AfterDawn: News

HD VMD to finally be available in the US

It looks like the first shipments of HD VMD set-top players to hit the U.S. will be courtesy of online retailer PC Rush. They've apparently ordered 10,000 units that they'll start selling in December.

HD VMD (Versatile Multilayer Disc) players are intended as an alternative to expensive next-generation formats like HD DVD and Blu-ray. Unlike those formats it's built entirely around red laser media similar to DVDs. Despite not having any market presence at all in the U.S., HD VMD has already carved out a significant niche for itself in countries like India. In fact India's highly successful studio Bollywood has plans to release at least 50 movies in the format.



So far no major studio has any plans to release movies in HD VMD format, which isn't surprising since they've all thrown their support behind one of the two major players, HD DVD and Blu-ray. There are a few major studio movies available in other countries, most notably Australia, in the format. This is due to production deals that give companies outside the U.S. distribution rights in some countries.

Source: Video Business

Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 28 Nov 2007 16:26

• Previous article

• Nero holiday offer: 10 percent discount (and free DVDRs)

• Next article

• Blockbuster to challenge Redbox in kiosk market

• 14 comments

• sciascia

  I guess the real question is, how does this format stack up to Blu-Ray and HDDVD?

  28.11.2007 21:26 #1

• DVD_Dude

  um... I just drew a picture on a blank DVD-R disc using a Sharpy. It probably has a better chance of surpassing Blu-Ray or HD-DVD than VMD does in the US.

  28.11.2007 22:57 #2

• spydah

  hahah another format wow. This isnt surprising at all.

  28.11.2007 23:02 #3

• gleone

  HD-VMD doesn't have a Snowball's chance in Hell. Good luck!

  28.11.2007 23:08 #4

• banshee07

  wow this just might take HD-DVD to third place lmao

  28.11.2007 23:12 #5

• sciascia

  Hey wait a minute people. The war on formats has only just begun. Imagine if this format is on par with blu-ray/HDDVD's standards yet retains the price of original DVDs? I'd say format war over, over real quick.
  
  Infact, after reading the wiki page on it, I'd have to say it has a pretty good chance of standing its ground. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can step in here and give us a run down on the format.

  28.11.2007 23:41 #6

• themind

  I think this format could do better then hd dvd and blury. If all you need is new software on your pc to play these discs and if you can use dvd r-+ to burn your own homemade hd video disc.

  28.11.2007 23:52 #7

• vamsilak

  wait a min
  
  this player can read hddvd
  or hddvd can read this hdvmd discs
  if it is compatible then lets talk about it
  and another thing
  can we still use our dual layer burner to burn these discs

  29.11.2007 00:34 #8

• hughjars

  The HD VMD discs are different to DVD5 & DVD9 discs (they can go to 10 layers IIRC).
  
  That means they need new burners too - although prices of each were always promised to be similar to existing DVD5/9 hardware.
  
  Had these been more of a kind of 'DVD +' type of format (ie doing everything that DVD5/9 can do (including Divx/Xvid)
  and
  be able to do HD using all the HD formats (VC-1, AVC & MPEG2 - these are the 3 formats mandated by both the HD DVD and Blu-ray formats) then they might have a future at least for a few years as an interim format until HD DVD takes over completely ( :P ) .
  
  The ability to use the .mkv container would be extremely interesting.
  
  I just doubt they have the ambition, will or intent to make such a usefully 'broad' format and so will not go to far with this.

  29.11.2007 14:35 #9

• juankerr

  Originally posted by hughjars: they might have a future at least for a few years as an interim format until HD DVD takes over completely ( :P I don't get your reasoning here. Why would you even consider this for an interim step when it's clearly here to compete with the 2 existing formats? For HD DVD's sake HD VMD should be stopped cold in its tracks. Having 3 types of HD media competing for your money is not good for the format that's trying to dominate and eventually compete against SD DVD.
  
  It's similar to the Democracts vs the Republicans in a presidential election. You don't want to see another Ralph Nader taking away votes that should have gone to Al Gore in 2000.
  
  With HD VMD's pricing structure similar to HD DVD guess which market segment they'll be affecting.

  29.11.2007 15:08 #10

• hughjars

  Originally posted by juankerr: I don't get your reasoning here. Why would you even consider this for an interim step when it's clearly here to compete with the 2 existing formats? - 3 really.
  
  Don't forget SD (red laser) DVD.
  
  It's really as a new kind of red laser DVD that I can see this having much of a chance.
  
  IMO we'll all still have red laser DVD for some time to come and instead of moving directly to HD DVD
  (let's just say for arguments sake)
  it's possible (from HD VMD's POV) that an all-singing-an-all-dancing red laser DVD might be a credible idea, particularly if prices are keen enough (but sadly, for them, since the recent HD DVD price cuts they are nowhere near low enough)
  
  Especially if the burner & players could handle things like .mkv files and so easily able play all the HD content people are downloading now and needing to use their PC to play.
  
  TBH this is the route I expect HD DVD to take.
  
  HD DVD prices have dropped so far & so fast that anyone looking to buy a new SD DVD player
  (so long as it's not absolutely the bottom end of the market)
  might as not bother & should just buy an HD DVD player which will play all their DVDs perfectly well (and they all upscale beautifully).
  
  Sadly they haven't added Divx/Xvid capability to the Toshiba HD DVD players yet but it may come in a firmware.

  29.11.2007 15:38 #11

• marcusita

  It is a good product but i think they would make more money by renting the patent to dvd manufacturers.I dont think it can compete against HD-Dvd and Blu-Ray.
  
  For more information check out there official site.
  
  
  http://www.nmeinc.com/products_catalog.aspx

  30.11.2007 08:31 #12

• Alienns

  If we know that Panasonic was already released a final standard BluRay player before 2-3 weeks.
  Maybe Bluray will win, but let`s see what we will get with this new HD VMD format. Anyway 25gb is not so much for today`s backup.
  
  Remember when cd-r was released a 500 pieces diskettes 3.1/2" was fit on One single cd-r media !!
  
  It will be nice to fit 500 cd-r on one HD VMD (~350 GB) which is enough for today but not will be forever maybe for next 10-15 years will be for sure.

  10.12.2007 08:19 #13

• borhan9

  Originally posted by sciascia: I guess the real question is, how does this format stack up to Blu-Ray and HDDVD?ditto.

  20.12.2007 18:57 #14