Samsung is the new Sony: Constantly pumping out new formats the world doesn’t need, like their Hybrid NX cameras seen at PMA, apparently finalised in the NX-10 here. Here’s the problem with it: http://www.gizmodo.com.au/tags/micro-four-thirds/
We first told you about HD VMD over two years ago, then we told you again about one year ago. But the “next gen” HD optical disc aiming to take down… giants… Blu-ray and HD DVD is finally coming to fruition. New Medium Enterprises will launch its new ML622S HD VMD player next month, a 1080p, single-slotted HDMI 1.3, ethernet-upgradable device that is expected to cost only $150 at many wholesalers (though MSRP is $200).
HD VMD keeps costs low by using the same red lasers we see in DVD products, with the drives described by New Medium as DVD with newer firmware. For now the technology is still MPEG2 based, encoded at somewhere between 40-45MB/s (reports differ), putting it smack between Blu-ray and HD DVD data rates. 7.1 surround sound is supported, but the technology will not support Dolby TrueHD or DTS Master Audio formats.
Oh boy, the format war sure is heating up! Isn’t in so fun?! HD DVD bribed a couple of studios back to exclusivity! Blu-ray is touring malls with a giant kiosk! There’s no end in sight! Both camps are spending a downright obscene amount of money to convince you, John Q. Consumer, that their format is the right choice. Well, is it working?
