Disney Disposable DVDs debut today

[gmatov]

Ohhhh, Soylent Green!!!

[Styro]

gmatov-
I think it was TBoneit that started this recycling sub-topic. Read up a few messages from my previous recycling rant.

As for writing laws - we needs less laws that are broader in scope. The DMCA needs to be repealed since it is a duplicate of the old copyright act. We don't need a law limiting P2P because someone found child-porn on a P2P service - enforce the anti-child-porn laws that exist.

My gripe is with my fellow citizens. Is it too 'inconvenient' to recycle? Just chuck it out and let another generation down the line deal with it. Too 'difficult' to analyze and understand the issues and agendas of politicians? Then don't vote. Can't understand why we were attacked and why the rest of the world hates us? Go with the easy answer - the rest of the world is just jealous. Our [un]elected president and his administration continues to repeal the laws and rules that make this country great and almost no one protests. Apathy & ignorance have gripped this nation.

Enough for now...

I hope Disney comes to its senses and/or this test fails miserably. The EZ-D format is a terrible idea that should not have made it even this far. Die EZ-D, die.

-- Styro

[mkelley]

I hope Disney comes to its senses and/or this test fails miserably. The EZ-D format is a terrible idea that should not have made it even this far. Die EZ-D, die.

Exactly.

What's interesting to me about all this is every single one of my friends and associates I've talked about this to is completely bewildered by this marketing concept -- they just don't get it ("So what happens if I want to watch the disk a week later? Do these things burn up like in Mission Impossible -- I don't want my kids near when that happens. Why should I pay twice as much to get one of these than rent it for twice as long?") My relatives, who probably should be in the target audience (who are either completely non-tech, older like my mom, or married with young children, like my daughter) would much rather just buy the DVD in the first place, no matter how much more expensive.

I guess what it comes down to is I'm trying to figure out who the people are who would actually buy one of these and be satisfied (unlike the few here who want to experiment with one). It won't be people who ordinally buy a DVD, since renting doesn't satisify their needs. It won't be people who rent regularly, since they are used by now to returning them (or they've gone to services like Netflix) and most rental companies are relaxing the rules on late fees so it's no longer an issue. It *could* be impulse buyers, I guess, but these aren't exactly the kind of items that lend themselves to that sort of thinking ("Hmmm, I'm at the checkout stand and, let's see, I DO need some more batteries, some gum and, yes indeed, a two day rental on the movie "The Rookie"). The only people I can see who would really benefit from these are people who live 60 miles from both the nearest rental place as well as only wanted to rent one movie a month (so Netflix wouldn't work for them). Are there any such people out there in the target cities? <g>

As I said when I started this thread, I truly believe the pricing of these things (as well as the concept) was conceived by people under the influence of powerful drugs. Hard to manage they convinced their bosses, though (maybe upper management at the Mouse House is so desperate nowadays they'll try anything -- heck, I'm a Disneyholic and I just can't believe how the corporate types have ruined most of what makes Disney so wonderful).

[Harryford]

ok so if you bought one of those things and never opened it, could you download a movie off the internet and burn it for a legal backup? That would at least be better than nothing. And some one will come up with somekind liquid to put on it to stop the procces. What you guys think?

[Tommyknocker]

Once you have been arrested, you could try to explain to the court you were not trying to circumvent the law or obtain a permanent copy of the movie under the false pretense of buying a temporary DVD.

[Cornucopia]

I wonder if it would be possible to play the disc without taking it out of the wrapper?


Scott

[leebo]

I wonder if it would be possible to play the disc without taking it out of the wrapper?


Scott

I hear that from women all the time.

[Cornucopia]

No, I'm serious.

The disc itself is shrinkwrapped right, not just the case? Somehow get the inner donuthole part of the plastic removed without letting the air in (cauterizing?).
Then take a blowdryer to it, it'll shrink down to where it is its own airtight sealant, right around the disc itself. Ok, so the laser is going to have to try and read through an additional layer of plastic, and the hub will have less tolerance, but that's it.

'course, if it isn't the disc itself that's shrinkwrapped, it's a moot point.

Scott

[jeex]

okay..

here's what i've gathered so far.

disc is single layer, disc has CSS, disc doesnt work after 48 hours.. (signs)

does the disc include all the extra's & audio tracks that the original signs dvd has?

does it have macrovision?

they're probably making the discs single layer since they're cheaper to manufacture.. but since they cant skimp on the video quality, i'm guessing they're only including 1 audio track, and none or limited extra's..

for people making movie-only backups, this would be perfect for them.. seeing as how i'm sure disney has much better encoders than we have.

i'm totally gonna have to get a few of these discs and test'em out..

[overloaded_ide]

Well what's it been a couple days now?


Ok is Disney crying the blues yet and begging forgiveness for thinking we we're so stupid as to go for this idea?

Just curious as I was thinking of buying a new movie later this week and wondering if I should end my self emposed boycot on Disney yet

It's a toss up, Warner or Paramount, till this non-sense ends Disney is out!

Boycot Disney Boycot Riaa

Who needs em, we can live without music or Disney, but they can't live without US

[i am x]

So if you copy one, do you get to keep the copy as long as you own the original, no matter if the original no longer plays?

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

[Styro]

So if you copy one, do you get to keep the copy as long as you own the original, no matter if the original no longer plays?

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

Eloquent, as usual, I am X.

If you buy one of these you >should< be able to make an archive/backup. You should probably keep the original, in case someone demand proof of purchase, and just use the backup. It all depends on how your lawyer and any judge interprets the 'fair-use' clause in any copyright acts.

-- Styro

[FOO]

In case anyone wants to know, the Amazing Official DVDRHelp Test DVD
finally turned absolutely uniform dark black including the rim and the hub.

I wiil attempt to remove it. Looks difficult.

[Double]

Very interesting read.

I would like to thank Foo for all his research and say I feel sorry for his $7.00.

-D

[Tommyknocker]

Post a picture, FOO! Inquiring eyes want to see!

[FOO]

Shit man, it's BLACK. A BLACK picture is not interesting.

[stiltman]

Shit man, it's BLACK. A BLACK picture is not interesting.

Is it a true black or a charcol black?

[FOO]

Very black, Extremely black. Shiny obsidian black.
Almost as black as Bill Gates' lawyers' heart

[tgpo]

Very black, Extremely black. Shiny obsidian black.
Almost as black as Bill Gates' lawyers' heart

Dude, that's pretty black!

[dphirschler]

What is the artwork like? Is it in a jewel case or just a cheap cardboard sleeve?


Darryl

[overloaded_ide]

Hey foo,
When you try to remove the coating, can you do just a section of the disk
at a time? I am wondering if you can reverse the process with some easy to use chemical?

Maybe drip a few drops of navel jelly on it
Blast it with either? Muratic acid? Maybe anything that removes rust?
I think there is a citric acid rust remover that is safe for plastics.
Forget exactly what it was. A friend used it to dip a cycle frame. Removed the rust great but did not hurt plastic/rubber/ or even the paint

Perhaps somethng like that would reverse the oxidizing effect? If it could get to it?

Maybe you could rub a grapefruit on it?

[FOO]

I have a suspicion that it is on the inside of a thin layer of
permeable plastic. which means that whatever chemical treatment
I try will take as long as the original dark reaction.
I'll have to scrape some to prove that.

I'm trying to think of some way to do it with an end mill

[NightWing]

Two ideas.

1) Try one of those disk cleaner. One thay actualy applies something to the disk.

2) Toothpast. Bet you are laughing but it actualy micro sandpaper goo. Uses this on LED caculator displays that has scratches to remove said scratches.

[smearbrick1]

You could stock these in a vending machine with a 5 dollar bill changer. The rental place could now be an old-fashioned automat. Imagine that, barely no overhead costs. No employees to pay. Just space rent (if you don't own your own space) and machine maintenance. Have 10 machines with several copies of each title in each machine. Just put the vending machines next to the Coke machines outside of the grocery store, next to the checkout counter, in the bathroom next to the condom dispenser... the possibilities are endless. Because people are sheep and do whatever they are told (for the most part), they will happily turn over their 5 bucks (or seven) to be able to "own" their rental copy. I think the appeal is right there... the fact that you actually own something tangible. Even if it is useless after 48 hours, at least it is still something you have paid for and possess. Where a video store just "lends" (for a price) you a movie which have to promptly return. Hence, you have nothing to show for the money you spent. Well, except for the occasional bad movie memory.

[NightWing]

Intersting idea. It does lend itself to impulse purchase. Another place would be at an airport. After going through Atlanta and Jacks recently it would sell like hotcakes. Esp after seeing what they are putting on flights for movies these days! Sheech! Both were horrible!

The problem is they need to put some decent movies on it. What was listed on the back of that package was pretty thin.

Wonder how this would go over in Japan. They really have some strange vending machines!

[The village idiot]

I bet if they put porn on them, it would be a hit

[energy80s]

I bet if they put porn on them, it would be a hit

And you wouldn't have to worry about keeping them clean!!!!

[cotton168]

Found an article on Video Business September 29, 2003 issue about the Austin test. Here's what the article said:

"The EZ-D Test
Discs beguile, but consumers not biting
By Joe O'Connell

Metal helmets with wires snaking out of them encase the craniums of two men staring blankly into an audience. A huge tape titled 'Video Rental' is shoved into an ancient machine. Horrors! But, wait, a mysterious man - a guru? a sumo wrestler? - produces a shiny box and opens it to reveal: EZ-D. The announcer intones the mantra: 'No late fees. No returns.'

Thus goes the TV spot airing nightly during evening news programs here in Austin, one of four cities in which Buena Vista Home Entertainment is participating in a test of Flexplay Technologies' limited-play EZ-D discs.

With the education process in its early stages, retailers visited in the second week of EZ-D's availability said consumers appeared interested in the disposable discs but not ready to buy.

A Buena Vista spokesman declined to discuss the test except to say that the studio is 'compiling and closely analyzing store data' and that it has always expected the test to be lengthy and thorough.

Although deep discounts on standard DVDs are common at a wide range of retail outlets, most of the EZ-D merchants surveyed in Austin were initially pricing the disposable DVDs at the $6.99 suggested retail price, rather than discounting to get closer to the price of a movie rental. Meanwhile, in-store positioning and merchandising varied widely.

One Papa John's Pizza outlet in Austin had the most unique offer, selling a large two-topping pizza with breadsticks and one EZ-D for $17.99. The discs also were available individually for $5.99 with any order at the Papa John's store. The "pizza and a movie" offer was cheerfully promoted both on the recording heard by customers calling the store and by the staff member that came online.

At a 7-Eleven convenience store in middle-class North Austin, a petite clerk was busy stocking the candy aisle. A rack of EZ-Ds near the cash register needed no refilling; only one had sold in the first week.

'Most of them look at it, say 'that's cool' and put it back,' she said of customers. 'My personal opinion and that of a lot of customers is that it's twice as expensive as renting and it doesn't last long.'

At a Walgreen's drug store near the University of Texas, signs on the door promoted 'Non-drowsy allergy relief' and 'The 48-hour, no need to return DVD.' Inside, however, the small rack of EZ-Ds was hidden in a low-traffic area between bottled water and unopened cases of T-shirts.

'It's a convenience thing, but you're paying for the convenience,' said a store clerk. 'For that price, I'd rather go to Blockbuster, becasue it's on my way home.'

A staff member at Suncoast in Barton Creek Mall said he sees promise in the EZ-Ds. The discs rested on top of a soda cooler near where the clerk, sporting black earrings and spiked hair, fielded DVD questions from knowledgeable customers.

'It's a pretty cool concept,' he said. 'They mostly want to find out how it works. They're in awe of it.'

Few customers are buying, however, in part, he believes, because of the limited EZ-D selection. Along with such recognizable titles as Frida, Signs and The Hot Chick are lesser-known films including Heaven and Equilibrium. According to sources, however, Buena Vista will release several new titles in a few weeks.

The Suncoast clerk said he's hopeful heavy TV advertising will drive more people to actually buy the EZ-Ds. 'If it were $3.99, it would sell like crazy,' he said."

[FOO]

Having an actual selection of movies would help.

[mkelley]

The Suncoast clerk said he's hopeful heavy TV advertising will drive more people to actually buy the EZ-Ds. 'If it were $3.99, it would sell like crazy,' he said."

And he knew that how...?

Yep, that's right, the minimum wage clerk at Suncoast who can't ring up two items properly is now a marketing expert. Hey, this sounds *exactly* like the folks who dreamt this up in the first place. I think they should hire his kid, make him in charge, run the company completely into the ground so we don't have to be exposed to any more ridiculous schemes anymore.

(Of course, this clerk *could* have been the ex-president of Divx -- I understand he was looking for work somewhere in the industry).