New DVD Format? Mini-DVD
01-13-05 | 10:49 PM
#26
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Originally Posted by Cameron
it does seem like a launch before Xmas would have went better...but compared to the mini disc video players and gameboy advance cartoons...it could fly...not gonna be a major hit, but might work
These were out before Xmas here at TRU. Widescreen on a 2.5" 4:3 screen?? No thanks.....
01-27-05 | 07:35 PM
#27
DVD Talk Legend
If anyone has the full NY Times Article please post it here.
from the digital bits...
Also today, The New York Times has published a short story on Hollywood's latest version of DVD... the mini-DVD. These are 3-inch versions of the regular DVD format, designed for greater portability. The idea is that kids can tote these things around as hand-held devices - like iPods or Gameboys - and watch their movies on the go. A number of studios are going to be releasing titles on mini-DVD, including Warner. Given that the display screens on these devices are much smaller, the digital video files will presumably be much more highly compressed - image quality will not be as good as regular DVDs. Recordable mini-DVD-Rs can also hold pictures and music files that these portable players will also be able to make use of. It's certainly an interesting idea, but I doubt it will make much of an impact ultimately. Gotta give the kids what they want, I guess. We'll see if they do, in fact, want it.
from the digital bits...
Also today, The New York Times has published a short story on Hollywood's latest version of DVD... the mini-DVD. These are 3-inch versions of the regular DVD format, designed for greater portability. The idea is that kids can tote these things around as hand-held devices - like iPods or Gameboys - and watch their movies on the go. A number of studios are going to be releasing titles on mini-DVD, including Warner. Given that the display screens on these devices are much smaller, the digital video files will presumably be much more highly compressed - image quality will not be as good as regular DVDs. Recordable mini-DVD-Rs can also hold pictures and music files that these portable players will also be able to make use of. It's certainly an interesting idea, but I doubt it will make much of an impact ultimately. Gotta give the kids what they want, I guess. We'll see if they do, in fact, want it.
Last edited by Cameron; 01-27-05 at 07:40 PM.
01-28-05 | 07:52 PM
#28
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I bought the 3-inch disc of Scooby Doo and the Cyber Chase just for the novelty factor. Picture and sound are as good as a regular DVD, the disc is dual-layered so it can hold a little more than an hour OK. The regular movies are split onto 2 discs (should have been one 2-sided disc) and are all in pan and scan so I wouldn't buy any of those. Sound is 5.1, but interestingly there are no closed captions or subtitles, and no chapter stops either.
I don't see those players taking off unless a LOT of stuff comes out on the 3-inch discs. Why buy a machine that only plays 3-inch discs when you can get one that plays ALL DVDs for a little more? The screens on those look too small, and it looks like the sound is through 2 tiny speakers.
I enjoyed the great irony of playing something meant for a portable device on my big-ass combo laserdisc/DVD player though!
I don't see those players taking off unless a LOT of stuff comes out on the 3-inch discs. Why buy a machine that only plays 3-inch discs when you can get one that plays ALL DVDs for a little more? The screens on those look too small, and it looks like the sound is through 2 tiny speakers.
I enjoyed the great irony of playing something meant for a portable device on my big-ass combo laserdisc/DVD player though!
02-14-05 | 11:02 PM
#31
DVD Talk Legend
from the digital bits
And in an interesting bit of news, Sony has also announced that it plans to release movies in a "mini-disc" format compatible for viewing on the new Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable) game system. Titles are expected to be available within a month of the PSP's 3/24 launch date here in the U.S., and will include XXX, Hellboy, Resident Evil 2 and Once Upon a Time in Mexico. Spider-Man 2 will actually be bundled with the first 1 million units of the PSP - a nice little perk.
And in an interesting bit of news, Sony has also announced that it plans to release movies in a "mini-disc" format compatible for viewing on the new Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable) game system. Titles are expected to be available within a month of the PSP's 3/24 launch date here in the U.S., and will include XXX, Hellboy, Resident Evil 2 and Once Upon a Time in Mexico. Spider-Man 2 will actually be bundled with the first 1 million units of the PSP - a nice little perk.
02-15-05 | 01:23 PM
#32
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The PSP will not play "DVD" mini-discs. They play a proprietary format called "UMD", that is NOT compatible with DVD mini-disc players like the kind we've been talking about. UMD discs are housed in a caddy, and use a higher level of compression to store more data (a film that would have to be split on two Mini-DVDs can fit onto one PSP disc).
The PSP will ship with the Spider-Man 2 film, along with a disc full of videogame demos, a memory stick, headphones, a battery, and an AC Adapter. March 24th is the date, $249.99 is the price. The inclusion of the film may be limited to only the first one million units, some say.
Other UMD films will ship April 19th: XXX, Hellboy, Resident Evil 2 and Once Upon a Time in Mexico. Pricing for those will be announced next week. So far Sony is the only company releasing films for this thing, but they are trying to talk other studios to also participate. They also want to get music discs made in UMD format.
The PSP will ship with the Spider-Man 2 film, along with a disc full of videogame demos, a memory stick, headphones, a battery, and an AC Adapter. March 24th is the date, $249.99 is the price. The inclusion of the film may be limited to only the first one million units, some say.
Other UMD films will ship April 19th: XXX, Hellboy, Resident Evil 2 and Once Upon a Time in Mexico. Pricing for those will be announced next week. So far Sony is the only company releasing films for this thing, but they are trying to talk other studios to also participate. They also want to get music discs made in UMD format.
02-21-05 | 09:11 PM
#33
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Originally Posted by David Lambert
The PSP will not play "DVD" mini-discs. They play a proprietary format called "UMD", that is NOT compatible with DVD mini-disc players like the kind we've been talking about. UMD discs are housed in a caddy, and use a higher level of compression to store more data (a film that would have to be split on two Mini-DVDs can fit onto one PSP disc).
The PSP will ship with the Spider-Man 2 film, along with a disc full of videogame demos, a memory stick, headphones, a battery, and an AC Adapter. March 24th is the date, $249.99 is the price. The inclusion of the film may be limited to only the first one million units, some say.
Other UMD films will ship April 19th: XXX, Hellboy, Resident Evil 2 and Once Upon a Time in Mexico. Pricing for those will be announced next week. So far Sony is the only company releasing films for this thing, but they are trying to talk other studios to also participate. They also want to get music discs made in UMD format.
The PSP will ship with the Spider-Man 2 film, along with a disc full of videogame demos, a memory stick, headphones, a battery, and an AC Adapter. March 24th is the date, $249.99 is the price. The inclusion of the film may be limited to only the first one million units, some say.
Other UMD films will ship April 19th: XXX, Hellboy, Resident Evil 2 and Once Upon a Time in Mexico. Pricing for those will be announced next week. So far Sony is the only company releasing films for this thing, but they are trying to talk other studios to also participate. They also want to get music discs made in UMD format.
Think about it
Blue Ray
HD-DVD
DVD
Mii-DVD
UMD
This is getting wild. I hope they stick to one format and sony stops from trying to create something else.
02-23-05 | 12:37 PM
#35
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Is it just me, or does it seem like Sony is always one of the biggest instigators in creating format wars? Jeez - now they have to champion a competing format to a stupid mini-DVD that no one cares about?
06-26-05 | 10:10 AM
#36
DVD Talk Legend
thought i would link this to the bargins thread for those who are looking to check this out for cheap.
Mini DVD's and Sam's Club 4.88
Mini DVD's and Sam's Club 4.88
