Sony: UMD Format Still "Alive and Well"
Oh Sony, Sony, Sony...
Sony said that it's not giving up on the UMD format.
Launched alongside the PlayStation Portable in 2005, the Universal Media Disk holds 900 MB on a single-layer disk; 1.8 GB on a dual layer disk. The company promoted the optical disc rather hard just after the gaming unit hit store shelves, reserving whole isles for movies and TV shows published on the medium.
But the market didn't catch on--the PSP had a hard time brushing off its gaming-only persona--and eventually most retailers bailed out on selling UMD-based multimedia outside PSP games. Last October Sony released the PSPgo, a version of the PlayStation Portable that does not feature a UMD optical drive. That led many of us to speculate that Sony intended to put UMD out to pasture.
However that's not the case: Sony still intends to continue with the UMD platform. Develop reports that Sony made an official statement during GDC 2010, calling the UMD format "alive and well." Sony said that titles will continue to be published on disc as well as through the PlayStation Network store., maintaining its dual platform strategy.
Unfortunately, the company did not address a hot, related issue: the price of UMD-based games versus their digital counterparts.
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Now that Sony are making SD cards, they could use those instead.
The PSPgo failed, so they can't drop UMD yet. Next generation of the device probably will.... if they ever make one.
they do make sdcard
http://gizmodo.com/5441562/sony-re [...] rd-line+up
UMD alive and well, except for Sony killing it on their own flagship platform with the PSP Go. Seriously, did I go back in time a year? A friend just told me she thought I was a year younger than I am too.
All I can say is that I hope games keep coming out on UMDs. I'm not a big fan of digital.
It isn't dead because they are still selling games and movies on it... I fail to see how this is hard to believe.
Meh
Kevin: just because the red lines go away doesn't mean you haven't made yourself look like a complete toolbag who can't spell. It's AISLES, FFS - unless Sony had some serious cheese to spend renting out private islands to stack unwanted UMDs on...
Kevin: just because the red lines go away doesn't mean you haven't made yourself look like a complete toolbag who can't spell. It's AISLES, FFS - unless Sony had some serious cheese to spend renting out private islands to stack unwanted UMDs on...
Who are you to judge? Maybe he genuinely believed that there were ISLANDS dedicated to UMDs... silly Kevin.
Oh Sony and your silly proprietary formats that no one cares about...
The PSPgo failed, so they can't drop UMD yet. Next generation of the device probably will.... if they ever make one.
You can't be serious. I'd love to see those little disc's vanish into the sunset. The PSPGo just needs more internal memmory. If they went to 32 and 64 gig's it would probably take off. sony also needs to set up a network like itunes that keeps track of your purchases so you can load and dump at your wil and not have to worry about being charged again for a game or movie.
I Think they should start phasing out the UMD. There low density, there loud, and having moving parts in the PSP greatly reduces battery life. If I were Sony I would really be pushing digital content, There has recently been announcements of a PSP phone in the works, and its gonna obviously not have a UMD drive....UMD's SUCK!!! LOL
UMD Format IS still "Alive and Well", just like minidiscs, DATs and Memory Sticks
"Alive and well"
Tell that to Fermi!
I'm not to crazy about proprietary items.
Hey, Sony. How is the MiniDisc these days? BetaMax? Is the Memory Stick format catching on with other makers yet? How about BBeB? ATRAC?
/facepalm
UMD still "alive and well"...
.. so does my grandma
Now that Sony are making SD cards, they could use those instead.
Yes. Please.
Prices at my local shop:
MicroSD 16GB - $50
M2 8GB -$50. 16GB isn't even available in my city.
Unfortunately, the company did not address a hot, related issue: the price of UMD-based games versus their digital counterparts.
I really dislike paying more for a digital download than a physical version. In store, brand new never used - $15. PSN downloaded - $40. >
I was hoping these things finally died. =(
And this is the mentality thats puts Sony back this generation.
they should make digital copy cheaper to attract more buyer, may be ?!
I find nothing wrong with using a UMD format in the PSP. Yes, those little disks are a pain, but they do their job: For games only. Movies and the like, I can never imagine the demand getting so great that it changes the market. As for a digital copy only? You can keep them.. they can be much more of a hassle.
What I would like to see is some sort of mini-blueray... or another way to get more content on mobile gaming platforms
I remember these things. Only vaguely though. Mustn't have changed the world much.
I still use minidisc lol (Hi-MD to be precise).
Get a good source, record it in PCM and listen with quality cans. Sucks going back to MP3s after that
There's like nothing, out of the 27 upcoming titles, that I would even buy for this system. They need more product. It is a shame too because this system is so much better than a Nintendo handheld.
I'm not to crazy about proprietary items.
LOL, I'll bet you use Microsoft Windows. King of the proprietary platforms.
I personally dont like the PSPgo I love I love the UMD platform alot. You cant always count on the interent.Plus there are times you no where near any place with interent .. UMd platform must live...