Related Sections: Portable Gadgets
Sony to offer movies on Memory Sticks
With Sony's proprietary UMD format pretty much dead in the water at this point, the electronics blunder-king is looking for new avenues to overcharge for digital copies of movies. Well, if one proprietary format didn't work, what about trying a different one? Let's see, what's kicking around the ol' Sony offices… ah, a Memory Stick! Perfect! Yes, you will soon be able to purchase such classic films as Hitch, S.W.A.T., XXX: State of the Union, and The Grudge on Memory Sticks for use in your PSP. Of course, the movies will only play on the PSP, not on a computer or anything like that, but the Memory Stick will be able to be used to store data in any device that deigns to offer the slot for it. Users will simply enter the unlock code and choose which movie they want to get, then bask in the tiny-screened glory of Kevin James' hilarious white-guy dancing and Will Smith's sassy retorts. The Sticks will come in 1-GB and 2-GB varieties for $60 and $100, respectively, which is about $15 more than movie-free versions. Yes, $15 for a mediocre movie you can only watch on a PSP. Keep it up, Sony.
The Register, via Tech Digest
By MarkinStLouis at 2:03 PM ON 07/15/06
I'll admit it: I have purchased a few UMD movies. However, these were ones that no one in the house either wanted to or would be allowed to watch (or both).
That being said, there is already software out there that will allow you to rip any movie from a DVD and put it into a portable format (i.e. PSP, iPod, Zen). This is how I've been catching up on all the shows I've missed, including BSG and The Dead Zone. Just rip them to my hard drive, transfer them to the Memory Stick, and watch them on my lunch break. No, the quality is not as good as a UMD, but I've still got the DVD at home to watch. Unless it was something I wouldn't want the kids to watch, there is no reason to buy this product, and maybe not even then!
By apstang at 12:51 PM ON 07/16/06
I have to agree. This is doomed to failure
By D_Kirk at 10:03 AM ON 02/01/08
well unless sony can tone the prices down a bit and maybe offer episodes like Bleach or house m.d. it's pretty doomed
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D_Kirk:
well unless sony can tone the prices down a bit and maybe offer episodes like Bleach or house m.d. it's pretty doom...More »