What is this? 1997? The Register reports that the DVD Forum has decided not to create a standard for a higher storage capacity DVD, but rather to offer a standard for "Enhanced DVDs" that will permit users to connect to password protected internet sites for more data (Next DVD spec. to offer Net access not more capacity). This makes sense, why?
Call me crazy, but I'm thinking that greater capacity on DVD disks would permit you to put all that additional web content right on the disk itself, and not require an internet connection to access the data. Storing the data on the disk has other advantages as well ... such as reducing the need for bandwidth and servers. Do you really trust Hollywood studios to maintain these servers indefinitely? Is this data going to be updated and changed on a regular basis? I highly doubt it. If it is not going to be updated, why not put it on the disk?
This might be interesting, if the studios were going for a community play, and allowing consumers to upload/download content they've helped to create, such as alternative playback menus ala MovieMask. I kind of doubt it, however.
One thing this will likely do is reduce the resale value of used DVDs. Essentially, each DVD will have a unique key (why else use keyed data). If access to the information available through this key is at all useful or desirable, a couple of things will happen. Hackers will rip the DVD, copy the key, and then sell the DVD. The key will likely be promulgated to many other users and will eventually be banned by the motion picture studio servers, much as compromised activation keys for software titles are banned. Used DVDs then, will have less value than new DVDs, just as used software (which is tied to servers, ala Blizzard) is much less valuable.
The same thing will happen to rental DVDs. If you are really interested in the extras, using Netflix or Blockbuster might not be such a good idea, since the keys their disks use may have been compromised.
A networked DVD player, that would be useful. A networked DVD player with a hard drive that could interface with the DVD, that would be innovative. A higher capacity DVD player, that would be worth paying for. "Enhanced DVDs"? DVDs are already "enhanced." Connecting to some website won't make them better.