Chinese manufacturers opt for EVD over Blu-ray and HD-DVD

[Jimmy 2004]

After three years of work, 20 of the largest DVD manufacturers in China demonstrated 80 EVD players today. EVD is intended as a low cost alternative to the relatively pricy Blu-ray and HD-DVD and uses more conventional data storage methods. By using advanced compression techniques the manufacturers intend to store high definition movies without requiring a large increase in capacity over a standard DVD.

The players are priced as low as $87, compared to the $500+ that can be expected for some Blu-ray and HD-DVD players, so they could be a viable alternative to consumers considering the disks should also be cheaper because due to similar manufacturing methods. EVD actually stands for Enhanced Versatile Disk, although it could be partly alphabetical (CD>DVD>EVD). Chinese manufacturers intend to completely switch from DVD to EVD by 2008 - how it will compete with Blu-ray and HD-DVD in China, or maybe even other countries, is yet to be seen.

I personally feel having so many formats could get confusing and make it difficult for consumers to chose which to go for, hopefully it will be easier once the format wars do settle down - if an agreement can be made.

Source: Engadget

[lemonadesoda]

There does not seem to be much info available on the EVD format. From what I gather EVD uses very similar hardware as DVD, ie. same media, "lasers", etc, but uses different CODECs to store video data, and therefore avoids expensive MPEG licensing. Data capacity remains at 4.7GB.

Basically, you can use an EVD drive in place of a DVD drive in a computer and you will not notice any difference. But the EVD concept is targeted at consumer "video players". EVD videos are now recorded under a new video CODEC that is more efficient than MPEG2. Because the CODEC is more efficient, a higher quality recording can be made on the 4.7GB.

1./ Compare DivX which "shrinks" a DVD to 700-800MB
2./ The EVD codec "shrinks" a higher resolution/quality video signal to 4.7GB.

However, the EVD will NOT PLAY DVD's due to not licensing the MPEG2 format. It is thought that a possible BIOS UPGRADE might be available for a fee that allows MPEG2 playback.

PLEASE CORRECT THESE STATEMENTS IF I AM WRONG.

[jocksteeluk]

good, some competition can only be good for the consumer but no doubt the film studios wont be happy as they wouldnt be able to charge as much for the disks.

[Saurian]

If it catches popularity, I'll buy it.

The HD/BD thing is rediculous. If they can use these "advanced" codecs to use 4.7GB as 10 or more GB, then that's great! I can't imagine them not being able to also use this to increase the capacity of the media for data storage as well.

[ATIonion]

bahhh...im waiten for that 350Gb that you can store on a pc of paper...lol....