New optical disc standard joins the fray

Sure, this new VCDHD (Versatile Compact Disc High Density) from Ukraine and Russia might not be exactly a contender in the Blu-ray VS. HD DVD battle, but at 4.7GB it does hope to give DVD a run for its money over there. The new disc is compatible with current DVD players, but doesn't require the expensive DVD license to be produced. The first title for the new format, "Prorwemos," is a Ukrainian action movie and goes for a mere $4.50. The discs are also cheaper to manufacture than their DVD counterparts, and are half as thick. The next step is bringing blue laser technology to the discs to enable 15GB capacities, which doesn't even bring it into striking range of China's EVD and VMD hi-def formats, but at least it's a start.

[Thanks, Gregg]

[sinisterdesign @ Mar 29th 2006 3:21PM]

that logo is craptacular.

[Bruce @ Mar 29th 2006 3:31PM]

Its a race to see who will be remembered as squandering the most money and time on the format to be destroyed by holographic storage.

I'm betting on Blu Ray as the biggest waste of money.

[narco @ Mar 29th 2006 3:35PM]

Yeah, that logo looks like it came bursting out of a Terminator movie. Maybe this format was sent from the future or something.

Fishes,
narco.

[Jeff Minter @ Mar 29th 2006 3:43PM]

I hear that HD-VHS is quite popular in mother russia.

China is working on a project where is someone comes up with a new product then they can copy it for free.

[Brent @ Mar 29th 2006 4:04PM]

I can't wait to buy my first CD/DVD/EVD/VMD/HD-DVD/Blu-Ray player. Honestly, does the world need another optical disc?

[Primetime @ Mar 29th 2006 4:05PM]

The Yugo of next-gen formats.

[How To Be Poor @ Mar 29th 2006 4:26PM]

Why in the name of God would I want "extraordinary flexibility" from my DVD disk unless I can roll it up and store it like a cigarette, in a pack? I actually want it to be extraordinary rigid so it doesn't get hot and melt all over my supersweet new DVD player.

"Prorwemos" means "We will break through". Where?

Whatever.

[BRIAN @ Mar 29th 2006 4:44PM]

Slow news day...

[Ben @ Mar 29th 2006 4:49PM]

Just like Russian the the Ukrinians to go just a little bit on the trash side. Matches the black market products you can buy over there.

[David @ Mar 29th 2006 5:07PM]

@#2...

Indeed, why spend $15 on a disc that will hold much less when you can use an old CD-R and hold more?

[c.Lake @ Mar 29th 2006 6:37PM]

WTF?? Well hello VCDHD, pull up a chair and sit yourself down. You're just in time for the party.

@Bruce - #2 -- Thank you!!! I've been saying the same damn thing since the "boat that I row"! Holographic Disks/Cards are the next big thing -- everything else is a waste of time.

[Justin @ Mar 29th 2006 7:33PM]

Christ, this is getting worse than the whole flash memory situation...

[grey eminence @ Mar 30th 2006 1:18AM]

And when Putin gets pissed because their making a couple of ruples he'll throw the CEO in jail and shut down the company.

Have you ever seen one Russian/Eukranian product on the
world's market place that works ?

[JC @ Mar 30th 2006 2:55AM]

@ #13 : Kalashnikov?

[Pzyk @ Mar 30th 2006 5:24AM]

@#14 Indeed.

But did anyone notice the storage capacity? 4.7 GB?

What would be the point to even touch this format? I mean, it says it's cheaper to manufacture and is less thick, but this late in the game, it doesn't bring crap to the table and can't hold anything against DVDs which are much more established.

[Jason @ Mar 30th 2006 6:16AM]

If it's less thick, some DVD players will have problems. Okay, probably not "current" ones. But older ones will, since the media will be slightly closer to the head, and therefore probably out of book spec.

I'm not sure flexibility gains anyone anything, except perhaps mail order DVD rental companies :) I'd much rather see a format where the top of a single-sided disc was protected, too, not just the bottom. Either that, or give me +DL compatibility for under the $2 per disc I pay now...

[Michael Shada @ Mar 30th 2006 7:49AM]

I agree with comment # 2 above.

Any format now is a waste of time and money until Holographic storage comes out.

When Holographic storage does come out I HOPE THE COMPANY THAT DESCOVERED IT HAS A MONOPOLY ON IT!!! The only reason I hope there is a monopoly is so there won't be over a dozen DIFFERENT, format sizes like there are now with flash memory.

[Frank @ Mar 30th 2006 10:39AM]

@5
I really think all discs are a thing of the past.
Why on earth should I store hundreds of audio and video files when I'm able to access them near-instantly through the (ever faster) internet?
(that's not the case right now but soon will be)
"Having" a CD or LP (etc etc) is really a thing of the past.
My opinion.