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Universal Media Disc

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Universal Media Disc
Media typeOptical disc
Capacity900MB(single layer), 1.8GB(dual layer)
DevelopedbySony
UsageGames,movies,music
ReleasedDecember 12, 2004;19 years ago(2004-12-12)
Optical discs
General
Optical media types
Standards
See also
UMD disc front

TheUniversal Media Disc(UMD) is a discontinuedoptical discmedium developed bySonyfor use on itsPlayStation Portablehandheldgamingandmultimediaplatform. It can hold up to 1.8gigabytesof data and is capable of storing video games, feature-length films, and music. UMD is thetrademarkofSony Computer Entertainmentfor their optical disk cartridge (ODC).[1][2]

Video storage format

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While the primary application for UMD discs is as a storage medium for PSP games, the format is also used for the storage ofmotion picturesand, to a lesser degree,television showsfor playback on the PSP. The video is encoded in theH.264/MPEG-4 AVCformat, with the audio inATRAC3plusorPCM.Video stored on UMD is typically encoded in 720×480 resolution, but is scaled down when displayed on the PSP. To date there are around 1500 films released on UMD (around 1000 are common for allregionsand around 500 areregionexclusives). The American punk rock bandThe Offspringreleased theirComplete Music Video Collectionon the format.[3]TheBBCreleased a number of its programmes on UMD in the UK, includingThe Office,The Mighty Boosh,Doctor WhoandLittle Britain.WWEalso released some wrestler highlights and documentary content on UMD format, such asThe Monday Night War,Jake "The Snake" Roberts:Pick Your Poison,andWWE Raw Homecoming(a special episode ofWWE Rawcelebrating the return toUSA Network); the only WWEpay-per-viewreleased on UMD format wasWrestleMania XXIV.[4]

Tupac's performance,Live at the House of Blues,was also released on the UMD, which also included several music videos, includingHit 'Em Up.[5][6]

Someadult filmshave been released on UMD in Japan.[7]Sony reportedly took offence at adult film studios publishing pornography on the medium, but claimed that they were unable to restrict films on UMD like with games and other software for the PSP.[8]

Specifications

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ECMA-365: Data Interchange on 60 mm Read-Only ODC – Capacity: 1.8 GB (UMD)[1]

  • Dimensions: approx. 64 mm (diameter) × 4.2 mm (thickness)
  • Maximum capacity: 1.80 GB (dual layer), 900 MB (single-layer)
  • Laserwavelength:660nm(redlaser)
  • Numerical aperture: 0.64
  • Track pitch: 0.70 μm
  • Minimum pit length: 0.1384 μm
  • Modulation: 8-to-16 RLL(2,10)
  • Encryption:AES128-bit[failed verification]

The case dimensions for UMD discs are 177×104×14mm.[9]

Provisions

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According to the official ECMA specification Sony designed the UMD to support two possible future enhancements and products.[1]

  1. Protective Shutter: Similar to the MiniDisc and 31⁄2-inchfloppy disk,this protective shutter would shield the inner disc from accidental contact.
  2. Auto-Loading: UMDs were designed for possible future slot loading devices with Auto-Loading mechanisms. These would be very similar to the auto-loading mechanism used in slot loading MiniDisc home and car decks. It would also be similar to the Sony U-Matic auto-loading mechanism. Unlike the current clamshell loading design the PSP uses, a slot loading device using an Auto-Loading mechanism would be motorized and completely automatic. The user would insert the disc into the device slot, the motorized mechanism would then take over and draw the disc inside the drive completing the loading process. The disc would also be ejected fully automatically by the motorized mechanism, like a VCR. This would also mean that power would be required in order to insert or eject a disc.

Region coding

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DVD region codinghas been applied to most UMD movies and music. However, all PSP games are region-free, although some require pay-to-continue.[clarification needed]

  • Region ALL: Worldwide (region-free)
  • Region 1: North America, Central America, Lithuania
  • Region 2: Europe (without Russia or Belarus), Japan, Middle East, South Africa, Greenland
  • Region 3: Southeast Asia, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong
  • Region 4: Oceania, South America
  • Region 5: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, India, Pakistan, Africa (without Egypt or South Africa), North Korea, Mongolia
  • Region 6: China

Availability and support

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UMD offers large capacity and the capability to store quality audio/video content; however, the format's proprietary nature, the lack of writers and accompanying blank media, made adoption difficult. The UMD format never saw implementation on any device other than thePlayStation Portable,and as a result the market was very limited compared to those of other optical media formats. The high price of UMD movie releases were another contributing factor: they often retailed at comparable prices toDVD,but lacked extra content. Poor sales of UMD movies early in the format's life caused major studios likeUniversalandParamountto rescind their support.[10][11]Retail support of the format experienced similar troubles, and in 2006,Wal-Martbegan phasing out shelf space devoted to UMD movies.[12]

In late 2009, Sony began pushing developers away from the UMD format and towardsdigital distributionon thePlayStation Networkin preparation for the launch of the digital-download-onlyPSP Go,which was the first (and only) PSP model to not include a UMD drive.[12]However, the system experienced lackluster sales compared to previous models, with most consumers still choosing the UMD-compatiblePSP-3000model, which continued to be sold alongside the PSP Go.[13][14]Despite the earlier push for PlayStation Network releases around the PSP Go's launch, over half of the PSP's library was only made available in UMD format includingCrisis Core: Final Fantasy VIIandKingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep.There have been a few PlayStation Network exclusive releases since the PSP Go's launch, such asLocoRoco Midnight Carnival.Still, most new games continued to be distributed via UMD, and, aside from those published bySCE,not all have been released on PlayStation Network.

The successor of the PlayStation Portable, the PlayStation Vita, did not include UMD support, nor was it added throughout its lifespan. In move similar to the PSP Go, Sony focused on digital downloads and opted for low-profile flash-based cartridges as the system's main media format. Since 2011, there have been no more movies published on UMD in all Regions, sans Region 3, which saw releases of adult content up until 2016. Games were published on UMD up until 2013.

UMD can be dumped into disc image files (.isoor.cso), using amodified PSP.This file can be loaded by a modified PSP through theMemory Stick,similar to titles that were distributed through the PlayStation Network.

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcEcma International(June 2005)."Data Interchange on 60 mm Read-Only ODC—Capacity: 1,8 Gbytes (UMD)"(PDF).
  2. ^"Trademark Status & Document Retrieval".tsdr.uspto.gov.United States Patent and Trademark Office.Retrieved15 December2023.
  3. ^"The Offspring: Complete Music Video Collection [UMD for PSP] (2005)".Amazon.8 November 2005.RetrievedJuly 8,2013.
  4. ^"Someone Bought This: WWE + UMD + PSP = Not for me!".WrestleCrap.28 June 2015.RetrievedMay 7,2020.
  5. ^"Tupac* - Live At The House Of Blues".Discogs.Retrieved2020-02-21.
  6. ^"Tupac - Live at the House of Blues (UMD Mini For PSP) (UMD, Region 1) - dvdloc8.com".dvdloc8.com.Retrieved2020-02-21.
  7. ^"PSP procures porn in Japan".GameSpot.com. June 2, 2005.Retrieved2017-11-19.
  8. ^Chris Cook (June 17, 2005)."Sony Computer Entertainment Frowns On PSP UMD Porn, Can't Stop Sales".Game Informer.Archived fromthe originalon 2008-07-31.Retrieved2009-01-06.
  9. ^"What is UMD Software? - Definition, Specifications, and More".Computer Tech Reviews.2019-11-10.Retrieved2020-02-27.
  10. ^Arnold, Thomas K. (2006-03-30)."UMD losing H'wood game".The Hollywood Reporter. Archived fromthe originalon April 1, 2009.Retrieved2010-02-11.
  11. ^Erickson, Kris (2008-08-15)."Sony Continues to Support UMD Format with New Pricing".GameFlavor. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-10-30.Retrieved2010-02-11.
  12. ^ab"Sony PSP2 Rumors Bogus".The Business Insider. December 17, 2008.Retrieved2009-10-27.
  13. ^Moses, Asher (2009-10-20)."PSP Go a no-go as Sony struggles for sales".Fairfax Digital.Retrieved2010-02-11.
  14. ^Gantayat, Anoop (2009-11-02)."Enterbrain Shares PSP go First Day Sales".andriasang.com.Retrieved2010-02-11.
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