RSSDVD Burns of Digital Movies Coming
By Ed Oswald | Published August 10, 2006, 2:46 PM
The film industry is about to remove some of the roadblocks that have prevented legally recording downloadable movies onto DVD, which could also spur the creation of kiosks and other ways that consumers could burn their own movie discs.
The DVD Copy Control Association said special blank DVDs would allow this process.
Like standard DVDs, the discs would include a technology called the Content Scramble System (CSS), which is designed to prevent illegal copying. The rule changes would make this technology more widely available to allow for movie download providers such as Movielink to enable burning capabilities.
"The creation of new ways to legally create secure DVD content is the logical next step to answer industry and consumer demand for additional legal digital distribution alternatives." DVD CCA chairman Chris Cookson said. "Allowing the creation of high performance, protected DVDs in the business or at home that, until now, could only be mass-produced in factories is another major step forward."
Among the likely first implementations taking advantage of the new rules would be consumer kiosks, where entertainment could be purchased and burned to disc. This type of DVD production could allow for the release of unusual, historical or special content that otherwise would not be available due to limited demand.
The consumer benefit would be services like Movielink and iTunes now being able to allow for the burning of video content to DVD. According to the DVD CCA, "the programs would be recorded on personal computers via the Internet or on special, network-enabled, DVD recorders."
The rule change has already been approved by the DVD CCA itself, and would be available as soon as it is known to be complaint with all applicable specifications, the group said.
I'd be surprised if this takes off. I doubt many companies (ie Lucasarts) will submit to this. Fancy packaging is a fraction of the cost of most DVD's. If it cost $1 to package a $25 DVD (at the most, but shipping and distribution would be more...) do you really think they'll drop the price to $20 and take a loss just so you can print it yourself?
Even if the price was 80%, do people really want to pay that much money for something with little packaging, possibly no documentation and in all likelyhood lower quality of the physical disc itself?
I don't think so.
When you factor in the lower quality, the cost of the disc (currently $3-$6 for DVD9; only very few discs fit on DVD5 and quality won't be compromised), cost of packaging, cost of ink, the download time, and the hassle how much less would the item have to cost to be worth your while?
Maybe there will be a niche for movies that are headed towards the Bargain Bin. I would expect video games to benefit more from this than movies as Direct Download is catching on.
People do like to own the fancy packaging. I'd consider doing this if my TOTAL expense was 75% of the original cost, but then they'd have to charge closer to 60% and I just don't see this happening.
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|isn't it amazing how stuff like this doesn't make it's face public until someone comes up with a way to make lots of money off it?
I suppose thats ok.. unless it's a drug manufacturer.
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|qaulity of the picture and sound is going to sucks! lol
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|Probably not. These dvds shouldn't be any different than the ones you would get off the shelf. The files would already be on the server/kiosk and merely burned to the disk, just like they would be in the factory.
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|Actually your wrong.. Most DVD's are pushing 8.5GB and when they burned with say "DVD SHRINK" are ususally shrunk to 50% of its quality. I really doubt they are going to let people download 8.5gb movies, it would be so slow for most people it would take over a day to download - when you can just go to your local video store and rent it. I have a 22,000kps connection (Optimum online boost) and it still takes a long time to download Gigs of information.
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|I dunno about that, using the right technology 8.5 GB is nothing really. I mean I regularly have 6-8 GB downloads through bittorrent, it is not that long at all.
As for your comment on burning your right, it does take a significant amount of quality away if it is a 4.5 GB disc... I wonder though, if they are pushing the CSS why would they not use dual layer DVD discs?
Just a thought, I am probably far off. Considering the high price of those right now i doubt they would, but it would be interesting.
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|And about time to !
Now maybe we will have access to everything, every film ever made - and no more "sorry we dont have that in stock !"
Just go into the shop - browse a menu on the kiosks - then hit BURN (!)
And should also bring the prices down...
since there will be less stock on shelves therefore smaller shop space and lower rents
less distribution costs, in duplication and transportation
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|Any know how long does it take to convert these download movie to dvd compatible? Probably it's easier just rent and decss the dvd. or use clone dvd or blind-write for 1:1.
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|Actually they'd probably take care of giving you a file that you can easily convert (with software) and/or an image that you can just burn. However the whole point is that you will be able to get MORE movies because the rental store won't need to have 1000s of titles available; you can just burn what you want (if it's on some server somewhere) as opposed to looking for a store to have your movie in stock.
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