So we've got Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, right? Here comes a new challenger! New Medium Enterprises will introduce the HD VMD (Versatile Multilayer Disc) next month.
Consumers will find the format at Amazon.com and stores like Radio Shack and Costco. The players will cost around $150, which is less than the cheapest HD-DVD player and way less than the cheapest Blu-Ray player.
The technology uses a red laser, which is the same laser for DVD. That is why the players are cheaper than HD-DVD and Blu-Ray, which use fancy blue lasers.
As for the cost of the movies, the adviser to the New Media Enterprises said to, "expect a small premium over DVD [discs], and a big discount over Blu-ray and HD DVD."
The discs will hold 30GB on a single layer with a maximum bitrate of 40 mbps. Blu-Ray clocks in at 48 mbps and HD-DVD chimes in with 36 mbps.
HD VMD will also sport the required 1080p as well as 7.1 Dolby Digital, Digital Plus, and DTS audio. It will not support Dolby TrueHD or DTS Master Audio, however.
At launch, there will be around 20 titles on the new format, including a few from Mel Gibson. There won't be much choice, but it will be much cheaper and may capture a large audience not willing to spend a lot of their HD movies.
Yahoo! News: HD VMD to Battle Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD
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