UMD is now a standard media format

[KazeYoukai]

TOKYO (AFX) - Sony Computer Entertainment Inc, the game unit of Sony Corp, said its UMD (universal media disc) disc, used in PlayStation Portable (PSP) game consoles, has been approved as a standard format by Ecma International.

Ecma is an industry association founded in 1961, dedicated to the standardization of information and communication systems.

The UMD disc has a storage capacity of up to 1.8 gigabites.

Analysts say the latest approval will encourage movie distributors and music labels to publish titles more in UMD formats, which will help expand the installation base of PSP portable game consoles.

Sony Computer had shipped 2.97 mln PSP units by the end of March, and 5.70 mln units of game software for PSPs.

This number is far below that of the sales of Nintendo Co Ltd's Nintendo DS portable game consoles, which reached 5.27 mln units over the same period.


-- www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2005/06/24/afx2109823.htm

So, what do you think of this? I think it's good, because now UMD have the potential to be used for something other than the Playstation Portable. Also, their price could go down now that it is a standard media format.

[Leverish]

It's cool, but I can't find a use for it...

[Jason-RN]

I'm not surprised. From what I've heard, the UMD movies are selling better than PSP's games. The UMD format has a lot of potential and it'll be interesting to see what Sony does with it.

[KazeYoukai]

nintendonerd said:

It's cool, but I can't find a use for it...

It could be used for music if they make a drive for the PC/Mac that supports it. It holds over twice what CD's hold, so you just rip them, and put them on an MP3 player. That's what immedetly comes to mind for me.

[Oscar-RN]

Im sure that Sony will build a DVD player that has UMD functions in it.

I also would not be surpised if the PS3 can somehow accept UMDs

[*NormalGamer*]

That's nice for UMD, but i'm comfortable watching movies on DVD(along with the option to rip from DVD's to an SD gigabyte card) and listening to music on a CD player or an ipod(I do not have one, though).