If it turns out that another HD format (http://www.nmeinc.com/) hits the market this fall would it be beneficial to have either HD or BR buy it out or allow it to compete?


Here is some information about the HD VDM:

HD VMD Players to be launched globally.
The first affordable 'True High Definition' playback in the world - starts at €179 /-

New Medium Enterprises (NME) provides the world's first low-cost True High Definition solution utilizing today's Red Laser Technology. HD VMD is based on NME's proprietary Versatile Multilayer Disc (VMD) format and seamless and cost-effective manufacturing solutions based on the existing Red Laser DVD production infrastructure.

HD VMD is a true HD format with 1920 x 1080i/p resolution, up to 40 Mbps bit rate playback, DVD up-scaling so users can watch their existing DVD collection and achieve premium picture quality through their HD TV monitors. The HD VMD player is suitable for playback on all HD-capable display devices and will support existing optical disc formats: CD, DVD (DVD 5 & DVD 9). HD VMD players also feature Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and all region codes for greater film viewing flexibility.

HD VMD is currently being adopted by content providers and distributors in more than a dozen regions worldwide, including Australia, Brazil, Central Europe, China, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Japan, Scandinavia, Middle East, Russia and the United States.

HD VMD Authoring and encryption solutions are all set to deliver the world's first advanced HD VMD titles and power the professional HD VMD industry including the world's major post-production facilities, movie studios and multimedia production houses dedicated to facilitating the rollout of titles for the HD VMD format.


http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/1306/ml622splayerpk3.th.jpg (http://img126.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ml622splayerpk3.jpg)
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If movie studios will support it, I'll sell my HDDVD and BD players. I'm tired of both side's crap.

Red laser? Wonder what the disc capacity is (the max bitrate is 40, so better than HD DVD); can't imagine how they could get 1080p on a movie with red laser w/o using multiple discs.

About NME

New Medium Enterprises, Inc., (NME) was founded in August 1999 and has been trading on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol NMEN. The Company has recently (in 2005) shifted its operations to London .

Aimed at positioning itself as a technology leader in the field of High Definition digital storage, NME is offering the movie and video gaming industry a bespoke solution to thwart video piracy. The Company has developed Versatile Multilayer Disc (VMD) , a technologically advanced optical storage disc that has capacities ranging from 20 to 100 GB of data storage; which is far greater than the capacity of existing DVD discs. This could be a potential gain for the pre-recorded video segment of the entertainment industry.

The Company is centered on further developing innovative storage technologies, along with congruous video compression technology; enabling a new generation of high performance, low cost digital storage devices. The convergence of High Definition with VMD technology leverages the company's expertise in the development of high definition players, recorders and personal video recorders. The Company is negotiating strategic alliances, joint ventures and acquisitions with manufacturers of Optical Discs and HD Players, Content distributors, software developers, researchers, etc.; across the globe in USA , UK , Germany , Israel , China , India , Moscow , and Ukraine .


looks like another competitor...bring on the competition!!!!! Let's see if any of our studios publishers/distributors give them a chance to compete, could be interesting.

I'd hope not...and fully expect not...to see this format get any traction with major studios.

Why even bother...it surely wouldn't help HDM to bring yet another format into this.

I'd hope not...and fully expect not...to see this format get any traction with major studios.

Why even bother...it surely wouldn't help HDM to bring yet another format into this.

I disagree, especially since they're talking about LOW price players!!! I think if they got at least a couple major studios to release a few of their titles, it would give the industry some idea of consumer reaction...in other words, I want to at least give them an opportunity to compete in our market. Sure, there will be a lot of FUD from the viral marketing community and their puppets here and all over the HT sites...I'm sure we'll hear everything from "no lossless audio, HDMI 1.3, 1080p/24, NO WAY!!!" and etc...that's assuming the players don't support everything current BD and HDDVD players do. Still, I think if they get the players on the shelf with some good titles, it'll only help the HDM market...speaking as a consumer.

Doesn't look like it supports lossless audio.....:confused:

Two formats are enough for a format war. Although the possibility of multiple 5 GB layers is cool.

Two formats are enough for a format war. Although the possibility of multiple 5 GB layers is cool.

you're right in that it takes at least two to have a format war, but there's never too much competition. If they were offering players around the same price as HDDVD players it would be a non-event, but around 180 euros?...doesn't that get us a player around $100-$150 US? If so, put out a few discs(preferrably combos) and let's see what impact it has.

I hereby declare supporters for this format "Team Green" and declare myself their captain.

I tell you what...the first stand alone player to market that cost less then $199 and it will get the attention of most people who is looking for a HD player. AJ will not care about BR or HD. If he can get the titles he/she wants at an affordable price they will worry about future titles later IMO.

I think VMD had a lot more potential when HD DVD was still above $300 for entry, but since were probably going to see $150-$199 HD DVD players pre-Christmas, I don't know why studios would mess with a third format based on player-price, not when everybody has already spent $ on the promo of the two existing ones.

I'd think they would be afraid people would just think all new HD formats were a farce, and stick with DVD.

I like the "idea" of HD VMD and looking at their website they have a small number of Hollywood movies they say is available for the format. Sure would like to know their plans for North America if any, I like world cinema and so this format interests me.

I wonder if HD or BD will get ahold of the rights and sweep it under the carpet.

Though, on the other hand, it'd be interesting to watch as the big dogs are too busy fighting over the scraps, the little dog sneaks up and steals the pot roast from the table.

I will go on record now by stating that this format will go NOWHERE, beyond a doubt. IF I am wrong in time I will eat crow.

I wonder were we will see these players first?

I wonder were we will see these players first?

Big Lots

I will go on record now by stating that this format will go NOWHERE, beyond a doubt. IF I am wrong in time I will eat crow.

That's not saying much, there are a lot of good crow recipes (http://www.crowbusters.com/recipes.htm) :D

I pointed out VMD here long ago, and it was laughed down as vaporware. Personally, I think they are too late to the game now. HD DVD is already too cheap for VMD to compete.

VMD was a neat concept though, and may still hold a niche market in the future. It was a red laser format with special multi-layer discs. A VMD disc could hold between 4-10 DVD layers on a single side, so disc capacities between 18.8 GB to 47 GB. My impression was that 10 layer discs were not practical yet and at launch it would be 4 layer discs only.

My understanding also was that material would only be 720p. 1080p was not a target. So at 720p, you could get a decent sized film at a nice bit rate on a 18 GB disc. I also don't think lossless audio was ever a goal. I actually think the releases they did have planned were using standard DD and DTS audio, like DVD's.

I think this format was ultimately targeted at China, so I thought there would be a good chance for long term viability. However, I think they were late to market there too, as China now has a proprietary HD DVD based format.

So unless VMD could hit the US at $50 for a player, with a good selection of movies at $15-$20 each by this holiday season, I don't think it stands a chance in the US. Now, it may be a niche product for people that like Opera, as a lot of content seems geared towards that crowd, and 720p with DD may be enough.

No studio support, no technological advantage, no price advantage.
Collectors of obscure hardware: be sure to pick one up at launch, they may not be around long.

If it comes out people will just bash it because it doesn't do Picture in Picture and cant download ringtones :D
Lol at one of the colors for their players. "Flaming Red" !

More consumer confusion, awesome!

For what its worth, it sounds like the cheap good-enough solution the general public would actually have been interested in. Its too bad they couldn't make it market earlier.

If those VMD machines could record 720p/1080i content onto a standard DVD9, they may have had something there. But alas they are too late.

too late to the game, in fact i believe the reason why bd's specs arent finalized is b/c they didnt want to be too late to the game.

also there just arent many advantages of this format over hd cable/satellite to warrant adopting a new media.

does 4 to 10 layers mean 4 to 10 hiccups throughout the course of a movie like the layer transition on cheap dvd players would do?

"consumer confusion?"...you are a consumer, are you confused???? I here this phrase used a lot, but many people that don't read up on this stuff just need a quick explanation about what's going on, then they can make up their minds. Most people I talk to about the "format war" just shrug it off, like it's not necessary that they have HD players in their homes right now--it would be cool, but it can wait...that's the attitude I get--ABSOLUTELY NO ONE IS CONFUSED THOUGH. by the way, "hi, my name is Joe sixpack(though I don't drink)"...and I talk to sixpackers, and still NONE are confused.

I say give them a chance to compete. Don't make up your minds before they hit the market like many did with blu-ray and hddvd.

This is perfect something to unite both sides on. We can all finally agree, that we don't want this!!!

I'm surprised VMD's are being released in the States....very surprised.

This is perfect something to unite both sides on. We can all finally agree, that we don't want this!!!
Agreed.

HD DVD and Blu-ray supporters may be at daggers drawn, but I don't think any serious HT enthusiast likes what VMD offers.

I'm curious about how they'll solve the multi-layer production issue (leaving aside the issue of crosstalk). HD DVD has problems enough with combo discs, and those are only 4 layers. A 20GB VMD would have four layers...

I don't know about anyone else, but I certainly am not going to be happy with a ~15%++ failure rate on a 20GB disc that's inferior in every respect to HD DVD and Blu-ray.

I think VMDs were aimed towards Bollywood... not sure how much traction or interest it could get here.

If it can offer something neither format can, I'm all for it but it seems pointless to me.

If movie studios will support it, I'll sell my HDDVD and BD players. I'm tired of both side's crap.

More consumer confusion, awesome!

LOL, you guys are too much!

If movie studios will support it, I'll sell my HDDVD and BD players. I'm tired of both side's crap.

Amen. Either one side (BD or HD DVD) needs to concede defeat -- making the other the defacto standard or a critical mass of CE vendors need to say that they will only support dual format as the "standard." If neither of these happen soon, both BD and HD DVD need to get out of the way and make room for something that can become a standard.

Would it not be better to have HD or BR to just buy them and be done with it?

Did anyone notice that the only place to carrry the player is an online site? No B & M retailers have stepped up and said "Yes we will carry HD-VMD."

Did anyone notice that the only place to carrry the player is an online site? No B & M retailers have stepped up and said "Yes we will carry HD-VMD."

Maybe they don't know about it :confused:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136977-c,hometheatersystems/article.html

more news about it here
20 movie titles for vmd