Skip to main content

VMD High Definition Disc Format Debuts

From the press release:

New Medium Enterprises Inc. today announced it will unveil its highly anticipated pre-industrial VMD (Versatile MultiLayer Disc), the next generation HD Disc and Drive containing 20GB of storage capacity on the current red laser technology platform, before investors and news media in the United States. The HD content will be shown in genuine HD formats (MPEG-2, 1920×1080 interlaced and progressive scan).

The company plans to launch production and sales of 20GB and 40GB Discs and Drives in the fourth quarter of 2005. The drives will be inherently backward compatible with existing pre-recorded and recordable DVD and CD formats.

New Medium will demonstrate and describe this revolutionary new technology before significant investment bankers, portfolio managers, research analysts, retail brokers and special situation investors in New York City. In addition to one-on-one meetings with the financial community, New Medium will preview its technology for content providers and members of the news media during showings at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. in Mid-Town Manhattan at the Broadway Screening Room located at The Brill Building, 1619 Broadway, 5th floor (between 49th & 50th) on Thursday, May 5, 2005.

The pre-recorded VMD has four layers on one side for an initial capacity of 20 GB and is entirely based on the current red laser DVD industrial infrastructure. VMD is designed for viewing High Definition content requiring high storage capacity and high bit rate (up to 40 Mbs), such as full-motion pictures, sports entertainment and other demanding video content and data. Pre-recorded VMDs are capable of playing next-generation, High Definition movies and other video content, catering to the vast consumer base of owners of HDTV television and large screen sets.

Found VIA eCoustics.com

Ian Bell
I work with the best people in the world and get paid to play with gadgets. What's not to like?
There’s a rare deal on the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones today
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones seen in black.

The massively popular Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones rarely appear in headphone deals, so if you've had your eye on them for quite a while, you're in luck because they're currently $51 off on Walmart. From their original price of $400, you'll only have to pay $349, but only if you hurry because we don't expect stocks to last long. You're going to miss out on the offer if you take too long, so don't hesitate -- add the wireless headphones to your cart and check out as fast as you can.

Why you should buy the Sony WH-1000XM5
The best headphones that you can buy right now are the Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones, and it's not even close. At the heart is their outstanding wireless sound, supported by top-quality active noise cancellation that uses two processors and eight microphones to block all unwanted sound, as well as crystal-clear hands-free calling using four beamforming microphones and advanced audio signal processing. The wireless headphones also offer Bluetooth multipoint connection so that you can quickly switch between different devices, touch controls for functions like adjusting volume and calling your digital assistant, and Speak-to-Chat and Quick Attention features to stop your music and let ambient sound in without having to take them off.

Read more
Sony’s premium soundbars will finally get support for VRR, ALLM
Sony HT-A7000 Dolby Atmos soundbar close-up of top panel.

It's been a long time coming, but the wait is almost over. Sony's premium home theater soundbars are set to receive a software update that will add support for variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low-latency mode (ALLM), two HDMI 2.1 gaming features that have been absent since these products launched.

The soundbars in question are the Sony HT-A5000, HT-A7000, and the multi-wireless speaker HT-A9 system. All three are scheduled to receive the update this fall, but Sony has declined to share specific timing, saying only that there will be more information closer to the rollout date.

Read more
What is Roku? The streaming platform explained
A roku powered TV hanging on a wall running Roku OS 12.

How do you get your Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, or Prime Video fix? Chances are it's through a streaming device or smart TV, and there's a good chance that it's through a Roku device or one running its pioneering streaming operating system. At this point, cord-cutting is old news, and Roku was one of the earliest companies to drive the adoption of web-based streaming with its self-contained, app-driven devices.

Today, watching something "on Roku" is standard parlance and the company's popular platform can be found baked into some of the biggest TV brands in the world as well as in its own lineup of streaming devices sticks, and set-top boxes. Even so, that doesn't mean you totally get what a Roku actually is. What is Roku? How does Roku work? Do you need a subscription to use it? Is it just a device you buy, or is it software?

Read more