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Bye bye UMD!
I searched and didn't see this - apologies if it's a repost.
Sony intros Memory Stick movies as Target KO's UMDs As national retailer pulls UMD movies from shelves, Sony begins to offer very limited selection of direct-to-memory movies for its portable. By Tor Thorsen, GameSpot Posted Jul 13, 2006 5:08 pm PT After getting off to a strong start in the wake of the American PSP launch last March, the Universal Media Disc (UMD) appears to be on its last legs. Sales of movies on the PSP's once-hot proprietary format have slowed to a trickle, causing several major movie studios to cease supporting it. In March, the Hollywood Reporter ran an article claiming that the home-entertainment divisions of Universal Studios and Paramount Pictures have "completely stopped" releasing films on the format, and other studios have been cutting back their release slates. Perhaps more disturbing for Sony were unconfirmed reports that retail colossi Wal-Mart and Best Buy were scaling back UMD displays in their stores. This week, speculation turned into reality when Target decided to discontinue stocking UMDs entirely. A manager at a San Francisco Bay Area Target outlet told GameSpot, "We no longer carry PSP movies. We stopped carrying them nationwide." At virtually the same time, Sony announced the forthcoming release of a pair of Memory Stick Entertainment Packs (MSEP). The packages will come in 1GB (MSX-M1GSTEP) and 2GB (MEX-M2GSEP) Memory Stick Duos for about $60 and $100--the standard retail price for both items. Though tech-savvy PSP owners have been converting their DVDs to the PSP-compatible MPEG-4 files via third-party applications for more than a year, the Entertainment Packs mark the first time Sony has officially released movies for direct download to Memory Stick Duo, the PSP's storage format. However, the initial batch of Mem-Stick-ready movies are a very limited selection of Sony Pictures titles--all of which received decidedly mixed reviews. Each of the two packs will come bundled with an installer DVD that contains four films--Hitch, S.W.A.T., The Grudge, or XXX: State of the Union. The movies will play in 240x320-pixel resolution, lower than the 480x272-pixel resolution PSPs are capable of. However, purchasers of the packs will be able to copy only one of the four films onto their new memory sticks--the others will then be locked. "The code given with the MSEP will unlock one of the four movies," a Sony rep told GameSpot. "Through a special Digital Rights Management [solution] designed by Sony Electronics and SCEA, this [movie] is then downloadable for the PSP." Fortunately, the movie will be automatically converted to MPEG-4 by the unlocking process, and will be easier to load onto a PSP via a USB cable. Unfortunately, the conversion software on the Memory Stick Entertainment Pack installer DVD will only work on the four films on the disc. "If you own other movies that you want on your Memory Stick, you have to have conversion software," said the Sony rep. Also, the film will also be playable solely on the portable, not on the PC it was transferred from, as "it is a special promotion for getting movies on your PSP." Many will take Sony's introduction of direct-to-Memory Stick movies as an acknowledgment that the UMD format has failed and as a sign it is prepping consumers for digital distribution. Sony, though, refutes such suggestions. "The UMD was never a factor in the development of this product [the Memory Stick Entertainment Pack]," the rep told GameSpot. Sony also wouldn't comment on the implications that Memory Stick movies had for the future of the UMD format. However, the rep did say that their introduction was primarily about giving more options to consumers. "We're a universal entertainment company and we're able to offer the consumer more choice," said the rep. "Bundling Sony content with Sony hardware is something we can offer that others can't." I thought the UMD format was doomed from Day 1. I even owned a PSP, but it made no sense to me that Sony would require you to repurchase your movies on their (once again) proprietary format. And I read this article three times and I still don't understand how this new delivery system is supposed to work. However, it definitely doesn't sound like something I'd be interested in, even if I did still own a PSP. |
So who's going to pay $60-$100 for a memory card with a movie on it? Can you take the movie off of it?
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Sony doesn't get it.
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Originally Posted by Save Ferris
So who's going to pay $60-$100 for a memory card with a movie on it? Can you take the movie off of it?
If that's accurate, I say...WTF? |
Draven: That's what I got out of it. It's like you're buying a memory stick, and getting a 'free' movie [from a selection of 4] to put on it.
Wow. Yes, this makes the umd/portable video aspect of the PSP sound even worse. I don't have a PSP, but if I did, I know I wouldn't be buying UMD movies. Were UMD movies ever "once-hot". I like Sony, they helped make gaming and dvds mainstream, and there were tons of great games on the PS1 and PS2, but man, it sure sounds to me that they're making lots of poor decisions the last few years. Just because you're the 800 lb gorilla doesn't mean you don't need to watch out for the banana peels you're leaving behind. |
Sony continues to not get it. I did notice that Target and my local Wal-mart had completely pulled UMD movies, but this is their solution? For one thing the assholes at Sony need to unlock the ability to play movies off of the memory stick at full resolution. 320X240 is bullcrap. However, crippling their products is a Sony tradition. The DRM they are using looks really awful.
Sony will start selling downloadable films on their awful Sony Connect site soon, but of course you have to use the Sony Connect software to get it to work. If they actually expect people to pay money for 320X240 resolution movies when the hardware is capable of 480X272 resolution they are insane. Of course I fully expect them to charge the same price as DVDs for these 320X240 downloads when they start offering them. I'll stick with ripping my own DVDs. Thanks for nothing Sony. |
UMD may be done, but they will be collectibles in the future! Wanna bet?
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Originally Posted by darkside
Sony will start selling downloadable films on their awful Sony Connect site soon, but of course you have to use the Sony Connect software to get it to work. If they actually expect people to pay money for 320X240 resolution movies when the hardware is capable of 480X272 resolution they are insane. Of course I fully expect them to charge the same price as DVDs for these 320X240 downloads when they start offering them.
I'll stick with ripping my own DVDs. Thanks for nothing Sony. |
Originally Posted by Save Ferris
Yep. really, if you want a movie on your PSP it only makes sense to buy it on DVD and rip it--Then you have more choices. Isnt it perfectly legal to do this?
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I didnt know it was so hard. I found several bittorrents however that are for PSP movies. I would use that for movies that I legally owned.
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Originally Posted by Save Ferris
Yep. really, if you want a movie on your PSP it only makes sense to buy it on DVD and rip it--Then you have more choices. Isnt it perfectly legal to do this?
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Originally Posted by Save Ferris
Yep. really, if you want a movie on your PSP it only makes sense to buy it on DVD and rip it--Then you have more choices. Isnt it perfectly legal to do this?
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Originally Posted by Doeman
UMD may be done, but they will be collectibles in the future! Wanna bet?
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Originally Posted by darkside
Sony continues to not get it.
Originally Posted by darkside
Its illegal only because of the DMCA. If not for that it would be perfectly exceptable under fair use. I keep hoping our congressman can stop taking bribes long enough to fix the problems with the DMCA, but that is looking doubtful. The DMCA is so overreaching in the way its written I'm surprised no one has taken it to higher courts to challenge it. Money talks I guess.
What I do is simply attach a DVD player to the audio and SVideo input of my TV Tuner card in my Thinkpad. (PCMCIA tuner cards are only about $50, PCI cards are even cheaper) I can then use Windows Media Encoder to capture the incoming a/v stream and encode on-the-fly into a format that works great on my smartphone. There are other freeware tools that can do the same to record to DivX, mpeg, or whatever. Take THAT MPAA!!! booyAH! :lol: |
Originally Posted by darkside
Its illegal only because of the DMCA. If not for that it would be perfectly exceptable under fair use. I keep hoping our congressman can stop taking bribes long enough to fix the problems with the DMCA, but that is looking doubtful. The DMCA is so overreaching in the way its written I'm surprised no one has taken it to higher courts to challenge it. Money talks I guess.
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So, are these on clearance at TARGET? Just curious. What about games? Will those move to Memory Stick eventually?
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Originally Posted by DJ_Longfellow
So, are these on clearance at TARGET?
Originally Posted by DJ_Longfellow
What about games? Will those move to Memory Stick eventually?
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Has anything even been revealed about the PS1 emulation since E3?
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Yeah, they would need a NEW one to do games via Memory Stick. Somehow have a code to play or something. They need to implement something like XBOX LIVE Arcade, where if you D/L a game, you CANNOT pass it along
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Originally Posted by darkside
It was a great idea for a format as long as Sony had priced it correctly. You can not charge more than DVDs cost though for something that is lower quality. Its just bad business.
But Sony was arrogant and greedy... arrogant to believe their format would succeed no matter what, and greedy to try to milk top dollar for it. I mean, there were catalog titles going for $17.99 that could be picked up for under ten bucks on DVD! They also continue to make odd choices with the movie selections. Of all the movies in their library, they are launching this plan with SWAT, XXX2, The Grudge, and Hitch??? Two so-so action flicks, a horror film with little replay value, and a romantic comedy. They already tried too hard to push the UMDs to the general populace, and the shelves were filled with stuff like Bewitched, Beauty Shop, and Christmas with the Kranks. What PSP owners would feel the need to buy those movies for the system? |
<--- Still waiting for GT:Mobile. :grunt:
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Originally Posted by DJ_Longfellow
So, are these on clearance at TARGET? Just curious.
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I said way back in a PSP thread that I couldn't believe they bothered putting "The Gospel" - a movie about gospel singers - out on UMD.
If they had done something like episodes from cult TV shows, old cartoons, kick-ass action flicks, etc. and sold them for under $10, I think they might have had something. It should have never competed with DVD. |
Originally Posted by Doeman
UMD may be done, but they will be collectibles in the future! Wanna bet?
They won't be worth much more than they are now. |
Originally Posted by DJ_Longfellow
So, are these on clearance at TARGET? Just curious. What about games? Will those move to Memory Stick eventually?
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Moving to memory stick is a no brainer. At the very least, the battery life will increase since you dont need to power the drive now. I always thought UMD was a odd decision.
Sometimes odd decisions can take the world by storm....not in this case though ;) Any idea why the movies are in a lower res than the psp screen can handle ? |
Originally Posted by Dazed
Moving to memory stick is a no brainer. At the very least, the battery life will increase since you dont need to power the drive now. I always thought UMD was a odd decision.
Sometimes odd decisions can take the world by storm....not in this case though ;) Any idea why the movies are in a lower res than the psp screen can handle ? |
My guess is "Sony wanted to kick PSP owners one last time."
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Isn't that a limitation that they enforced when viewing video from a memory stick? I thought they did this to entice people to buy their UMDs... if so, they should get rid of that "feature" now.
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Originally Posted by fujishig
Isn't that a limitation that they enforced when viewing video from a memory stick? I thought they did this to entice people to buy their UMDs... if so, they should get rid of that "feature" now.
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I'd start keeping an eye on Big Lots for them- I got a few black & white VideoNow discs from them, even a couple D-VHS movies!
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Originally Posted by darkside
I was hoping, but apparently they are simply pulled and returned. No clearance deals on them. I'm figuring those discs have to end up somewhere, but really have no idea.
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Originally Posted by MovieExchange
Maybe that hidden landfill where Atari dumped all those copies of E.T. for the 2600?
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The delivery implementation of this is beyond stupid. On the other hand, they did mention the memory sticks will not cost any more than the sticks did before. So, really, what you're doing is buying an overpriced memory stick that now has a free movie instead of just an overpriced memory stick.
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Originally Posted by Rockmjd23
Boy, that game really sucked.
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Not to hijack my own thread but my friends and I booted up Indiana Jones on his old 2600 about 6 years ago and we couldn't get off the first screen :lol:
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Almost everyone sounds so surprised. Why? This is typical Sony business practice. They always try to come up with their own proprietary storage medium. Let's take a look:
Betamax.....R.I.P. SACD.........if not already, will soon R.I.P. UMD..........R.I.P. BluRay.......??? (though company track record suggests the way of the dodo) |
They need to just to push out a PSP2 earlier, the PSPOne from a gaming POV has been a huge clusterfuck.
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Originally Posted by Centurion
Almost everyone sounds so surprised. Why? This is typical Sony business practice. They always try to come up with their own proprietary storage medium. Let's take a look:
Betamax.....R.I.P. SACD.........if not already, will soon R.I.P. UMD..........R.I.P. BluRay.......??? (though company track record suggests the way of the dodo) |
Originally Posted by Save Ferris
Yep. really, if you want a movie on your PSP it only makes sense to buy it on DVD and rip it--Then you have more choices. Isnt it perfectly legal to do this?
The law on fair uses is this: § 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A [17 USCS §§ 106 and 106A], the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include-- (1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; (2) the nature of the copyrighted work; (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors. That said, when CD burners came out, the stereo component burners were unambiguously sold with the suggestion of making mix-tape discs, either for personal use or as gifts. Apple had an ad campaign with the slogan "Rip. Mix. Burn." In the Betamax case, which permits the manufacture and sale of all recordable media players the court allowed devices to go to market because they had substantial noninfringing purposes, even though allowing these products to market meant that a lot of infringement would accompany the uses of these devices by people who would not infringe but for the devices. With CD burners, the music industry took a different tactic; They lobbied Congress to pass a law wherein the right of rightsholders to seek redress for non-commercial copying was waived and a royalty was paid to the recording industry for blank media sold, and all the burners were equipped with SCMS technology which prevented second generation digital copies. If you remember the early days of CD-R, there used to be "audio" and "data" CD-Rs. These were actually the same, except that a royalty was paid on "audio" discs. Also, computer-based CD-writers were not equipped with SCMS, because the data-storage capabilities of writable discs. A lot of people were confused about the copyright implications of a CD-burner at the time it came out. As a practical matter, the burners could not be enjoined from release because of Betamax, and the right to attempt to curb infringing use with lawsuits was worthless as a practical matter. So they waived the worthless rights in exchange for the royalty and the copy protection. (you'll have to pardon me if any of my details are slightly off. I looked into this in 1998 when I bought a minidisc recorder, and I am recounting from memory). A lot of people believed and still believe that it is okay to copy a CD if you own it, and if it is for personal use. In fact, neither of those factors matters at all, because there is no "backup" or "personal use" implied in fair use. Many software licenses explicitly grant users to make a backup copy, and that may be where this originates from, and if the use was strictly for backup purposes, it might be considered "fair" anyway, but if they did sue individuals for copying, this would almost certainly not be tested because the case would probably settle very early. In fact, under the AHRA, you can burn discs with impunity and give them to whoever you want. You can borrow your friends' CDs and burn copies. You can burn CDs and then sell the originals to used record stores. What matters is that it's done on an SCMS enabled burner, because that's the condition that the waiver of the right to sue is based on. Of course, most people burn CDs on their computers rather than on component stereos now, so most burned CDs are infringing and preserve the right to sue. Shifting a CD to your iPod may be a fair use, and reasonably it should be. I would suppose that the legitimate "time-shifting" purpose for making a copy in Betamax might support a "device shifting" fair use of the iPod and PSP, but as far as I know, the issue has not been addressed. |
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