enthalpy

Friday, November 12, 2004


Wow, just what everyone wants for Christmas, a self-destructing DVD.
The Christmas-themed movie "Noel" most likely won't be coming to a theater near you — but if you miss it on cable, there's always the self-destructing DVD.

The movie's producers hope its "trimultaneous" roll out this month, which starts this weekend with a theater release in just five major cities, will prove the public is willing to "rent" movies that must be tossed in the trash after just a viewing or two.

Disposable DVDs look and play like normal DVDs, except that their playable surface is dark red.

Each disc contains a chemical time-bomb that begins ticking once it's exposed to air. Typically, after 48 hours, the disc turns darker, becoming so opaque that a DVD player's laser can no longer can read it. (Discs can live as little as one hour or as long as 60 hours.)
Has Hollywood lost their freakin' minds? They won't stop crying about how piracy is ruining their industry, yet they churn out this crap that begs, no, demands to be copied by anyone who might want to watch it the day after tomorrow.

DVD burners are now under $100 and falling fast. If that doesn't scare Hollywood into a better idea than this, nothing will.



Home