‘Bye UMD, Hi, MemoryStick
p2p news / p2pnet: Has Sony has finally given up on UMD, turning to its MemoryStick Entertainment Pack instead? Looks like.
“Retailers across the nation have been scaling back the shelf-space given to UMD movies as a result of poor sales and declining studio interest,” says Ars Technica, going on:
“Now Target, the sixth-largest retailer in the US, is in the process of pulling UMD movies from its store shelves entirely, and has completed the effort in most regions of the country. A customer service representative in Boston told Ars Technica that the removal order came from corporate, but that the company will continue to sell UMDs online.”
Just to double check, “I called a couple of local stores and they confirmed that UMDs have indeed been officially pulled from the chain,” says Brian Crecente on Kotaku.com.
“It sounds like it is an ongoing process, with some saying it just happened and others saying it happened a month ago.
“Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean we will be seeing some major UMD clearance sales. One of the Target stores I talked to said they were removed overnight and likely shipped to headquarters to fill their online sales.”
Meanwhile, Sony Entertainment Packs for the 1 GB and 2 GB versions of Memory Stick Duos will include a DVD with four films: XXX State of the Union, Hitch, The Grudge and S.W.A.T., says TG Daily.
But there’s a Big But. Or, rather, there’s DRM: the MemoryStick flics can be unlocked and played on – and only on – a PSPadding, says the story.
[Wonder how long that will last? - Ed]
“While Sony says the package gives a ‘quick, simple way to get a full-length movie,’ the procedure seems anything but quick,” is states. Moeover, “Although the DVD holds all four movies, the user can only pick one. An unlock code in the package allows the user to unlock the movie and then transfer it to the Memory Stick. The movie can then only be played on the PSP.”
Nor do the four movies come cheap.
“The Entertainment Packs will be available next month for $60 for the 1 GB version, while $100 gets you the 2 GB version,” adds the story.
Digg this.
Also See:
Ars Technica – As UMD loses retail space, Sony toys with Memory Stick movie distribution, July 13, 2006
Kotaku.com – Rumor Confirmed: Target Pulls UMDs From Stores, July 12, 2006
TG Daily – Sony bundles feature films with Memory Stick Duos for PSP, July 13, 2006
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July 14th, 2006 at 6:14 pm
And that couldn’t happen to a nicer lot of assholes. Die Sony, die!