what is divx

[mumo805]

what is divx?

[Craig Tucker]

Ever heard of a search engine.

http://www.divx-digest.com/help.html

DivX

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The DivX codec is based on MPEG-4 video compression standard, designed primarily for video transfer over low to mid bandwidth networks (eg. Internet, WAP ...).

There are in fact 2 major codecs, both name the "DivX codec". But the newer one, which used to be part of the open-sourced project at Project Mayo (now under a licensing scheme), is more commongly referred to as "DivX For Windows/Linux/Mac ...", whereas the orginal codec is sometimes referred to as the "DivX ;-) Codec". The version number of these 2 major codecs are also different - the original being 3.xx, while the new ProjectMayo codec has a version number of 4.xx.

Most older/existing movies are encoded with "DivX ;-) Codec", since the new ProjectMayo DivX codec is still being developed.

The original DivX 3.xx codec is based on Microsoft's MPEG-4 V3 codec (ASF was based on MPEG-4 V2). The reason why the codec was "hacked" and re-distributed is because Microsoft's codec did not allow one to encode to AVI (they only wanted people to encode to ASF/WMV), which is far from being convenient. The DivX 3.xx codec also includes hacked versions of a MP3 codec and a WMA codec. The AnglePotion, MPEG-4 and SMR codecs are all in the same boat. There is also a VKI (Scene Detect) patch that will insert keyframes at scene changes for you automatically, which will improve picture quality.

The new DivX 4.x codec has nothing to do with Microsoft - it has been developed entirely from scratch, and is still under development (hence less then perfect compatibility/efficiency/quality). In time, the DivX 4.xx codec will completely replace the 3.xx codec, but for now, the 3.xx codec offers better compatibility/efficiency/quality. The 4.xx codec is not compatible with the 3.xx codec, and vice versa.

There is now also DivX5.02

http://www.divx.com/divx/



DIVX
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DIVX has nothing to do with DivX (AVI/MPEG-4). DIVX refers to the failed digital video rental system. This new DivX is differentiated by it's capitalisation (i and v are small case) and usually written as DivX ;-) or DivX MPEG-4. DIVX was a pay-per-view DVD rental system, which basically meant that you paid around $US 4.50 per movie (the disc has no extra features on it, and may not even be widescreen, let alone anamporphic) and you get 48 hours of viewing time. After you have used up viewing time, you'll need to pay an extra $US 2.50 to open a new viewing period. DIVX was to become a competing force to DVD (although theoretically, this shouldn't be the case), and many studios might have preferred to release movies only on DIVX, not on DVD. DIVX is now dead, thankfully, because of the negative support it got from the DVD community.