Consumer Advocate wants to hear your voice!

Hey everyone


I’m Steven and I am a new member of this forum. I’m here because my responsibility is to advocate the “voice of the consumer” and so I’d like to hear the opinions of every one of you forum users. To help start the conversation, I’ve created a short survey below that deals mainly with digital video usage and DivX, my employer. So if you don’t mind taking a few minutes to share your thoughts, please click the link below.


Make your voice heard!


In case you’re curious, I will go back to my team at DivX and use these survey results to advocate your voice. I’d like to hear both the good AND the bad, so I can better represent your desires to help us make better DivX products for you. I realize some of you will have more to say than the constraints of the survey allow, so just message me in that case. Do you think the survey sucks? Do you think our products suck? Just let me know. Seriously, any and all conversation is welcome


Thanks,
- Steven

Thanks lordsmurf. Is there any particular reason that you choose Xvid over DivX?
- To support open source?
- Compatability issues?
- Prefer codecs that begin with an "X"?

I see. Would you mind suggesting how you would like DivX tools to be easier to use?
- More options?
- Fewer options?
- etc.

comments from anyone else?

Guess not =(

Since XVID gives better quality in my experience, and is free, you have an uphill battle. I understand the latest Divx gives full DVD-style menus and functionality, but the problem is that very few standalone players support it.

There is a market for you to pursue. Bring out a standalone app to convert HD content to Divx to fit on an SL disk, with good quality, and you may have something.

A big problem is that many people who make and distribute Divx videos create files with total crap quality. Those who take the time to do it right generally use XVID. Your product may, or may not, be getting an unfair reputation for lousy quality.

Competing against a superior product at a lower price is a difficult thing to do.

Originally Posted by Nelson37

Since XVID gives better quality in my experience, and is free, you have an uphill battle.

All very fair points Nelson and a big thanks for taking the time to voice your concerns. DivX offers a free desktop Player, a free Web Player, a free Codec, and the free Dr. DivX encoding tool (the Pro codec and Converter are paid upgrades after the initial free trial expires) Do these cover your bases?

Originally Posted by Nelson37

I understand the latest Divx gives full DVD-style menus and functionality, but the problem is that very few standalone players support it.

Would you mind clarifying what you mean by "standalone players"?? Are you referring to desktop players? The latest DivX media file with DVD-style menus are intended for use on your living room TV. So anyone can transfer their DivX files from the computer onto a DivX-certified DVD player and enjoy DVD-style menus in the comforts of their living room.

Originally Posted by Nelson37

Bring out a standalone app to convert HD content to Divx to fit on an SL disk, with good quality, and you may have something.

As mentioned before, we have the free Dr. DivX (http://labs.divx.com/DrDivX?cmdrdivx20lg)
and the Converter which both have an encoding profile to convert files into DivX HD.

I hope these will help address your concerns. Please let me know if I'm off-base or if you have any other thoughts.

Well, first, if it expires, it is not free. Just a trial. XVID does not do this. I can get a free trial of MS Vista, but it certainly is not free software.

By standalone player, example my Philips 642, which is Divx capable. SFAIK it does not play the new Divx 6(?) which has the menus and such. My understanding is that there are currently few players which can provide the new features. If I cannot access the new features, they may as well not exist.

After a brief initial interest in Divx and Xvid, the price reduction in DVD burners and media made the file-size savings largely irrelevant. The next frontier where these will be useful will be in reducing Blu-Ray content, or something similar, to a format which will fit on a DL disk. It will most likely be a year or two, at least, until I am in need of making such a conversion. It is at that time that I will again evaluate the capabilities available on DVD players. And/or I may be using an HTPC for playback, lessening compatibility problems.

At that time, I (and many, many others) will run test encodes using both Divx and Xvid to compress HD content. The winner will be the one with the best picture quality, if they are very, very close then price and features will make the decision. Your software is currently slightly ahead on one, and way behind on the other. Oh yes, speed of conversion will also be an important factor. Support for multi-threading may be important.

Originally Posted by Nelson37

Well, first, if it expires, it is not free. Just a trial. XVID does not do this. I can get a free trial of MS Vista, but it certainly is not free software.

Only the Pro Codec and Converter products are trials with expirations. Everything else (desktop Player, Web Player, Codec, Dr. DivX encoder) is FREE without any expirations or restrictions.

Originally Posted by Nelson37

By standalone player, example my Philips 642, which is Divx capable. SFAIK it does not play the new Divx 6(?) which has the menus and such.

If by "Philips 642" you are referring to the Philips DVP642 DVD Player, then the reason it does not support the DivX 6 codec is because that DVD player was released a full year before the DivX 6 codec became available. Go here: http://www.divx.com/products/hw/browse.php?c=1
for a list of DivX certified DVD players (DivX Ultra certification enables advanced features like menus, etc.).

Hope that helps

Were gettin' there.

What does the Pro version do that the free version does not?

edit:
The latest versions of the Pro Codec and the free Community Codec BOTH offer:
- Higher performance, including multi-threaded support for better performance on all HyperThreaded, dual core and dual CPU (SMP) systems

The Pro Codec has the following advantages over the free Codec:
- Most advanced version of the DivX video encoder so you can create the highest-quality DivX files
- More encoding options

http://www.divx.com/divx/whybuydivx.php

Hope that clarifies a bit. I know it's a very confusing issue and it's one of the biggest complaints that I get. Any other thoughts / issues from anyone?

Just so you know, the second line of your explanation is the only useful one. Aside from the "higher performance", that means nothing. "Support for multi-threading", that is something real, I know what it is, and can verify its value.

The first and third ones are useless, meaningless, marketing crap that just does not cut it here. You might as well have said "new and improved".

If you have been sent here to convince guys like me to buy the Pro version, and that's the best you got, brush up on the resume.

Most of the serious folks here have pretty refined bullshit detectors. Cut the fluff, give us the meat only. What makes it more advanced? In what way are Pro-encoded files BETTER than non-pro encoded? No coherent explanation means NO CASH SPENT.

The 3 points I posted were pulled from our website, which explains the marketing fluff. My apologies for not including the technical details...I did not want to post a 5 page explanation.

As I stated in the first post of this thread, I am here to collect people's comments for use in future product development. If you have questions regarding our current line of products, then I will find the relevant resources for you. But I am mainly here to serve as a channel for consumers to express their "wish-lists"...so future DivX products can better serve our consumers' needs. I am not a salesman (but thanks for re-confirming that I have no future in sales


As for your questions:

Originally Posted by Nelson37

What makes it more advanced? In what way are Pro-encoded files BETTER than non-pro encoded?

Free Community codec allows:
- DivX playback
- Configuration of encoding mode, b-frame selection, and quantization method indirectly via a preset slider ( provides access to most combinations of settings via presets)

Pro codec allows Direct configuration of settings...such as:
- “Fastest performance” & “Insane Quality” encoding modes
- “Unconstrained” mode (i.e. 1-Pass Fixed Quality mode, QPel, and GMC)
- Crop/resize
- Feedback window
- Maximum keyframe interval or threshold
- Noise reduction
- DivX playback

Generally speaking, the free Community codec is intended for general video playback and DivX encoding in community applications. You can change advanced settings via presets. The Pro Codec (offered as a limited free trial, must be paid for once the free trial expires) offers everything the free Commmunity Codec offers as well as direct access to configure advanced settings.

I wouldn't say Pro-encoded files are necessarily better than non pro-encoded. The Pro Codec gives you complete control during the encode process. The free Community Codec gives you control, but not as much granular detail as the Pro Codec does. Many people find that they don't need to control every single, granular detail...in which case the free Community Codec would suit their needs. If, however, you are one of those people who loves to control every single detail, then you might want to check out the Pro Codec.

For your reference:
Support guide: http://support.divx.com/cgi-bin/divx.cfg/php/enduser/cci/support.phph
Forums: http://forums.divx.com/forum/


Again, I'm here as a representative of future product development. I am not trained in Customer Support, so please bear with me. From my experience, the best way to reach Customer Support is to post in our forums. They are constantly monitoring those forums for issues. If you find that they are not getting back to you in a timely manner, then message me and I'll make sure it gets done.

Hope that addresses everyting.


So...any thoughts or "wish list" items that y'all would like to see in future DivX products?

Another resource for those who have questions to ask Customer Support:

http://support.divx.com/cgi-bin/divx.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php


For those who have comments, suggestions for future product development, I'm all ears

To start, assume that the possibilities are endless. What would you guys want your software media player to do, or allow you to do?

I find it weird that the whole questionnaire is leaning towards the development of a software player. Who the h..l cares??? There are enough of those around as it is. If the current divx player does not have menu support then add it. If it doesn't have hd support then add it. If it doesn't have resizing then add it etc.. . Case closed!

Anyone can place a link to an old existing divx survey. If you really are part of the official divx support team, you should already know that what users are looking for are standalone divx/mpeg4 recorders to supplement mpeg2 dvd player recorders. Even better if they can record to hd profiles. Many of those who use divx here either capture tv shows or home video to divx or encode it for viewing on a divx certified player and those with limited space(including university) may strictly use their pc for viewing.

I saw a dual function photo camera advertised on a shopping network that captures small clips (mpeg4/divx) to memory cards but detailed specs were not given so I suspect they were low res 320x240. This is one of the markets that divx has to exploit.

The next evolution has to include divx capture/encoding outside the pc environment.

Great input, thanks! If only product development was that easy


Speaking of dual function photo cameras, the Pentax Optio A20 captures DivX video at 30fps at up to 640x480.
see: http://www.divx.com/products/hw/detail.php?p=339

Here's a simple one: turn off the annoying Divx playback logo by default!

And I agree with others. I don't need another software player. Concentrate on the encoder/decoder. How about AVC support?

I'm NOT your usual consumer, so my needs may not be shared by your intended audience (yet ).

In addition to the usual things:
QUALITY, QUALITY, QUALITY
and
SPEED, SPEED, SPEED
as well as the obvious:
CHEAP (FREE?), CHEAP (FREE), CHEAP (FREE!),

I think a complexity-tiered interface is best:
Newbie features (and presets) on 1 or 2 panels (possibly with a preliminary wizard/questionaire mode), Intermediate features (Going off presets, VBR rate control, motion search, GOP structure) on 1 or 2 panels, and Advanced features (Qpel, QuantMatrix adjustment, etc) on another 1 or 2 panels. All this with a preference setting that allows access/hiding choice to Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced.
CLI/batch mode is good for workflow/production-oriented guys (like me).
Similarly, abiliity to save/load XML-based encoding template files would make it easy to tweak/copy/share settings in the Community (even without opening the encoder, just a text editor).

Specifically for my needs, what I'd like to see is the ability to incorporate explicit support for Stereoscopic files (for clarification: Dual-muxed video streams), both on the encoder side and the decoder/player side. Am hoping future settop/desktop hardware players will also support this.

You asked...

Scott

Great feedback. Thanks for taking the time jagabo and Cornucopia. Your suggestions are in the funnel to bring back to the development teams. Specific details are very helpful as well, so keep 'em coming!