Plextor releases the first hardware Divx encoder

18 February 2004 3:54 by Lasse "cd-rw.org" Penttinen

San Diego and Fremont, Calif. – February 17, 2004 – DivXNetworks, Inc., the company that created the revolutionary, patent-pending DivX® video compression technology, and Plextor® Corp., a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance CD-RW and RDVD disk drives and digital video converters, today announced a partnership to enable consumers to easily encode and edit high-quality video content. The two companies also announced that the Plextor ConvertX™ Digital Video Converter is the first official DivX Certified™ hardware encoding and editing device to hit the market.


ConvertX allows users to convert video from a wide variety of sources to high-quality DivX video in real time using a Windows-based PC. The hardware device is used for consumer and business video applications. Before certifying ConvertX, the DivXNetworks expert team of video engineers subjected the device to a rigorous testing process to ensure high performance and interoperability with all versions of DivX video. The ConvertX Model PX-M402U is available today for $159 at www.divx.com/hardware.


“We’re excited to partner with Plextor to bring the first DivX Certified hardware encoding device to market. Our users can now easily achieve real-time DivX encoding without maxing out their processor or shutting down every other application running on their PC,” said Bill Holmes, Director of Product Management for Consumer Electronics at DivXNetworks, Inc. “The ConvertX device is a great product that satisfies a significant need in the marketplace. We have seen numerous requests for hardware DivX encoding from partners and consumers, and with an officially certified hardware encoder, users can now create video files that will be 100% compatible with the millions of DivX Certified DVD players hitting the market in 2004.”


The new ConvertX device also allows users to easily edit DivX video content, making it faster and easier for users to cut unwanted scenes and add titles, transitions, and special effects. Thanks to the industry-leading compression ratio of DivX video, ConvertX users can store up to 2 hours of high-quality video on a single CD or 10 hours of high-quality video on a single recordable DVD. The standard for highly compressed high-quality video, DivX is among the world’s most popular video technologies with over 100 million users worldwide.
"ConvertX is the first hardware encoding device on the market with full DivX video encoding and editing capability,” said Howard Wing, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Plextor. "By partnering with DivXNetworks, we are providing great value to DivX users everywhere who have been awaiting a high-performance, easy-to-use hardware device to encode and edit all their content."


With the launch of the DivX Certified Program for encoding devices, DivXNetworks includes a full DivX software development kit, rigorous certification testing, and marketing and sales support focused on helping third party development and OEM partners create DivX Certified hardware encoding solutions. The DivX Certified Program enables companies to meet the global demand for high-quality DivX video-enabled encoding devices, including video peripherals, video cards, digital cameras, digital camcorders, personal video recorders, and more. For more information on the DivX Certified Program, visit www.divx.com/certified. For more information on the Plextor ConvertX device, visit www.plextor.com/english/products/ConvertX2.htm.