orangerunner

I went to the airport the other day and noticed the gift shop was selling new release DVDs that were disposable.

I had read about the idea many years ago but never actually saw them until now.

They come on a cardboard card and when you unwrap them it allows air to set off a special emulsion on the disc that erases the content after 48 hours.

They were only $5.99 but contained no extras. I guess it goes to show how cheap new release DVDs really are to produce when they can make a special one that erases itself and sell it for $5.99.

Goat3001

Of all the cool Mission: Impossible gadgets, I didn't think the self destructing video would end up being created.

I never even heard of this but for $5.99 it doesn't make a whole lot of sense since you can just rent for cheaper.... but then again I'm sure it's a good airport buy since you can watch it on the flight and not have to worry about returning it.

DonnachaOne

These have been around for years, have never really taken off and are widely ridiculed. Search for "flexplay" or "flex play" DVDs.

Kory

Airport Red Box makes more sense, IMO.

Gizmo

Can you return Redbox rentals at any Redbox station?

madcougar

I threw away a new copy of Charlies Angels: Full Throttle. Is that what you mean?

Mr. Salty

The discs don't erase themselves, they just become opaque and unreadable.

Yes.

Norm de Plume

What a retarded idea. For $5.99 you can buy many regular everlasting DVDs, so who would pay that much for something you have to dispose of after two days? Pffft!

Aphex Twin

They should make it so that it is edible after a couple of days and you can have a tasty treat. The way it is now, it is not very green and fills up landfills.

JP5683

These were/are on sale at Staples recently for 99 cents.

Cheato

MMmmm. DVD...

Fok

Don't know how useful these would be. People could technically get around it so they could somehow keep the movie.

Alan Smithee

They STILL haven't given up on these??? I thought Staples clearing them out at 99 cents (the most they'd be worth) would've been the end of it. Their site says Twilight is "coming soon" even though the regular DVD's been out since last week- is anyone really going to wait to buy a $5 limited-play copy??

Jay G.

Yeah, I remember that sale; I didn't bother buying any of them, even though at 99 cents it's a decent rental price.

The applications for this technology seem very limited, at least in terms where it trumps regular renting. The cheapest Netflix plan is $4.99 a month, less than on Flexplay disc, and you can get 2 rentals a month.

Kory's post about airport Redbox trumps Flexplay too, since presumably you're buying/renting it in an airport to watch there and/or on a flight, so returning it at the next airport you reach is easy and convenient.

I can see why this tech appeals to studios, since they get a cut of each sale, unlike with rentals, but it's never struck a chord with consumers.

Jay G.

Except for the time-sensitive dye, the discs are standard DVD format. So as long as it's within the "playable" period of the disc's lifespan, it's as easy to rip as regular DVD.

Of course, people could just rent-n-rip instead, so it's not like Flexplay is any more or less vulnerable to piracy than regular DVDs.