PS3 Gets DivX Support, Coming Soon to Xbox 360

Mpegged writes "The popular DivX video codec will soon be supported on the PlayStation 3 via a future firmware update. DivX CEO Kevin Hell also hinted that support is coming to the 360 as well. 'During the SMid Cap conference call with investment firm JP Morgan, Hell was asked if the recent deal that will see DivX codecs shipped with new versions of Microsoft's standalone Media Center Extenders means that such support will also be arriving on the Xbox 360. "Yes!" was his immediate reply, although he quickly qualified that confirmation with a disclaimer that the deal was still in the negotiation process and had not yet been finalized.'"

DivX... do people still use that?

Everyone I know uses an XviD or h.264 codec these days. I haven't seen a new DivX video for a couple years.

Re:DivX... do people still use that?

Divx support means the ability to decode those Xvid files (at least in theory). Mpeg-4 Part II, of which both codecs are implementations, is set up so that implementations can vary in their encodes (like, say, two different MP3 encoders would do), decoding should work identically.

Re:DivX... do people still use that?

That's simply an issue with Divx's decoder not fully supporting the spec, similar to how certain h.264 encoded videos with some of the more advanced features enabled can't be played back on the ipod. The only reason not to support the full spec in software would be hardware limitations, which shouldn't be an issue for either the PS3 or 360.

Neither have I...

I thought DivX was dead...and XviD is IMHO dying to H.264
Anyway there should also be support for the Matroska container so I can play the DRM free versions of my HD movies.

Huh?

Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 already support H.264; why in the world would anyone use DivX when a better option is available?

Re:Huh?

Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 already support H.264; why in the world would anyone use DivX when a better option is available?

\

Because they're too lazy to convert 500 gigs of porn.

PS3 Media Center

I've read a few dozen times people chiming in saying the PS3 isn't a good media center because it didn't support DivX, I suppose this is a move to address that.

All I can say is...

it's about f*****' time!

I hate transcoding with a passion - the best media centers out there (TVersity, Orb) still seem somewhat buggy and just stop working sometimes. They're great, but if I have to remote admin to my media server to stop and restart the service to watch a TV show, then I'm less inclined to want to bother with it. At their best, transcoders (for obvious reasons) lower the quality of the video to get it over to your console/system of choice.

Why the moaning?

Can't understand the complaints as to why we didn't get xvid etc, I mean, they didn't have to add divx and its better than having none at all

Too little....

Too late. I just got mythTv setup and running and I like it a helluva a lot better than the Xbox360 and the Windows MCE I had on a virtual machine with transcoder. I'm now looking at a tuner card to get OTA shows. They are some big problems such as dealing with overscans and the resolutions. But I'm a lot more optimistic about OOS overcoming this than Microsoft eventually implementing a fully-functional media frontend with the xbox360.

One more benefit is that my MediaCenter is actually quieter than the Xbox360(I own a 360, so take that as you will). Not sure about the PS3.

xbmc

My XBMC plays all of the above and more. It's a staple in my living room and even passes the wife acceptance factor. Everything is served from a Debian server using the XBMC streaming protocol.

I can't wait until the linux port is complete and I can start doing HD stuff.

Question

In light of this and given that I'm not prepared to cough up money for a PS3 or an XBox360, does anyone have any recommendations for a DVD player which will play DivX and XviD?

Most important requirement is the handling of multiple films on one DVD. Apart from that, I'm keen to go with a recognised brand name rather than an obscure Chinese one.

The Philips DVP642 was an oft recommended one but has now been discontinued. Recently I've been hearing good things about the Pioneer DV-696AV-K.

Any thoughts?

The codecs I miss

They removed the PS2 BC codec and added divx ? Is the PS3 a game console ?

What about container support?

Call me when they agree to support Matroska (.mkv). Now that would be news.

Re:And here I am..

No, you don't understand, or at least you haven't read enough Slashdot - the Wii is about having *fun*. High-end technical specifications or a library of worthwhile games isn't necessary! It's all about the *fun*!

Have I ever mentioned about the excellent parties I have, where I break out Wii Sports Bowling? Or my wife, who I regularly conjoin into playing Wii Sports Tennis with me? Or all the old people I'm aware of who picked up a Wii of their own, after waiting in line at Gamestop? It's all about the *fun*, not fancy-shmancy technical specifications.

Re:And here I am..

Those are all pretty boring games you have honestly. Pickup Resident Evil 4 and Metroid. As for Super Mario Galaxy, well if you're not anxious to play the game starring Nintendo's main mascot in what is so far critically and most probably soon commerically his best game in years, then what exactly did you buy a Wii for in the first place?

Re:And here I am..

The only reason I yawned while playing Mario Galaxy was because I lost track of time and stayed up an extra two hours playing it. It really is digital crack.

Set-top PCs?

I have a DivX Player... It's called a computer...

But how large is its monitor? I'm pretty sure that most people with a PC don't know how to connect it to a TV, especially an analog TV, and many of those who do know how are not willing to buy another PC for the TV room.

hell == bright

How the Hell do you end up with a last name like that?

By having ancestors from Austria [bbc.co.uk].

Re:DivX Players?

I have a DivX Player... It's called a computer...

Good for you. Next you're going to say that your computer is hooked up to your TV and everyone else should do the same?

Fact is the PS3 and the 360 are plugged into a TV by definition and have more than enough power to play music and video. In that capacity it makes perfect sense to utilise them as multimedia jukeboxes.

Re:And here I am..

I guess the worst happened as the Wii isn't really good for anything, not games nor media center... none of the 7 games I own really make me play it any more (Zelda, Red Steel, Paper Mario, MonkeyBall, WiiSports, WiiPlay, Excite Truck)... and the prospects are not really nice (Mario galaxy??? yaawn).

Why bother owning a device that isn't really good for anything?

You should sell your Wii to me. I'll give you $200 for it... $300 if you include the games.

Re:And here I am..

I don't mean to troll, but you're absolutely begging for this comment. Seriously, you bought Monkey Ball and even Red Steel? You appear to be bitter about spending good money for crap games and now you don't want to spend any more money on the system responsible even if the game is good.

If the Wii is so worthless, then can you name one system that has had a better game lineup in its first year? (Bonus points if it's not a Nintendo system.) The Wii has Zelda (as a launch title), two Mario platformers, and the Virtual Console lineup. Yeah, you're bored of two of those and you've dismissed the third (a game with the highest average on Metacritic, 97, out of all current-generation consoles). But the question still remains, what other console has offered you a better first-year experience?

Re:And here I am..

Well, Mario Galaxy has received really excellent mark from many in the gaming community. It is definitely a must own title. On another point though, what games really have so much staying power that you will play it after you've beat it? Unless you play with friends, or online, there's very little reason to re-play a game. That's why they keep coming out with new games, so you have something to keep you playing.

Just sell your games on Ebay, or GameStop if you're lazy, and buy some new games.