Gizmodo: umd

PSP Fans Are Never Happy, With the PSPgo Set to Receive a UMD Add-On Via Logitech

Kat Hannaford — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:37:57 EST

After being derided since, oh, 2004, the UMD is set to return to the PSPgo, albeit thanks to the peripheral guys Logitech.

Sure, we can see why some people may want to play their old UMD games on their new PSPgo, which lacks the drive and plays solely downloaded titles, but they should've really thought it over more carefully before whacking $250 on a new device.

Logitech sources dished the details to gaming site CVG, and while pricing and availability wasn't confirmed the add-on will presumably plug into the PSPgo's memory stick port. [CVG]

Converting Old UMDs for the PSPGo Is a No-Go

Mark Wilson — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:30:39 EDT

A few months back, Sony's John Koller broke to us that PSP owners who wanted a PSPGo would be able to digitally acquire those games for the PSPGo's built-in storage. Now Sony has reneged on that offer. Sort of.

Koller never claimed that users would be straight-up ripping their old UMDs into backups, but he did compare the user experience to Portable Copy. We imagined a scenario in which you'd sync a PSP to a PS3 with a UMD in the drive, then you could download a copy of said UMD for the Go after some online authentication.

But Sony recently told Kotaku that "We were evaluating a UMD conversion program, but due to legal and technical reasons we will not be offering the program at this time." However! (There's a however.) This development doesn't mean that PSPGo buyers with huge UMD collections will be screwed. Sony is developing a sort of UMD trade-in program in which you'll be able to swap an old UMD for a digital copy of the same game.

In other words, if you want a digital version of a game you own on disc, you'll need to give up the disc. [Kotaku]

Sony Not Denying Plans for a PSP 2 Without UMD

Mark Wilson — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:34:20 EST

In an MTV interview with John Koller, head of PSP marketing in the US, Sony should have set the record straight on those nasty PSP 2 rumors. But they didn't.

MTV Multiplayer: Ok. Just so we can have this as clear as we can get it: the rumor out there is that there's going to be a new PSP that doesn't use the UMD coming out by the end of the year. True or false?

Koller: Can't comment either way, but I will reiterate that the digital component is very important to us. That's all we can say at this point.

That's pretty soft talk for rumor smashing. It might be good to wait on that new PSP. [MTV]

Vmedia: Like Mini UMD for Netbooks Covered in Feces, But Worse

Mark Wilson — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:01:00 EST

So what exactly is a Vmedia disc? Well, it's pretty much the worst idea ever.

Vmedia believes that their 1GB mini optical disc (promised to hit 2GB if you just give them enough time), is worth a piece of the space and price in your next netbook.

A Vmedia disc has many advantages over flash storage, the company claims. For instance, when you stick an SD card in a computer, its video content may or may not play correctly. Vmedia will offer a codec standard, like DVD, allowing them to license the technology to Hollywood. Vmedia also claims that their discs are cheaper to produce than flash storage. That's probably true, but it's not a savings that would ever be passed on to the consumer. It's just to entice content providers into adopting the tech. You know, so they can sell you Spiderman 3 on yet another format with low risk.

You know what? I'm wasting my time. Everyone intelligent enough to be reading this article is intelligent enough to understand what a completely dated, desperate idea this is when both better physical storage and simpler data distribution both exist. Look at that picture. Consider the information density. Remember the MiniDisc, Laserdisc and HD DVD. Remember Zubaz Pants. Now let's move on. [Laptop]

Sony Slowly Backing Away from UMD, Snuggling With Digital Distribution

matt buchanan — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:50:00 EST

The rumors Sony is working on a PSP2? Pure confusion, says Sony exec John Koller. Rumormongers are somehow mistaking its push to digital distribution, away from UMD, as work on PSP2. Uh huh. [SAI]

Dealzmodo: Buy One UMD, Get the Second Free

Mark Wilson — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EDT

There is an alternate universe where I just rented a Betamax (Casino Royale, of course) from Hollywood Video. On my way home, I pop in a MiniDisc (probably to listen to this year's very successful, non-creepy Michael Jackson album which is, like, sooo good). But when I finally arrive at my place, I realize that I'd, of course, already bought Casino Royale on UMD. Hell, I could probably even dig up a copy recorded from TV on my 8mm Video Walkman, too. How silly!

Anyway, for those living in this reality, Amazon has a 2-for-1 UMD sale going on. When all is said and done, UMDs are going for about $6 a pop. [Amazon via PSPFanboy]

Indian Spice Phone Has Optical Disk Drive For 2.5 Hour Movies

Jason Chen — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:00:27 EST

It's really unlikely that this Movie Phone from the Indian cellphone maker Spice would make it anywhere besides India, but it's an amazing phone because of what it's got on the back: an optical drive. This h.264 optical drive loads into the back of the phone much like UMDs into a PSP, and can fit a 2.5 hour film into one disc. There's going to be 40 movies available in India at launch, which will be followed by 1,000 more movies later. We only have one question, which will probably be the only time anyone on earth ever asks this question: Why didn't they just go with UMDs instead of making a proprietary format? [Tech Digest]

Sony Stands By UMD, But Not Too Close

Mark Wilson — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:41:43 EST

Sony announced last week that, yes, it's still releasing UMDs, baby! Partnering with MTV, PSP owners will soon be able to purchase "Beavis and Butt-Head: The Mike Judge Collection," volumes 2 and 3; "Jackass," volumes 2 and 3; "Wildboyz," volumes 1 and 2; "Viva La Bam," volumes 2-4; and "Aeon Flux: The Complete Animated Collection." While Sony has to know that UMD has become a game-only format, small, thematic releases like these aren't really going to hurt/help the format or the bottom line. It's like gambling on the penny slots after losing for a few hours of $20 blackjack. [reuters]

Sony's Jack Tretton Talks About UMD, Rips Movie Studios

Mark Wilson — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 15:21:43 EDT

Many of us expected the a new PSP to have on-board storage to allow for a less UMD-reliant experience for music and gaming. In this clip, SCEA President and CEO Jack Tretton tells us what's gone wrong with UMD, and more importantly, how Sony plans on reviving the struggling PSP media format. He sorta lays the smackdown, so it's worth a watch. The only hole in his logic seems to be that Sony prices UMDs fairly high as well. [kotaku]

Unconfirmed: PSP Slim to Offer 8GB Internal Flash, Improved Everything

Jason Chen — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:50:21 EDT

Ash over at Kotaku has the scoop on a tarted-up PSP supposedly headed our way sometime soon. According to his sources, the new PSP isn't PSP2, but a slimmer, faster version of the original.

The PSP Slim (or PSP Lite), is going to have a new LED screen, new battery life, faster UMD drive, 8GB internal flash and a much better D-Pad. The price? Hopefully under $170, which is around what the current PSP is going for sans extras. – Jason Chen

PSP Slim Details Revealed [Kotaku]

Kotaku Confirms Rumor: UMDs Pulled From Target Stores

Charlie White — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 12:34:56 EDT

Following up a post from yesterday, we heard a Target employee noticed prerecorded movies distributed on Sony UMDs (an acronym meaning UnMitigated Disaster, um, rather, Universal Media Disc) were suddenly absent from the store where he worked, and from other Target locations, too.

Now our beloved brothers at Kotaku have found confirmation from another reader, saying the chain has decided to devote shelf space to other products, but noted that Target will keep trying to move those slow-selling PlayStation portable UMD disks on its web site.

Kotaku sleuths further confirmed by calling a couple of local Target stores, which admitted that the doomed UMD products were indeed no longer on sale at Target retail outlets. Can every other store in the world be far behind? Die, UMD, die! And every other proprietary format! And the horse you rode in on! – Charlie White

Rumor Confirmed: Target Pulls UMDs From Stores [Kotaku]

Rumor: Sony UMD Movies Vanish from Target Store Shelves

Charlie White — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 12:35:50 EDT

Our pencil-necked gamester in-laws at Kotaku gathered a rumor today, where an employee of the vast retail empire Target noticed that Sony's proprietary UMD movies had suddenly disappeared from his store. Could it be the doomed format's death rattles are beginning to bear their certain, inevitable fruit?

I work at a local Target store, at the electronics department. I walked in today and noticed something missing, other than my desire to be working, it was the PSP UMD movies section. Thinking it was moved I searched then finally decided to ask around. To my suprise, my boss told me that Target wasn't going to be selling them anymore. Now I'm not sure if its in every store, but I decided to give the other targets a call in my city, and they also said they had pulled them. So, not sure what that means, but with so many people saying the UMD movies are pretty pointless, and sales being sluggish, I cant help but wonder if PSP movies are soon to go the way of the Betamax.

We saw this coming months ago, as did nearly everyone else. Maybe one of these days Sony will finally realize that every proprietary consumer format it's introduced has tanked. Add one more to it with the UMD, where its absence from Target is probably just the beginning of its one-way trip to the ash heap of history. – Charlie White

Rumor: Target Pulling UMDs [Kotaku]

UMD: I'm Not Dead Yet

johnb — Tue, 02 May 2006 17:09:27 EDT

Ah, but you are, aren't you, UMD. You're fine for the PSP, but we wouldn't want to put you in anything else, nor would anyone else. It seems a poll by NPD found that 40% of PSP users bought the PSP to view UMD content but haven't actually purchased any UMD content. So essentially they're saying that nothing on UMD is worth buying and that Sony should just give up. Or something like that.

NPD: Continuing Grim Outlook for UMDs [Next-Gen via Kotaku]

UMD Movies Hitting the Skids

johnb — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 13:20:50 EST

We could have told you this would happen a year ago, but people are just getting it into their heads that UMD movies are failing. While they are fine for video games—who cares what the media looks like?—they're a horrible choice for movies. Movies, on the whole, are purchased once and played at home. Therefore, offering Spiderman on DVD and UMD is a silly idea. If I care that much about Spiderman, I'll rip my DVD and stick it onto my PSP in some other, non-legal manner. Otherwise, I suck it up and watch it while sitting quietly on my couch.

Walmart seems to be dumping the media entirely and shelf-space in other stores is getting considerably smaller. Then we discover that Universal and Paramount are stopping UMD production. Oh well.

UMD losing H'wood game [HollywoodReporter]
Universal, Paramount end UMD production [PSPWorld]

UMD's Slumping Performance

Travis Hudson — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 15:11:00 EST

Another Sony proprietary media has deemed itself a failure. Variety is reporting that many studios cutting down on UMD releases in the future. Studios include Sony Pictures (??), Paramount and Warner. The studios are saying that the UMD is a failing because the amount of "piracy" happening. I like to think it is failing because it is a bad proprietary media format.

Sony will attempt to revitalize PSP movie sales by releasing bundled DVD/UMD titles. Unfortunately these dual-format released will be $28.95, still more expensive than just buying the DVD and ripping it to a memory stick. Also, Sony will be introducing the Connection digital media store for content downloading onto the PSP. This service will allow for movie downloads among other things and should be available next month.

Portable Movie Sales Dry Up [Kamalot]

Sony Sets Blu-ray Pricing

tgrumet — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 10:30:53 EST

If you've been wondering what a Blu-ray disc is going to cost you once it hits the markets, Sony has deigned to let the world know. As the first studio to put forth a price (as well as a marketing strategy), Sony revealed that it will also bundle formats together for better flexibility.

A catalog Blu-ray disc will run about $18, but new release DVDs will go for $23.45, wholesale. And starting March 28, you'll be able to buy combination packs of DVD and UMD movies for little more than just buying the DVD. If this strategy works, the company will think about trying it with Blu-ray discs as well. The combo price is $28.95, which is notable considering a new release DVD is about $25-$27 and a UMD is typically $20.

We're not sure what the average mark-up is on a conventional DVD, but it's probably safe to expect the first run of Blu-ray titles to be in the $30 range.

Sony sets price for Blu-ray discs [Reuters]

The First of the PSP Porn Reviews

johnb — Wed, 20 Jul 2005 14:02:56 EDT

Our squirmy brother Fleshbot pointed out this delightful look at some good, old-fashioned PSP porn complete with Custer's Revenge-esque sex antics involving sperm. Called "The Palace of the Virgin," this title features "adventures that involve [said Princess] touching various body parts belonging to some seriously ugly Japanese dudes." Now, thanks to our early colonizing, Christian influence, Japan has outlawed all kinds of full-frontal action, so all the sex is pixellated beyond recognition. I learned this the hard way at a Toyko hotel after paying $20 bucks for "in-room entertainment." So there is no visible junk.

Then you have a game portion where you shoot spermatozoa at the young princess. But I assure you no one buys this for the game.

PSP Porn [Tokyopia via Fleshbot]