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108 Rare and Bizarre Media Types

The 8-Bit Guy・35 minutes read

The episode explores various historical media types such as mechanical, magnetic, and optical, highlighting unique formats like Edison cylinders, vinyl records, punch cards, U-Matic tapes, DVD-RAM, and optical discs with evolving capacities and technologies. These diverse media formats range from early 1900s audio cylinders to modern optical discs, showcasing the progression of storage technologies over time.

Insights

  • The Text provides an in-depth exploration of various historical media types, including Edison cylinders, microgroove records, punch cards, and magnetic storage like floppy disks, showcasing the evolution of audio and data storage technologies over the decades.
  • Optical media innovations are highlighted, from PD Discs with 650 Megabytes capacity to DVD-RAM with 5.2 GB storage, showcasing the progression towards higher capacity and compatibility in optical storage formats, with mentions of Laserdiscs, CD Video discs, and RCA Selectavision discs offering unique functionalities in the realm of optical media.

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Recent questions

  • What are some examples of unique magnetic media storage options?

    Various unique magnetic media storage options include the IBM Demidiskette, 3.25-inch flex diskette, TEC floppy disk, and Amsoft CF-2. These diverse storage options provided different capacities and functionalities for users looking to store data in various formats and sizes.

  • How did optical discs evolve in terms of storage capacity?

    Optical discs evolved from holding 30 Gigabytes to 80 Gigabytes in later models. The predecessor to UDO was mentioned in the summary, showcasing the advancement in storage capacity over time. An Optical Disc Archive, rivaling LTO tapes for enterprise backups, contains 12 write-once optical discs, each holding around 25 gigabytes, resembling Bluray capacity.

  • What is the history behind the Edison cylinder and its audio storage capabilities?

    The Edison cylinder, made of plastic in the early 1900s, holds around 4 minutes of audio and features grooves for reading information. This early form of audio storage revolutionized the way people could listen to music and other audio content, paving the way for future advancements in audio technology.

  • How did VHS cases play a role in the decline of beta-max tapes?

    VHS cases were reused for beta-max tapes during the decline of beta-max. This reuse of VHS cases for beta-max tapes may have been a cost-saving measure during the decline of beta-max as a format, showcasing the adaptability and resourcefulness of the industry during changing technological landscapes.

  • What is the significance of the A-Team sales presentation tape?

    The A-Team sales presentation tape was a sales pitch for the TV show sent to TV stations. This tape served as a promotional tool to generate interest and viewership for the popular TV show, highlighting the marketing strategies employed in the entertainment industry during that time.

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Summary

00:00

Evolution of Media Storage Through History

  • The episode showcases rare and bizarre media types, categorized into mechanical, magnetic, and optical media.
  • An Edison cylinder, made of plastic in the early 1900s, holds around 4 minutes of audio and features grooves for reading information.
  • A long-play microgroove record from the 1940s revolutionized audio storage, holding over 20 minutes per side.
  • A 3 channel stereophonic high fidelity record by Motorola, possibly from the 1960s, requires a special Motorola player.
  • A single-sided victrola record, smooth and prone to cracking, later evolved to have content on both sides.
  • An Edison diamond disc from 1912 competes with the Victor standard, featuring grooves that move the needle up and down.
  • A 16-inch vinyl record, used by radio stations in the 1930s and 40s, holds a lot of audio content.
  • Punch cards, dating back to the 1920s, were used for binary storage and later replaced by punch tape for computer programs.
  • A computer magazine from 1978 contains a flexible record called The Floppy ROM with Apple II programs.
  • Various magnetic media include 8-inch and 5.25-inch floppy disks, hard-sectored disks, quad-density disks, and Apple Fileware disks.
  • Unique magnetic media like the IBM Demidiskette, 3.25-inch flex diskette, TEC floppy disk, and Amsoft CF-2 offer diverse storage options.

12:07

Evolution of Various Cassette Formats

  • U-Matic tapes were used for broadcast material due to higher resolution than VHS.
  • A-Team sales presentation tape was a sales pitch for the TV show sent to TV stations.
  • VHS cases were reused for beta-max tapes during the decline of beta-max.
  • Sony SD1 cassette was a large cassette used for storing digital information.
  • ADAT digital mastering audio cassette held 42 minutes of audio and was used with the Alesis ADAT 8-track audio recorder.
  • MicroMV video cassette was used in digital camcorders and held 60 minutes of video.
  • 8mm data cassette was used for data backup storage.
  • DCC, or Digital Compact Cassette, was a format for home recording and was the same size as a regular compact cassette.
  • 8-Track cassette was a blank cassette for recording, unlike pre-recorded factory 8-Tracks.
  • ZX Microdrive was a continuous spool design cassette used in Sinclair microcomputers.

23:49

Optical Disc Technologies: A Brief Overview

  • The PD Disc, introduced in 1995, is a re-writable optical technology holding 650 Megabytes, featuring hard sectored and CLV characteristics.
  • PD Discs are write-protected using a notch and are compatible with regular CD audio and CD-ROM discs.
  • DVD-RAM, a phase-change disc introduced in 1997, holds 5.2 GB but is double-sided, with each side holding 2.6 GB.
  • NEC's MVDisc, a competing format to DVD-RAM, also holds 5.2 GB but is not compatible with DVD-RAM.
  • Upgraded DVD-RAM versions hold 9.4 GB and feature cartridges designed to open up for compatibility with various drives.
  • Laserdiscs, analog data optical discs, are generally two-sided and hold about an hour of video on each side.
  • CD Video discs combine audio tracks playable on regular CD players with a music video playable on laserdisc players.
  • RCA Selectavision discs are capacitive, not optical, and were stored in cartridges.
  • Video Now discs, slightly smaller than regular CDs or DVDs, were designed for kid's video players, holding over 20 minutes of low-quality video.
  • DIVX discs, encrypted differently from regular DVDs, were a rental format connecting to an online service for playback.

35:23

Evolution of Optical Discs and Memory Technology

  • Optical discs evolved from holding 30 Gigabytes to 80 Gigabytes in later models, with the predecessor to UDO being mentioned. An Optical Disc Archive, rivaling LTO tapes for enterprise backups, contains 12 write-once optical discs, each holding around 25 gigabytes, resembling Bluray capacity. Additionally, a bubble memory cartridge from the 1980s, akin to non-volatile RAM, was highlighted as a precursor to modern flash memory like SD cards.
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