DVD players based on FVD (forward versatile disc), a red-laser high-definition DVD standard developed by Taiwan, were brought into volume production by OEM maker Idar Electronics in November of this year, according to Der-ray Huang, deputy director of the Opto-Electronics & Systems Laboratories (OES), the government-sponsored agency that helped develop FVD.
FVD players support two movie formats, Microsoft WMV HD (Windows media high definition video) and IMAX, Idar pointed out. Idar currently produces 10,000 FVD players a month and aims to ship 300,000 players next year, the company indicated. There will be more than 1,000 FVD movie discs available by the end of 2006, Idar added.
Taiwan Kolin has placed an OEM order for FVD players and other leading local brands of consumer electronics, including Teco, Sampo, and Tatung may follow suit, Idar indicated.
DVD players supporting Blu-ray Disc (BD) or HD-DVD or both standards will be expensive and therefore not popular until 2008 at the earliest, Huang pointed out. In the meantime, there are many good opportunities for promoting FVD players, Huang emphasized.
The Advanced Optical Storage Research Alliance formed by OES and leading Taiwanese makers will promote FVD at the 2006 CES (Consumer Electronics Show) to take place in Las Vegas during January 5-8, 2006, Huang noted. There, the alliance will talk with two movie producers about possible cooperation, Huang added.
Story source:
digitimes.com.
