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     This story was printed from CdrInfo.com,

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Sony DADC starts replicating Universal Media Disc (UMD) for Sony Computer Entertainment's new PlayStation Portable (PSP), heralding a new era of personal portable entertainment

Sony DADC begins replication for Universal Media Disc (UMD). UMD is a brand-new and groundbreaking optical storage medium, designed for the high speed and efficient delivery of digital entertainment content, including game, music and movies across a wide range of consumer electronic devices.

UMD marks a new generation of optical pre-recorded storage media. The wide array of possibilities for PSP has turned UMD into an interesting medium for more than just the games industry. UMD will enable music companies to release full-length albums featuring audio content, innovative video footage, and other compelling programming. The format can also be used for full-length concerts and music video compilations.

"This new approach in connecting the music and games world on one disc will provide artists with exciting new ways of connecting with their fans," says Christian Reiser, Sony DADC Vice President Sales & Marketing. "Music and music video releases on UMD have the potential to provide both music and games consumers with dramatically expanded value and a portable entertainment experience."

Designed initially for use with the PSP, but with wide application across a range of future devices, this six centimeter high capacity disc can carry over 1.8GB of content, such as games in rich full-motion video. The disc can hold up to two hours of DVD-quality music videos or four hours of standard quality. The Universal Media Disc itself comes in a small protective cartridge which is packaged in a special UMD box.

Sony Computer Entertainment's new PSP, scheduled for European release in the Spring, heralds a new era in personal portable entertainment. Featuring a 4.5 inch, 16:9 widescreen high-resolution LCD screen, PSP features built-in stereo speakers and is therefore ideal for viewing music videos or listening to audio in high quality on the go. PSP also supports compressed audio formats, such as MP3, AAC and Sony's own ATRAC3 sound formats. For this year Sony DADC is expecting an output of over 40 million units of this new storage media in Europe. Sony DADC Salzburg will produce and distribute UMD discs to all European markets.