HD VMD
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| Media type | High-density optical disc |
|---|---|
| Encoding | MPEG-2 and VC-1 |
| Capacity | Standard: 20 GB (4 layer), 5 GB per layer |
| Developed by | New Medium Enterprises |
| Usage | High-definition video |
Versatile Multilayer Disc (VMD or HD VMD) is a high-capacity red laser optical disc technology designed by New Medium Enterprises, Inc.. VMD was intended to compete with the blue laser Blu-ray Disc format and had an initial capacity of up to 30GB per side.
At CeBIT in March 2006, NME demonstrated a prototype VMD player and announced that they were expecting to launch the format in the third quarter of 2006. At the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association trade show in September 2007, NME exhibited two players set for release in October 2007. There were 20 US titles available at launch time, including some from Icon Productions, Paramount Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, New Line Cinema, DreamWorks SKG, Lionsgate and Weinstein Co.. They also signed a deal with Bollywood production company Eros Group who intended to release 50 Bollywood features on the format.
The two initial players to be released were the ML622S and the ML777S. The ML777S included USB ports for connection to external storage devices, and a media card reader.
The manufacturers hoped to sell the format as a lower cost alternative to other optical technologies.
On 13 June 2008 Geoffrey Russell, the Interim Chief Executive Officer of New Medium Enterprises, Inc., notified the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that the company would be terminating the registration of the company, and that NMEN would cease filing reports with the SEC. The date of effect of this action was 90 days after 12 June 2008. In August 2008 in the UK, New Medium Electronics Limited, New Medium Entertainment Limited and New Medium Optics Limited notified Companies House of their applications for voluntary striking-off.
In October 2008, the technology behind HD-VMD was revived by companies - Royal Digital Media, Anthem Digital and DreamStream, to produce a new 100GB optical disc. Anthem Digital's chairman Michael Jay Solomon was the former chairman of New Medium Enterprises. As of December 2010, Royal Digital Media, Anthem Digital and DreamStream web sites were no longer available.
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