New format war on the way? - HD VMD vs Blu-ray
By Dave Parrack
The high definition format war is over yes? Blu-ray emerged victorious, and all the HD DVD players sold around the world are now virtually obsolete… but wait, there’s another contender warming up to take on Sony, and it’s called HD VMD.
I’m guessing that you, like me, were glad to see an end to the Blu-ray versus HD DVD format war, as it means we, the consumers can be sure that buying a Blu-ray player isn’t going to be a wasted investment. Okay sure, I feel bad for anyone who had adopted the HD DVD format early and are now facing the inevitable of buying a player and movies in Blu-ray instead, but at least we were all ready to move on.
Unfortunately, it’s not all over, and a new format is entering the fray in the hopes of being the future of high definition movies. It’s called HD VMD, it’s made by a London company called New Medium Enterprises, and it’s for versatile multilayer discs.
The main thing it has going for it, is the cost, which is lower than Blu-ray, even though the quality is said to be about the same. But is being lower priced than its competitor going to be enough to persuade people to even buy in to the idea of a new format to rival Blu-ray?
According to The New York Times, sales of the players are expected to begin on Amazon within five weeks, but that’s the only major retailer currently prepared to stock HD VMD.
Another problem is the lack of movies available in the format, with little known films such as ‘The Enigma With a Stigma’ and ‘Kandukondain Kandukondain’ the only ones currently being sold through the company’s website.
The chances of getting any big studios on board are remote, although New Medium Enterprises hopes that having Michael Jay Solomon, one of Hollywood’s best known film distributors (no, I’ve never heard of him either) as chairman should help on that score.
The big problem, if the two spelt out above aren’t enough, is that I just don’t think the public are going to want to participate in another format war. Anyone who was burned by buying a HD DVD player, and starting to build a movie collection in the format, are not going to want to get burnt twice.
Whether you love or hate Sony, they’ve won, end of story, and no matter how cheap or brilliant a new rival may be, it doesn’t stand a chance at competing with Blu-ray.
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March 10th, 2008
VMD (Versatile Multilayer Disc) is not new. It’s been out for a while and never caught on. The owners of VMD are looking to be bought out by Blu-ray disc association. They are using the media in a last-ditched attempt to achieve that goal.
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The format uses approximately 5 GB per layer [2], similar to standard DVDs. The larger formats come from adding more layers. Whereas DVDs hold up to 2 layers per side, standard VMDs can use 4 layers, for 20 GB of storage. There are also reports of 8- and 10-layered versions which can hold 40 and 50 GB, respectively. [3] The manufacturer list up to 20 layers on a disc being possible in the future. [2]
The Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats use blue-violet lasers, rather than VMD’s red laser, which means they can store more information per layer. However, those formats have so far only utilized 1- and 2-layered versions. In January 2007, Toshiba announced a triple layer HD DVD (TL51) that would have a capacity of 51GB. Hitachi announced a 4 and 6 layer version of Blu-ray as well, capable of 100 GB and 200 GB respectively. Therefore, a standard 4-layer VMD stores 20 GB which is comparable to a 1-layered HD DVD (15 GB) and 1-layer Blu-ray Disc (25 GB).
March 10th, 2008
VMD is not new agreed, but as far as I’m aware, HD VMD is, which is what I was talking about in the article.
March 18th, 2008
I personally hope this format catches on in a big way. HD VMD movies retail for about $18. That’s amazing for a full 1080p movie. If this can get studio support, I believe that it could not only overtake Blu-Ray, but it could replace standard definition DVDs as well.
May 5th, 2008
Consumers should be made aware that for £100.00 they’re buying a machine which will up-scale regular DVDs - plus it will play HD content.
Just the fact that VMD discs cost a third of Blue-ray discs - AND they’re region-free - is proof that there will be a market for the format.
You then have to take into consideration that existing DVD-RW drives on PCs may be able to write to blank VMD discs via a free firmware upgrade… It seems like a winner to me.
June 12th, 2008
This product is a winner hands down. Everyone should support the format which is affordable to all and uses a tested technology to spectacular effect. Let us abandon the Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD battle and embrass the red laser HD, which is good for the consumer.
June 24th, 2008
I hope you are joking pingalaka. This technology is not only already out-of-date, but has no chance against Blu-ray. They claim blue-violet lasers are inferior to red BECAUSE it uses a 405nm wavelength. They provide no explanation, no source, no evidence, but just claim the red is better cause it is older. Well if you take a 650nm red laser and shine in across an airplane hanger you will have a hard time seeing it on the other side. You can clearly see a green laser, while a blue-violet laser is brilliant and blinding at that distance. There is no comparison. Red lasers might be cheaper, but blu are dropping fast. Not to mention the better movie selection, manufacturer selection, game selection, player selection etc.
No one will support this, and it has been around a long time. They have not updated their site in ages, and there is no word on what they are doing now. They hope BDA will buy them, but there is no chance because they offer NO competition. If they had a chance of taking some consumers away from Blu-ray, maybe then they would be bought out, but as it is, there is not a chance in hell.