Differences

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--- hardware:dataplay [2026/09/26 23:35] – [Current Status] added format death scale link 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 =====
-Rating: **[[hardware:format-death-scale|Endangered]]**
+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.
-/* Additional References
+//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.
- *
- * (([[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]]))
+===== Gallery =====
- * (([[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]]))
+{{gallery>:hardware:dataplay}}
- * (([[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]]))
-*/