http://news.com.com/2100-1008_3-6175909.html?part=rss&tag=2547-1_3-0-5&subj=news

"We use color to store more information," said Gavin Jancke, director of engineering for Microsoft's Redmond, Wash., research labs. Jancke is the creator of the new bar code format, which uses either four or eight hues to pack more data into less space. The new bar code also uses small triangles, as opposed to the squares used in the 2D black and white bar codes and the alternating thin and thick lines used in traditional UPC symbols.

The color bar code is being targeted especially for use on commercial media such as movies, video games and other recordings. Microsoft said the High Capacity Color Bar Code could start showing up on DVDs by the end of this year, thanks to a deal it has signed with an organization that helps coordinate product labeling for audiovisual works.



/Mikkel

Doubt it will gain popularity anytime soon. Plus it would have to have the same information written anyway. Theres just so many stores that dont even use barcodes, plus the possibility of malfunction.

What I don't get is this:

The idea is that after adding the new bar code, then DVDs and their packages would offer added security or, potentially, links to a movie trailer or other bonus features.

Should I and the store clerk who sold me the movie take a moment and enjoy the trailer for the movie he just scanned for me or why is this useful? 

/Mikkel

read the story,, real quick, twice, and it looks to me like it ( the bar code) wont have any digits? .. just the color triangles.. 
Also it appears to read most bar code readers, will not be able to read and  will have to be upgraded.

Retailers are not going to like that.

Quoting whispering:

Quote:
Doubt it will gain popularity anytime soon

Me too. Looks like a sheer Marketing-Wet-Dream.

For real purposes (outside MS circle of stupidity) the black & white barcodes are fully sufficient. They are cheaper to print which is a major factor if you have to print a tenthousand labels per day.
The 2D-barcodes Karsten mentioned even have a build in errorcorrection, so if a part (don't know exactly how much) of it is detroyed it's still scanable.

cya
  Mithi

The way I read another article on Engadget, is that they will be using it as "extra content" to be "scanned" by camera - also as a Piracy device, maybe

Does not look like another EAN/UPC replacement

Phew...