[axiom]

I recently got the Billy Joel "River of Dreams" CD (copyright 1993 so not really that old...) and immediately after taking it out of the case I noticed that it was considerably heavier and thicker than other CDs that I have handled. Also it has another shiny ring (similar to the one around the spindle hole) about 1/4 inch from the edge of the CD with what appears to be more data on the outside of it (at least colored the same as the data part). Is this just technology getting faster/lighter/better? or what is going on here?

I'll try to post pics later tonight.

 

[hciman77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by axiom /img/forum/go_quote.gif I recently got the Billy Joel "River of Dreams" CD (copyright 1993 so not really that old...) and immediately after taking it out of the case I noticed that it was considerably heavier and thicker than other CDs that I have handled. Also it has another shiny ring (similar to the one around the spindle hole) about 1/4 inch from the edge of the CD with what appears to be more data on the outside of it (at least colored the same as the data part). Is this just technology getting faster/lighter/better? or what is going on here? I'll try to post pics later tonight.

Some versions of that CD are "enhanced" i.e they have Video Clips as well as audio, is it a new pressing ?, if so it is probably the enhanced CD , the audio tracks and video tracks are separated.

Also some CDs, thankfully few actually had both compressed and uncompressed audio on them , the normal audio was read by a CD player but in yer computer it would normally only read the compressed audio unless you used a marker pen to overwrite the boundary between the two sections or soemthing like that, cant remember the details.

If yours is an enhanced CD be wary about using it in a computer as some of these CDs install software automatically and these programs can both report back to the manufacturer if you are online and are also very insecure. Sony/BMG did this.

 

[axiom]

You are right, I guess it must be an enhanced cd (from columbia records, so I hope it won't install anything nasty

). I thought all enhanced cds were labeled with the enhanced cd logo... Thanks for the info!

Also all the other enhanced cds I have are not this thick/heavy!

 

[soundboy]

Axiom,

Have you tried playing this CD on your computer to see whether it's an "Enhanced CD" (with video clips, etc.)?

I am asking because there may be another explanation to the weight and thickness of the CD. Older CDs are sometimes heavier and thicker than today's discs. Their jewel cases are also heavier and stronger. So perhaps that's what set your CD apart from newer discs.

 

[Dept_of_Alchemy]

How exactly is compressed audio enhancing the CD?

 

[axiom]

The enhancement would be video clips and other such things...but this cd doesn't appear to have them. I guess it's just what soundboy was saying

 

[joe_cool]

Sadly, I believe Sony (now includes Columbia) is one on the forefront of copy protection and what I consider "malware", both on CD and DVD media.