Ready for Another HD Format?

zippyjuan · 09-04-2007, 01:40 PM

This one seems to lack support from major manufacturera who have staked their lot with BluRay or HD DVD so it will be a tough sell. They do seem to be competitively priced for now though.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/storage...831215028.html

Quote:

Third High Definition DVD Format to Come This Fall.
HD VMD from New Medium Enterprises Incoming

Category: Storage

by Anton Shilov

[ 08/31/2007 | 09:50 PM ]

The ongoing war between Blu-ray and HD DVD high-definition video formats is heating up as appropriate players become more affordable. While the end of the battle is still far ahead, there is a small company from

London, England, which plans to offer truly affordable high-definition format called HD VMD already this fall.

New Medium Enterprises unveiled its first HD VMD (Versatile Multilayer Disc) player at IFA trade-show in Berlin along with the short list of movies to be available for the player this fall. The company, which positions its standard as “The New Definition of High Definition” promises affordable prices and widespread availability, but remains tight-lipped over the movies portfolio it is able to release.

NME’s ML622S player that is capable of DVD and HD VMD playback has recommended retail price of €179 ($243) and offers video playback encoded using MPEG-2/MPEG-2 HD, VC-1 or H.264 codecs in up to 1080p (1920x1200, progressive scan) resolution with up to 45Mb/s bitrate along with Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS audio.

The London-based startup launches its HD VMD technology worldwide in October or November with a competitive player and content bundle box which will include 5 new HD VMD titles for Australia, France, Iceland, India, Poland and Scandinavia. The company says that HD VMD’s “growing list of film content” includes “blockbuster films from Hollywood, Bollywood and International titles worldwide” including 16 Blocks, Apocalypto, Passion of the Christ, Lord of War, Lucky Number Slevin, plus the award winning children’s series, Lazy Town.

HD VMD technology is based on multi-layer DVD discs and red laser head. Each additional layer adds approximately up to 5 GB of memory over a standard DVD disc. VMD provides the ability to place up to 20 layers on a single disc with no quality loss in the content stored. This means capacity to record 100 GB or more without major changes to DVD players, but the disc technology requires new manufacturing process and production lines. Currently the company can produce up to 30GB discs. HD VMD is not supported by any major movie studios, like Blu-ray or HD DVD.

North American Release:

Quote:

Venturer Electronics Plans Low-Cost HD DVD Player for Christmas.
$199 HD DVD In Time For Christmas, Promises Venturer

Category: Multimedia

by Anton Shilov

[ 08/31/2007 | 11:32 PM ]

Venturer Electronics, a maker of consumer electronics based in Canada, has announced that its low-cost HD DVD player will be available on the

North America market by holiday shopping season. Even though the device will not support leading-edge technologies, it is likely to offer a nice value for mainstream customers who do not own expensive HDTVs.

“Responding to strong consumer demand for high definition video playback devices, Venturer will introduce the SHD7000 that offers the superior HD movie experience as defined by the DVD Forum,” a statement by Venturer reads.

The company’s SHD7000 player will lack full-HD will only offer 1080i maximum resolution (1920x1080, interlaced) which requires less advanced image processing and ultimately means more affordable hardware inside. Still, the player from Venturer will support Dolby TrueHD sound, HDMI connector and DVD upconverting capabilities, the feature-set that can satisfy unpretentious customers.

The suggested retail price of the new player will be just $199, according to an official claim quoted by DVDTown.com web-site, which is much more affordable compared to any existing Blu-ray or HD DVD player. It should be kept in mind, however, that Toshiba’s own HD-A2 player costs $299 and comes with five HD DVD movies, each of which is priced at $19.99.

The low-cost HD DVD player will indisputably drive the high-definition movie experience to the mass market. Given that contemporary DVDs only feature 720x480 resolution, even 720p (1280x720, progressive scan) and 1080i will provide considerable quality improvements to those, who own mainstream LCD or plasma HDTV-sets with 1366x768 resolution. As a result, HD DVD may become considerably more popular as a standard.

johnnymk · 09-04-2007, 02:23 PM

Is this just a player?

zippyjuan · 09-04-2007, 02:40 PM

I would guess so- it is only refered to as a player throughout the article.

InfiniteNothing · 09-04-2007, 06:07 PM

Sounds like DVD 1.1 except I'm pretty sure current DVD players couldn't read a disk with more than 2 layers.

Airencracken · 09-05-2007, 12:28 AM

It seems to me that it is more than likely that these layering technologies could be applied to the next-gen formats, thus making them even more expansive and superior.

Jeffbx · 09-05-2007, 06:04 AM

I thought this was going to be a story about how you had to format your hard drive!

09-04-2007, 06:07 PM	#4
InfiniteNothing Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Diego Posts: 10,086	Sounds like DVD 1.1 except I'm pretty sure current DVD players couldn't read a disk with more than 2 layers. __________________ As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.

09-05-2007, 12:28 AM	#5
Airencracken Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: California Posts: 6,681	It seems to me that it is more than likely that these layering technologies could be applied to the next-gen formats, thus making them even more expansive and superior. __________________ "I remember my first orgasm, I just wish someone was there to share it with me..."11-05-2003 05:33 AM - Topane They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, & the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opiate of the masses. - Karl Marx Hell is other people - Jean-Paul Sartre

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

09-04-2007, 02:23 PM	#2
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	Is this just a player?

09-04-2007, 02:40 PM	#3
zippyjuan Picture of the Day Guru Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sunny San Diego Posts: 8,756	I would guess so- it is only refered to as a player throughout the article.

09-05-2007, 06:04 AM	#6
Jeffbx Fleet Admiral Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,390	I thought this was going to be a story about how you had to format your hard drive!

User Name
Password
Remember Me?