Differences

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--- hardware:dataplay [2026/09/26 23:21] – renamed Post Mortem to Current Status and added to it hbm
+++ hardware:dataplay [2026/10/18 17:27] (current) – added images hbm
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== DataPlay ======
+{{ :hardware:dataplay:dataplay-disk_red_obverse-open.jpg?400|}}
 The smallest commercial example of [[extras:glossary#disc-based_enclosed_media_dbem|Disc-Based Enclosed Media (DBEM)]] is the DataPlay disk. Introduced in 2002 by DataPlay, Inc., DataPlay disks were intended to compete with the budding flash-based memory card market by offering a large capacity (250 MB per side, 500 MB per disk) on a 32 mm disc.
-Their built-in DRM support and ability to ship with pre-recorded data helped them gain initial interest in the portable music industry, but the prevalence of CDs and the recent release of portable MP3 players made this a tough market to enter.
+Their built-in DRM support and ability to ship with pre-recorded data helped them gain initial interest in the portable music industry, but the prevalence of CDs and the recent release of portable MP3 players made this a difficult market to enter.
 ===== History =====
@@ Line 19: / Line 21: @@
 ===== Hardware =====
-The 32 mm (1-1/4 inch) phase-change, optical disc was housed inside of a translucent and brightly-colored cartridge(({{https://web.archive.org/web/20250602231008/https://old.hotchips.org/wp-content/uploads/hc_archives/hc13/3_Tue/19dataplay.pdf|DataPlay — A New Technology for Information Distribution}})) with dimensions of 41 mm × 33.5 mm × 3 mm(({{wiki:docs:ieee-micro_vol-22-iss-2_dataplay-article.pdf|IEEE Micro, Vol. 22, Iss. 2 — DataPlay's Mobile Information Distribution and Storage Technology}})).
+The 32 mm (1-1/4 inch) phase-change, optical disc was housed inside of a translucent and brightly-colored cartridge(({{https://web.archive.org/web/20250602231008/https://old.hotchips.org/wp-content/uploads/hc_archives/hc13/3_Tue/19dataplay.pdf|DataPlay, a New Technology for Information Distribution}})) with dimensions of 41 mm × 33.5 mm × 3 mm(({{wiki:docs:ieee-micro_vol-22-iss-2_dataplay-article.pdf|IEEE Micro, Vol. 22, Iss. 2 — DataPlay's Mobile Information Distribution and Storage Technology}})).
 One of the only devices to feature DataPlay disks was the iMP-350 SlimX, developed by the Korean company iRiver. This player was rather expensive at ~$350 and showed off a design language reminiscent of its time; complete with translucent plastic, chrome accents, and "futuristic" aesthetic(([[https://web.archive.org/web/20191111145537/https://www.ixbt.com/multimedia/iriver-100.shtml|IXBT — MP3-плеер iRiver iDP-100 на носителях формата DataPlay]])). More manufacturers planned to produce readers and players for the format, but information about most of these models is scant.
@@ Line 33: / Line 35: @@
 ===== Current Status =====
-As of September 2026, there are no official channels in which to purchase DataPlay disks, readers, or players and all have been out of production for over two decades. The only eBay listings I could find for NOS disks(({{wiki:docs:ebay_307164516550_dataplay-disks.pdf|eBay — DataPlay Disk [Archive Listing]}})) and optical engines(({{wiki:docs:ebay_307164541213_dataplay-optical-engine.pdf|eBay — DataPlay Optical Engine [Archive Listing]}})) ship from Italy. I have no doubts that the disks are functional if one has a working reader, but the optical engines are bare units with only an undocumented ZIF connector, so testing them would require some electronics engineering. I have yet to see a DataPlay player or pre-recorded disk eBay, so its safe to assume they're exceedingly rare, thus making this format difficult to interface with.
+Rating: **[[reference:format-death-scale#level_4_🟠_endangered|Level 4 🟠 — Endangered]]**
+As of now, there are no official channels in which to purchase DataPlay disks, readers, or players and all have been out of production for over two decades. The only eBay listings I could find for NOS disks(({{wiki:docs:ebay_307164516550_dataplay-disks.pdf|eBay — DataPlay Disk [Archive Listing]}})) and optical engines(({{wiki:docs:ebay_307164541213_dataplay-optical-engine.pdf|eBay — DataPlay Optical Engine [Archive Listing]}})) ship from Italy. I have no doubts that the disks are functional if one has a working reader, but the optical engines are bare units with only an undocumented ZIF connector, so testing them would require some electronics engineering. I have yet to see a DataPlay player or pre-recorded disk eBay, so its safe to assume they're exceedingly rare, thus making this format difficult to interface with.
+//Update:// The 21x disk packs (63x disks total) I received from this seller had moldy paper inserts. If you attempt to purchase these, be sure to have the seller send a photo before shipping.
+===== Gallery =====
-/* Additional References
+{{gallery>:hardware:dataplay}}
- *
- * (([[https://web.archive.org/web/20260926223431/https://www.computerworld.com/article/1572898/ces-dataplay-shows-breakthrough-storage-media.html|Computer World — CES: DataPlay shows breakthrough storage media]]))
- * (([[https://web.archive.org/web/20230130020133/https://www.macworld.com/article/165372/imation-4.html|Macworld — Imation readies DiscGO! with new media format]]))
- * (([[https://web.archive.org/web/20200416162005/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/2002/04/14/dataplay-discs-put-a-new-spin-on-digital-music/faf55276-12a9-40f6-9698-71bf4e6c0491/|Washington Post — DataPlay Discs Put a New Spin on Digital Music]]))
- * (([[https://web.archive.org/web/20200413011826/https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2002/apr/22/new_disc_format/|LJWorld — New disc format enters crowded market]]))
- * (([[https://foreverdisks.org/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=wiki:docs:ieee-micro_vol-22-iss-2_dataplay-article.pdf|IEEE — DataPlay's Mobile
-Information Distribution and Storage Technology]]))
-*/