Digital Home Thoughts: Sony UMD Accepted As Standard Disk Format

"ECMA International has accepted Sony's UMD, which debuted earlier this year in the PlayStation Portable (PSP), as an international standard. The UMD, which has a storage capacity of 1.8 GB and resembles a small DVD enclosed in a plastic case, is currently used by Sony to store PSP video games and movies. However, now that it's been accepted as a standard, we'll likely see the format move to other devices, including PCs, which could open up a new market for UMD-based media for PSPs. Currently, a wide range of movie companies support UMD as well--certainly more than I had expected--but this week's news could lead to even more UMD-based movie releases in the future."

I was lucky enough to get a Sony PSP last week (gift from friends for successfully defending my PhD thesis) and have been totally addicted to Wipeout Pure and Lumines. I was a little unsure about the concept of UMDs when the PSP was first announced because of the lack of cross-compatibility, i.e. having to buy DVDs of movies and games separately for the TV/computer. But having played the games now, I don't feel it so much anymore. :-P Anyways, now that UMD is a standard disk format, hopefully there will be some sort of cross compatibility initiative (wishful thinking :) ).