EZ-D Self-destructing movies on DVD

In My Humble Opinion
1

A few searches and scans came up with nothing so I apologize if this is redundant…

You’re at your local gas station or c-store buying some smokes when you notice a display of newly released DVD’s for sale at only $6.99 (plus tax) each. Wow! Wait…look closer. It’s Disney’s latest in marketing genius, EZ-D…DVD movies that “auto-destruct” 48 hours after being removed from their air-tight package.

Marketed as a replacement for video store rentals (because there’s no hassle or late fees), these limited use DVD’s are over-priced, possibly unstable and guaranteed to add to the heap at the landfill. I foresee EZ-D’s will go the way of DIVX.

See details here:
http://www.dvdfile.com/news/web_wire/press_release/launches/ezd.html
It’s kind of an old press release but the info is there.

I live in KC, one of the EZ-D test markets, and picked up
25th Hour tonight at a Phillips Kick 66. The display offered 6-8 titles, most of which I’d already seen, but I decided to get one I hadn’t for the novelty of it. I haven’t opened it yet but the packaging doesn’t seem completely air-tight. There’s a window showing that the disc is still red (meaning OK for viewing). I read in a local newspaper that the actual “viewing window” is from 30 minutes to a few days. A 2-hour movie in 30 minutes…that would be novel!

At my local video store, I can rent a newly released DVD for $4.29 (including tax) and have about the same viewing window or longer. I feel the EZ-D viewing window should be at least a week. If it’s going to become unwatchable anyway, why such a short period? If I’m late with my 2-day rental, I’ve just spent $8.58. EZ-D is around $7.50…not enough of a savings to have me burning my membership card.

If a percentage of the discs are unstable enough to “auto-destruct” after only 30 minutes of exposure, the convenience factor will be reduced to zilch since I’m spending time and gas to go back and exchange it. I occasionally get unplayable DVD’s from the video store, but they always make it worth my while with a credit for a free rental.

For $.37 (maybe more because of the weird shape) I can mail the spent disc(s) to someplace in Columbia, MO for recycling…Riiiight! Dud movies that don’t sell within a year are added to scrap heap, as well.

What all of this tells me is that studios can produce these high-tech DVD’s and still make a profit selling them at $5 - $7. I wonder why they’re charging $20 - $30 for the low-tech permanent ones?

2

I think the product is stupid and I for one won’t be buying one EVER.

3

Sounds lame to me…

4

Good morning Mr, Phelps.

The being you are looking for is Goofy. Goofy has been tied to several spy plots in the Greater L.A. Area.

He is assisted by this man, Pegleg Pete.

As usual, should you or any of you IM force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions.

Good luck, Jim.

This CD will self-destruct in 24 hours.

Phhhhhht!!

5

Try keeping it in an airtight container (or immersed in some inert liquid - just be sure to clean it before putting it back in your player) in the fridge after watching. You might get a couple more viewings or you might have the chance to pass it on to a friend.

Agree on the lameness though.

6

I think the technology is intriguing which is why I got one, but I don’t plan on purchasing any more.

I think they could definately take over some of the market if these changes were made:

  • Priced no more than $1.50 above standard rental fees for a given area
  • Increase the viewing window to about a week if allowed by the technology
  • Recycling bins at EZ-D retailer locations
    Inside sources say a major national video store chain will phase out late fees in the next 2 years. They’re already more willing to excuse the fees if you’re nice about it and not too habitual. I guess they’ll eventually resort to spanking as punishment for late returns.
    :slight_smile:
7

I just read the release linked to in the OP – I get the impression that the disc isn’t dissolving away like Darkman’s skin, but that there’s programming that prevents reading outside a clocked time. I have no idea how that would work without a DVD player programmed for it, though.

The discs get to be Recycled. Betcha they all end up in the trash. Or as cheap decorations.

8

This technology was featured on How Stuff Works a few days ago and while it’s certainly innovative and kinda cool, I don’t see it being terribly useful unless they’re willing to up the viewing window to at least a week.

The link goes into pretty good detail as to how it works too which is pretty cool. Basically there’s a layer of material in the disk that turns opaque over time under exposure to air.

9

Of course, you could also rip the movie to your computer’s hard drive and watch it as many times as you want…

This is a really bad idea, btw. What were they thinking? This can’t possibly result in any good press for them.

10

Actually it doesn’t dissolve but becomes opaque, blocking the laser from reading the disc, due to a chemical reaction to air. I wish I could post info from the newspaper article. It goes into a deep explanation of the technology.

Maybe I’ll find a use for my Pump -n- Seal after all.
Here’s another link:
http://www.charleston.net/stories/090403/tho_04prbtcol.shtml

11

There were two things that came to mind when I read this:

  1. Was this the only way Disney could think of to beat the number of disks AOL dumps in landfills annually?

  2. Do they make for decent skeet? <pull!>

12

Thanks, El Marko. I should have looked there.

13

I’d rather just do Pay Per view, also for $7 that’s not far off what you can get a used dvd for.

14

I wonder how many enviromental groups will protest these things. I think if even 10% of the things are recycled, it’d be a miracle.

15

This is crap.

First of all, what if I wind up not having time to watch the damn thing immediately upon getting home?

Why would I want to buy a DVD when I can rent one cheaper?

What’s to keep me from coming back after watching the thing and saying, “This DVD self-destructed early. I didn’t get to watch my movie. I want a refund!”?

This is a big dumb idea that indicates how much of the movie and DVD companies’ profits are being eaten up by obsessing about pirates.

16

Seven bucks!? Jeez. I’d never pick one up, especially if there’s a chance that it would change over before the movie was finished. I already get DVD’s for a dollar that I get to keep for as long as I want and watch over and over - I use Netflix. $20 a month, 3 DVD’s at a time, huge selection. These things have no chance against Netflix.

17

You simply wouldn’t open the sealed packaging; the discs destruct a certain period of time after they are opened, not sold

You have to take a rented one back to the store within a rigid timeframe, which may not be convenient.

That said, I agree that it is a crappy idea.

18

It appears this DVD restriction process ties in nicely with the Microsoft/Intel/Et.Al. Palladium program to prevent anyone from using computer hardware/software and DVDs not approved by the consortium.

Restrictive DVDs today; restrictive computers tomorrow.

:smiley:

19

Duck Hook: You mentioned in the OP that you predict this idea will go the way of DIV-X.

What do you mean? Divx is one of the most popular compression formats for movies on computers. I believe Div-x players are starting to hit the shelves too.

20

It’s another great example of the philosophy that makes some manufacturers take a useful product that they can sell for a good profit, and deliberately decrease its value on the theory that they will sell more.

Not progress as I know it. And it usually backfires.