Uzzi Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 (edited) This is totally hypathetical, but I was wondering if you guys think UMD (for PSP) format will ever overtake Minidisc, "if" it becomes as versatile as MD. It seems like the discs are smaller, so it would be more useful, although the cases aren’t sealed as well. I just got a PSP and music can be saved on it with SS using its memory stick and supports ATRAC3plus, so I know it can probably play music on a UMD, with the proper firmware. Id rather have it in a MD size unit though, and with record functions. PSP makes a tank of a music player. Sorry if this is a little OT. Edited September 21, 2005 by Uzzi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Low Volta Posted September 21, 2005 Report Share Posted September 21, 2005 I believe dex once explained why UMD technology isn't suited for portable recorders...but I'm afraid my cloudy brain hasn't really stored that info well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NRen2k5 Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 [Rant]UMD is dead in the water.It's currently locked to the PSP gaming system, which has dim prospects.And very few movie studios are releasing any films on UMD, for commercial reasons. (When you're in competition with Sony, it's just not a sound business move to give them a slice of the profits from your work while also locking it to their system.)[/Rant]Simple fact: UMD is not a writeable media. End of story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breepee2 Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 Simple fact: UMD is not a writeable media. End of story.But could be with a smaal amount of tweaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atrain Posted September 22, 2005 Report Share Posted September 22, 2005 [Rant]It's currently locked to the PSP gaming system, which has dim prospects.dim prospects?http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4218320.stmthat's only the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uzzi Posted September 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 What confuses me is that they didn't just use strandard HiMD discs with the PSP, it would have made a ton more sence than inventing a new soon to be obsloete format. But then, I guess they woudnt make any money off of thier 1 gig memory chips. I guess time will tell if it will be as universal as they say it is, or if its just an MD spin-off product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leonyuhanov Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 i have to say, sony has once again put their foot in it! I was soo hoping that the PSP would have a normal HI-MD disc, i mean it would kill anythign on the market if you coudl use it as a game machine, walkman, recorder etc...Leon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qwakrz Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 (edited) UMD is not recordable BUT it is mass producable from a stampHi-MD is recordable BUT it is not mass producable from a stamp.Because of the way Hi-MD works you cannot make a glass master with data on for mass production of data discs, they have to be recorded the same way that tape did. UMD is mass producable using a glass master so this makes it very easy to mass produce discs.It would have been good if sony made a universal drive and installed it into the PSP and Hi-MD that could read both UMD and Hi-MD, this would allow them to mass produce audio discs for MD again (remember the old days) but in PCM format and also allow for cheap storage on the PSP using Hi-MD discs.But this is $ony we are talking about and that probably never even crossed their minds, or it did but they though they would like to kill both formats and extort lots of money from people. Edited September 23, 2005 by Qwakrz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breepee2 Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 The UMD is just a small DVD in a box, nothing difficult about making them (re)writable. Maybe the home-recorded discs will not be compabitle with older (PSP)units, but new units should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NRen2k5 Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 (edited) dim prospects?http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4218320.stmthat's only the UKYes, only in the UK. Maybe in Europe.In the rest of the world, most notably the Americas, the Nintendo DS has so far outsold the PSP. Edited September 23, 2005 by NRen2k5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest NRen2k5 Posted September 23, 2005 Report Share Posted September 23, 2005 (edited) UMD is not recordable BUT it is mass producable from a stampHi-MD is recordable BUT it is not mass producable from a stamp.Because of the way Hi-MD works you cannot make a glass master with data on for mass production of data discs, they have to be recorded the same way that tape did. UMD is mass producable using a glass master so this makes it very easy to mass produce discs.It would have been good if sony made a universal drive and installed it into the PSP and Hi-MD that could read both UMD and Hi-MD, this would allow them to mass produce audio discs for MD again (remember the old days) but in PCM format and also allow for cheap storage on the PSP using Hi-MD discs.True, but maybe it would be expensive to make such a drive and cram it into the PSP without changing its form factor. Expensive for Sony means expensive for the consumer.But this is $ony we are talking about and that probably never even crossed their minds, or it did but they though they would like to kill both formats and extort lots of money from people.There's the cost issue that I just mentioned.There's also the concept that if Sony makes UMD a (re)writable format, then it will be very easy to pirate PSP games. Heck, UMD has already been cracked and homebrew code has been written to make the PSP play copied games off of Memory Sticks, so we're more then halfway there already. Edited September 23, 2005 by NRen2k5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanage Posted September 24, 2005 Report Share Posted September 24, 2005 A 1gig memory stick costs around AU$200 though. A 1gig Hi-MD costs about $5. It's like pirating N64 games. Possible, but the whole point of piracy is so that you don't pay heaps (if anything). Why the hell would you bother? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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