Divx/Xvid finally possibly coming to the 360 and PS3?

[Queasy]

360 rumor

During a Q&A session JP Morgan analyst Paul Coster coyly probed DivX CEO Kevin Hell about whether or not we were about to see DivX support on the Xbox 360. Coster asked whether Microsoft's incorporation of a DivX codec on a media extender meant we?re soon going to see 360s with DivX. To which Kevin Hell replied ?Yes! that, uh, we?re in discussions with Microsoft on that at this point in time, so I can?t go into any great detail on that. Um that is not a certified, that is not a certified or licensed product at this time.?

Coster - ?Just a minor point here, but there was a recent Microsoft (MSFT) conference where I believe their media extender now incorporates the DivX codec on it, is that correct? Can you confirm that and does that mean we?re soon going to see Xboxes with DivX on them?

Hell - ?Yes! that, uh, we?re in discussions with Microsoft on that at this point in time, so I can?t go into any great detail on that. Um that is not a certified, that is not a certified or licensed product at this time.?

At that point DivX CFO Dan Halvorson jumped in and quickly changed the subject.

PS3

Seems Sony slipped a little something into the latest PS3 firmware update. Prior to v2.0, if you tried to browse through stored videos, you'd only ever be able to see vids in a format supported by the PS3. Now? Well in this crazy post v2.0 world, the PS3 can suddenly not only detect unsupported file formats, it gives you a thumbnail, running time and even the proper filename. Example: last week, only two vids in the movies folder on my PC turned up in the PS3's browser (both were mpegs). Now? The Xvid and DivX vids are showing up as well. Course they don't actually play, you'll just get a "corrupted" message if you try, but Sony wouldn't have increased the compatibility in there for shits and giggles. Would they?

I'll be doing the Snoopy Happy Dance if this comes true.

 

[Xavier434]

This is seriously the only thing more that I want out of my 360 right now. If this comes out and works perfectly then I will be so happy. I hope this happens very soon.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

So if this happens, it means I could stream divx from my computer to my xbox 360 but I'd need media center edition correct?

I assume I could just play them off of a dvd too?

 

[Queasy]

There's no telling at this point.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: bl4ckfl4g
So if this happens, it means I could stream divx from my computer to my xbox 360 but I'd need media center edition correct?

Queasy is right that there are no guarantees, but if they add the divx codec to the media extender then the media center should be able to stream divx and you will need either XP Media Center, Vista Home Premium, or Vista Ultimate to do it.

Originally posted by: bl4ckfl4g
I assume I could just play them off of a dvd too?

That is pushing it even farther. It is less of a guarantee I would say but don't give your hopes up. It may end up working like a champ.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Yeah it's something I brought up a while ago in this thread. I really hope it does come to fruition. Recently, I've been encoding everything to WMV with 5.1 audio and the VC-1 video codec anyway. But I do have a largish library of old DivX/Xvid content I'd love to play on my TV through the 360.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: bl4ckfl4g
I assume I could just play them off of a dvd too?

That is pushing it even farther. It is less of a guarantee I would say but don't give your hopes up. It may end up working like a champ.

I don't see why it wouldn't. I convert my xvid avis to a compatible codec and burn those files to a dvd. Works flawlessly as long as you pick a compatible format. If I didn't have to re-convert all my rips of south park and scrubs than I'd be very happy.

 

[austin316]

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
Yeah it's something I brought up a while ago in this thread. I really hope it does come to fruition. Recently, I've been encoding everything to WMV with 5.1 audio and the VC-1 video codec anyway. But I do have a largish library of old DivX/Xvid content I'd love to play on my TV through the 360.

Goober, what program and settings do you use to encode your dvds?

 

[onlyCOpunk]

This is the one thing that the PS3 is lacking and it's really annoying considering Divx has become such a staple in video encoding. If I didn't have my computer hooked up to my TV why I woul dbe infuriated at having to convert everything!

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: austin316

Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
Yeah it's something I brought up a while ago in this thread. I really hope it does come to fruition. Recently, I've been encoding everything to WMV with 5.1 audio and the VC-1 video codec anyway. But I do have a largish library of old DivX/Xvid content I'd love to play on my TV through the 360.

Goober, what program and settings do you use to encode your dvds?

It's a process....

I basically follow the steps outlined here. It does take a long time, but the resulting files are great. I mean, I've been using this process for a while now, and there could be better/faster ways available, but I haven't really been researching it since I got this down.

Edit1: A note on the author's requirements: The only AV codec-ish software I have installed is CCCP, quicktime and real alternatives, and avisynth 2.5. The author suggests a few pay-for mpeg2 decoders, which I've found unnecessary.

Edit2: Also, when it comes to cropping, I've found the AutoCrop() filter for avisynth works flawlessly. I just use that and then adjust for proper aspect ratio using non-square pixels and the video size tab in WME.

Edit3: I'm not sure if the tutorial mentions needing a modified WMCmd.vbs file for WME....you do, it allows WME to accept avisynth scripts. Basically, everything I learned and needed I found on the doom9 forums.

Edit4: Actually here's an interesting method that could be worth checking out.