DVD-Bomb

Freshness Warning
This article is over 9 years old. It's possible that the information you read below isn't current.

Now you see it, now you don’t! Self-destructing DVDs: "Technology that makes DVDs self-destruct in a few hours or days has already been developed, raising the prospect of a world without late fees." Didn’t we already have a similar concept called Divx that consumers rejected? Granted, these discs don’t need specialized hardware to play them, but the premise is the same.

The article goes on to say, "but to reach consumers more broadly, any promising technology needs to make sound business sense." It also needs to make sense to the consumers, and I simply don’t see a huge demand for time-limited discs.

Is driving back to Blockbuster after watching the movie really that big of a concern in the consumer’s lives? It seems that this is another case of technology trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.

Gavin
December 10, 2002 6:33 AM

The thing is, Blockbuster want you to drive back and return it!

Not only do they win by charging you late fees (I rarely remember to return stuff on time) but while you’re there you’re tempted to pick up something to continue the cycle.

We really don’t need to be filling our landfills with more crap. Technology should be reducing waste, not striving to create more.


Your comments:

Text only, no HTML. URLs will automatically be converted to links. Your email address is required, but it will not be displayed on the site.

Name:

Not your company or your SEO link. Comments without a real name will be deleted as spam.

Email: (not displayed)

If you don't feel comfortable giving me your real email address, don't expect me to feel comfortable publishing your comment.

Website (optional):

Follow me on Twitter

Lijit Search

Best Of

  • Comment Spam Manifesto Spammers are hereby put on notice. Your comments are not welcome. If the purpose behind your comment is to advertise yourself, your Web site, or a product that you are affiliated with, that comment is spam and will not be tolerated. We will hit you where it hurts by attacking your source of income.
  • Best of Newly Digital There have been dozens of Newly Digital entries from all over the world. Here are some of the best.
  • Let it go Netscape 4 is six years old.
  • The importance of being good Starbucks is pulling CD burning stations from their stores. That says something interesting about their brand.
  • Google on the desktop Google picks up Picasa, giving them an important foothold on people's PCs.
  • More of the best »

Recently Read

Get More

Subscribe | Archives

9

Recently

invisible Fence (Mar 22)
The New York Times has a paywall now. Sorta. If you don't choose to ignore it.
Black status icon for Chrometa (Mar 17)
Replacing the status icon of Chrometa
Using Google Voice as your voicemail on AT&T (Oct 26)
How I set up my iPhone to use Google Voice as it's voicemail system.
Don Mattingly forced to make coaching change (Sep 17)
New LA Dodgers coach starts to wonder if he knows the rules of baseball at all.
In which Vonage pretends their prices haven't changed (Apr 12)
Translating what Vonage marketing says about their price increase into plain English.
Twitter app competition (Apr 12)
Life as a Twitter app developer is far from over.
Twitter app competition (Apr 12)
Life as a Twitter app developer is far from over.
The rest of the world is not like you (Apr 5)
Normal people are different. Keep that in mind when creating or marketing a product.

Subscribe to this site's feed.

Elsewhere

IMified
Build instant messaging applications. (My company)
SacStarts
The Sacramento technology startup community.
Pinewood Freak
Pinewood Derby tips and tricks

Contact

Adam Kalsey

Mobile: 916.600.2497

Email: adam AT kalsey.com

AIM or Skype: akalsey

Resume

PGP Key

©1999-2012 Adam Kalsey.
Content management by Movable Type.