A third HD format for DVD emerges

[Jimboy]

A third HD format for DVD emerges

Mar 20, 2006 12:14 PM
Beyond The Headlines e-newsletter

While the Blu-ray and HD-DVD camps slug it out in a pre-launch propaganda war, a third technology for high-definition home video distribution emerged at the recent CeBIT show in Germany.

New Medium Enterprises (NME) is promoting a format called Versatile Multi-layer Disc (MVD) that stores up to 40GB per disc using the same low-cost red lasers found in standard DVD drives, Personal Computer World reported. The MVD player, priced at $150, dramatically undercuts the $499 price tag on the upcoming low-end Toshiba HD-DVD player and $1000 first-generation Blu-ray deck.

MVD uses multilayer recording and offers a choice of 20-, 30- and 40GB discs. The report said 100GB discs are on the horizon.

NME is U.S.-owned, but based in London, and is in the process of a merger with a company called E-World which owns the EVS standard. EVS is the only HD standard in China and is backed by the Chinese government. NME owns 1900 x 1080 resolution standard.

The report said NME is not trying to compete directly with the Blu-ray and HD-DVD formats. The company claims to have 2600 Indian titles, via a distributor called Eros, and about 300 Chinese film titles through E-World. It will initially focus on those markets.

[Matt Heebner]

Highly doubtful that any of the Hollywood film companies will back this, but it is very nice to see a third party get into the game and "stick it" to the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray camps with a low cost entry level player.


Matt

[Bebop]

The problem is trying to get Hollywood on the bandwagon, which will never happen (i.e no copy protection).

[gparris]

Same thing goes for HVD - Holographic Video Disc.
It easily outdoes Blu-ray with a yawn and the drive units are even more impressive as are the discs...over a terabyte...but does Sony and Toshiba care?
No, they have to recoup their costs at the expense (and confusion) of the consumer-us! :rolleyes: