First FVD players to hit early next year

You didn't forget about the
Forward Versatile Disc, didja? The world hasn't exactly been crying out for yet another optical disc format to compete with HD-DVD
and Blu-ray, but a consortium of Taiwanese manufacturers are hoping that the FVD, which supports Microsoft's WMV-HD
codec, will find a place in the hearts of Asian consumers as an inexpensive option for HD video before either Blu-ray or HD-DVD takes over. We're still a bit skeptical that FVD will go anywhere (at least outside of Taiwan and China) ,
but DigiTimes reports that the first FVD players have gone into production in Taiwan, with a manufacturer called Idar Electronics aiming to ship 300,000 units next year which'll be OEM'd by other brands like Sampo and Tatung.

[Via The Register]