Divx Networks and InterVideo (WinDVD) to target the OEM market

I'm not a major Divx fan. I used to be. But until/unless widespread hardware (standalone) support is incorporated, Divx will, for the most part, be relegated to PC use. Is not Divx's main claim to fame it's small file-size-to-quality ratio? It's a terrific, high-quality compressor, but right now I think it's main benefit is for on-line streaming in real-time. There's virtually no support (99.9%) for standalone machines. Now - IF set-top dvd/divx players were to emerge........(we could probably say 'good-bye' to vcds). -- Mike --

Two stand-alone players have been introduced, I beleive. A Chinese cheapo KiSS and LiteOn. We'll see if MPEG-4 compliant video makes it to the livingrooms. DVD-R is penetrating the market quite quickly, which increases the capacity so that there is less need for high compression ratio in home video use.

That's true, Lasse, but even on present-day, ultra-inexpensive cdrs, 700 megs'-worth of vbr Divx mpeg-4 would blow the doors off 700 megs-worth of cbr VCD mpeg-1. Either way, dvd or cd, we really need hardware support. (You could get some whack of playing time by putting divx mpeg-4 on a single dvd, and not have a whole lot to complain about, quality-wise.) -- Mike --

I'm very sceptical with MPEG-4's changes to "make it big in the living room", provided the fact that DVD recorders are falling under $200 mark and blank DVD-R discs already provide cheaper price per gigabyte than CDRs do -- there's simply no need. Only and in my eyes, the only real reason why MPEG-4 still continues to go forward among the masses is -- yes, I admit this (I might oppose piracy, but I'm not naive) -- the fact that downloading a DVD-R image from the P2P takes helluvalot longer for Joe Average than downloading a 1-CD DVD rip encoded with DivX/XviD, which can be basically downloaded within a reasonable timeline with even ISDN connections.

I think that dvd recorders geting cheaper by the day will play a big part in mpeg 4 coming to set top players. Before many of us had dvd burners we could keep buying dvd movie as needed or download and watch divx/xvid on comp.With dvd being able to be backed up to blank dvd now for relativly cheap price there is realy no reason for hollywood to keep puting bucks into keeping mpeg 4 out of set top players. As for the price differance in media we can not realy compare the 2 because now I got my last 600 blank cds and was given $1.50 to take them off there hands. Still have to give $169.00 for 100 blank dvd media. With the quality differance being so little it would be great to be able to get 10 or 12 hours of video on 1 blank dvd and play it in set top. I like this xvid so well I been thinking about the kiss 450 or maybe even the 500 for myself. Might just wait now to see what this merger (persay) will bring to other brands of players.

*spamming-forums*

Hiya Whompy! Good to see some of the dvdxcopy folks migrating over to the 'other' side once in a while. ("Come to the dark side, Luke") <g> So there you have it - a split decision. One who feels that maybe, in the face of low-cost media and dropping hardware prices, prime time home mpeg-4 use may have missed it's main window of opportunity; and another feeling that home mpeg-4 use would be a good choice for extended viewing on dvd media. I think you're both right. But it's going to take more than just 2 or 3 mpeg4-compatible playback machines to pull it off. I *like* the look of Divx, and always have because I was able to customize the bitrate (up it to whatever level necessary to make a decent-looking picture). I made a huge collection of movies with the old Divx 3.11 alpha codec. But my interest in Divx has waned considerably. It's not really necessary on 4.36 gig blanks. Lower-than-standard-dvd bitrate mpeg2 video would also yield a *lot* of playing time on a single dvd. (Simply cut the screen res in half). I still think Divx's only *real* future is in real-time media streaming, or small-size downloads of (possibly) pirated material as dRD suggests. -- Mike --

MPEG 4 standalone players would be handy for those who would love to back up DVDs until DVD-Burners come down in price. With an MPEG 4 compatible DVD player, one would be able to back up a DVD on to a CD-R using DivX, Xvid, etc. without having to play it back only on their PC or have to downgrade the quaility to VCD for playback in current DVD players. Having DivX or Xvid on DVD-Rs would be a bonus as you would only need a fraction of the number of backups compared to having originals. I.e. imagine having two cabinets of DVDs, of which one is only backups of what's in the other!