flipdisc

Flipdisc, also known as the Philips Disc or Compact Disc, is a type of optical disc storage medium introduced by Philips and Sony in 1978. It was designed to store and play back audio and video data. The disc itself is made of polycarbonate plastic with a thin aluminum layer on one side, which is coated with a protective lacquer. The data is encoded in the form of tiny pits and lands on the aluminum layer, which are read by a laser in the disc player.

Flipdiscs were initially used for audio recording and playback, with the first commercial audio player, the Philips EL2200, released in 1979. They were also used for video recording and playback, with the first commercial video player, the Philips EV2200, released in 1982. Flipdiscs were popular in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly for audio recording and playback, due to their high-quality sound and the ability to record and playback multiple tracks.

However, Flipdiscs faced competition from other storage media, such as cassette tapes and compact discs, which offered similar functionality at a lower cost. As a result, Flipdiscs declined in popularity in the late 1990s and were eventually discontinued in 2003. Despite their decline, Flipdiscs are still collectible and sought after by enthusiasts, who appreciate their unique design and high-quality sound.