Charlie Sorrel
Gear

HD VMC: Yet Another High Def Format

The big news here is that the players use red lasers and are backwards compatible with CDs and DVDs, unlike the blue lasers used in the other HD formats.... And of course there is the obligatory DRM statement: The Company is targeting the pre-recorded video segment of the entertainment industry by offering them VMD as a bespoke solution to thwart video piracy.

Player 1If you're still confused about which way to bet in the BluRay vs HD DVD race, get ready for your head to really start spinning. UK company NME has announced a new optical disc format named HD VMC (High Definition-Versatile Multilayer Disc) with a 40GB capacity. It does this by using a lot of layers; four for the initial 28GB launch run with more planned until they hit 60GB limit.

So what? The big news here is that the players use red lasers and are backwards compatible with CDs and DVDs, unlike the blue lasers used in the other HD formats. Apparently blue laser compatibility can be added later if needed,

The other surprise is the price. The player is going on sale in France for €300 (around $400), bundled with five movies.

And of course there is the obligatory DRM statement:

The Company is targeting the pre-recorded video segment of the entertainment industry by offering them VMD as a bespoke solution to thwart video piracy.

We'll be keeping a close eye on this. At those prices you may as well just go and buy one to play the DVDs you already own. At least you won't be stuck with a useless machine if they lose out in the format wars.

Press release [NME]