EVD (enhanced versatile disc) was originally expected to become China?s answer to the DVD format.

But the platform appears to be struggling to gain acceptance as it competes with various alternative formats, according to Taiwan optical disc drive (ODD) makers.

On July 8, China?s Ministry of Information Industry made an on-line announcement stating EVD was going to become the official DVD technology standard of China within one month. Several Chinese manufacturers had already launched EVD-based players to compete with the DVD player platform, with Shinco Electronic introducing its first EVD player in November 2003 and Sichuan Changhong, SVA and Amoi Electronics following later.

However, China?s domestic market response to EVD players has not been as positive as originally expected as prices are not competitive with foreign brands, and many local makers of DVD players are not willing to adopt the EVD format. In addition, two other competing DVD formats have been developed in the China market, HVD (high-definition versatile disc) and HDV (high-definition digital video).

Taiwan?s FVD could also be a strong competitor in the China market, based on its certification from the DVD Forum and support from Microsoft, stated Der-ray Huang, deputy director of Opto-Electronics & Systems Laboratories at the Taiwan-based Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).

From DigiTimes