.

Another example of journalist's DOOPPPP

[xmas2003]

Christmas Lights webcam hoax ran from 2002 to 2004 until I outed myself. I can tell you from first hand experience that the fact checking of the mass media leaves a bit to be desired ... and that is being generous. A noteable exception was the Wall Street Journal - it was actually hard to convince 'em that the hoax was really a hoax - they were (rightfully so) concerned about a double-dupe ... too bad this /. story doesn't appear to have that element.

Having said all that, do you think it is "real" this time?!? ;-)

Uh-huh

[jav1231]

Balmer: "ARGH!" (tosses chair, breaks glass, rips off tie) "I will OWN THE MEDIA MARKET! I WILL KILL THEM ALL! So, what did they think of our single-play DVD?"
Assistant: "Uh...they laughed, Sir."
Balmer: "Oh!...Ummm...Okay...well...uh...let's play it as a hoax."
Assistant: "Yes, Sir. New chair, Sir?"
Balmer: "That would be nice, and some decaf!"

Re:Ears perking up

[gl4ss]

actually I thought of a really good way to do that.

just make really, really, really crappy movies.

Re:Ears perking up

[clonmult]

Hollywood is already one step ahead of you on this one ....