New Mac Divx.com Codec Released

Phunky Monkey writes "The Divx.com codec for Mac, version 5.0a2, has been released. New features include a completely new AVI doctoring app, and the Divx 5.0.2 decoder core (same as the most recent PC version). This version also introduces a new technique of fixing AVI files that allows them to be played as well on Macs as on PCs using the same file. Download it, and read the details about all the new features." I just wish QuickTime 6 came wih DivX and AC3 decoders included. Durnit.

Why not just use QuickTime 6?

[Wesley Felter]

Since Divx 5.0 is MPEG-4 and QT 6 includes an MPEG-4 codec, who needs Divx any more?

Re:Why not just use QuickTime 6?

[wizbit]

I *think* the Quicktime DivX codec from divx.com supports more formats, including backward compatibility with older DivX standards - whereas actual MPEG4 files aren't as proliferant. DivX makes the codec for all us movie traders :)

Re:Why not just use QuickTime 6?

[benwaggoner]

.divx is not the same as .mp4. .divx is an AVI file with MPEG-4 video and (generally MP3) audio. A real MP4 file would use AAC audio, and be in the MPEG-4 file format.

Of course, QuickTime knows how to play MPEG-4 video, MP3 audio, and read AVI files, so it seems like it would be a trivial task for Apple to have QuickTime be able to play .divx files.

Hopefully DivxNetworks will adopt .mp4 as their file format in the future. AVI is really not a good format (hence all the sync problems non-Windows Divx players have), and AAC is a lot better than MP3 and AC-3.

Re:Why not just use QuickTime 6?

[Anonymous Coward]

There are already THOUSANDS of full length divx movies out there and NO MP4 movies. All my friends have lots of GB of divx and NO MP4. If I want to play and of these THOUSANDS of divx movies on a Mac I NEED a codec.

Re:Why not just use QuickTime 6?

[diverman]

You're still clinging to OS/2, aren't you? Although I'm sure your statement was largely just trying to inflame others, surely you have to recognize the stupidity of your statement. :)

-Alex

Next time it comes around on the kernel...

[BandwidthHog]

I grabbed and installed this the other day. Apparently I'll be able to use it next time I reboot.

Whenever that may be. (Thanks, BSD/NeXT/Mach!)

Re:Next time it comes around on the kernel...

[rufo]

The installer lies, as most do under Mac OS X. I've been using DivX 5.0a2 since it first came out and I haven't had to reboot yet. Just make sure you quit and relaunch QuickTime Player and you should be set.

Alternatives for DivX on OSX

[bjtuna]

Both VideoLan Client [videolan.org] and the MPlayer OSX port [versiontracker.com] will let you play DivX files under OSX without having to doctor the file first. Sound works too!

Re:Alternatives for DivX on OSX

[aberkvam]

I'm not sure why you linked to VersionTracker [versiontracker.com] instead of the developer's site [fi.muni.cz] for MPlayerOSX.

I'm just trying to make everyone's life a little easier by saving a couple of clicks... ;-)

Re:Alternatives for DivX on OSX

[bjtuna]

Ya, I just didn't try real hard to find the developer's site, thats all. the first few hits on Google were from Versiontracker and something similar, and hey I'm a busy man. Thanks for the link though, it's in my bookmarks now :)

AIM compatible?

[CalCudahy]

The last release was, strangly enough, known to freeze up AOL Instant Messenger. Does this new version fix that bug?

Re:AIM compatible?

[snyperm]

Yeah this doens't have the quicktime/AIM conflict so feel free to install and use it. Coincidentally that last release could still be used with aim if you removed the quicktime component and left the other one if put in the plugins folder IIRC.

Actually I just realized UI'm using the noAd version of AIM so maybe th ads use quicktime which may still cause conflict...so I guess i reall have no answer for you.

qt6

[zephc]

has anyone actually tried it under the QT6 public release? I had to uninstall 6 and go back to 5 becuz the previous divx.com plugin did not work.

Re:qt6

[pudge]

I couldn't get a movie of mine to play under QuickTime 6 on Mac OS X with this codec, but it worked fine under Mac OS 9. I didn't spend much time trying to figure out why though.

Re:qt6

[aberkvam]

I have been using DivX.com 5.0a2 with QuickTime 6 under Mac OS X 10.1.5 and it's been running fine for me. On the other hand, it was running fine with DivX.com 5.0a1 and QuickTime 6 too. What do you mean by "did not work"? More details would give people the details they need to offer good suggestions.

Anyone able to play the NWN Asgard movie?

[frankie]

http://nwvault.ign.com/features/previews/Asgard Trailers.shtml [ign.com]

I've tried it using every codec and video player I could find. Is WiMP on a PC the only thing that works?

Re:Anyone able to play the NWN Asgard movie?

[damiam]

It works fine for me using an mplayer CVS snapshot with the ffmpeg/libavcodec DivX codec under Debian.