UPDATE: Upper Deck's "Revolutionary" Insert Cards are Video Cards

Earlier this week, Upper Deck announced a new insert card set that would revolutionize the industry – but we had to wait until April 12. Well, Upper Deck spilled the beans - it's self-contained video trading cards – after Panini announced similar plans for 2011. However, UD will hit the market first. Here is the release from Upper Deck:

Upper Deck is ready to unveil its ground-breaking “Evolution” video trading cards, which will be appearing inside its 2011 Upper Deck Football release on April 12.

“I founded Upper Deck on innovation and even today we continue to reinvent the trading card,” said Richard McWilliam, Upper Deck’s owner and CEO. “I have always dreamed of bringing this type of technology to market and we are pleased to be the first to do so as the leader in the category. I believe Upper Deck’s ‘Evolution’ trading cards will capture the imagination of sports fans around the world for what trading cards can be and how far they have come.”

Four standout gridiron stars comprise the initial unveiling of the “Evolution” inserts: running back Adrian Peterson, quarterback Tony Romo, wide receiver DeSean Jackson, and linebacker Patrick Willis. Each of the booklet-type cards, which measure in at the same height (3-1/2 inches) and width (2-1.2 inches) as a regular trading card, are just over half-an-inch thick, so their discovery in boxes of 2011 Upper Deck Football will certainly make a big impression on collectors.

“From the onset, it was important to us that this new insert was a trading card first, otherwise it would just be a video player,” Jason Masherah, Upper Deck’s vice president of marketing. “The cards are built like our premium booklet trading cards with a video monitor built into the card. The beauty behind these cards is that they are self-contained. You don’t need any other gadgets or a computer to play them. You simply open the cover and press play. A video screen with 60 seconds’ worth of highlight reel footage of the player immediately starts playing. The card also has a port so it can be recharged as well.”