Rumor: 360 DivX support to be a Fall feature

by Dustin Burg { Nov 11th 2007 at 12:30PM }

During a recent earnings report presentation, DivX CEO Kevin Hell might have revealed a bit too much regarding DivX support on the Xbox 360.

JP Morgan analyst Paul Coster asked Hell about DivX support that was added to Microsoft's Media Extender and if that foreshadowed a release to the Xbox 360. Hell's response was an enthusiastic "Yes!" followed by a semi-awkward, backpedaling clarification that went something like ... "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."

His response may not sound like confirmation of DivX headed to the 360, but simply reading the quote doesn't paint the whole picture. According to those who attended the conference, it was how he answered the question thta was most revealing. Hell was very enthusiastic at first when he answered "Yes!" and then he quickly tried to backpedal and change the subject. Was it a slip of the tongue or a simple misunderstanding? No one is certain, but we wouldn't be surprised to see DivX support added to the 360 this December.

[Thanks, Evan Walsh]

Tags: dash, dashboard, divx, fall-update, xbox-360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Forest @ Nov 11th 2007 12:41PM

That would be great, now if only they added Divx support to my zune...

h0mi @ Nov 11th 2007 12:47PM

Please please please be true.

Please please please be true.

Seriously, I'd buy another xbox for my sister if this were true.

MDJ2010 @ Nov 11th 2007 12:51PM

If Divx support were added do you think it would then be possible to mov over HD divx files ontop your 360 HD via a device such as an ipod. I presume this is the means by which it would work. Any ideas?

homer34 @ Nov 11th 2007 1:00PM

his last name is hell?
now THATS heavy metal.

Irwin @ Nov 11th 2007 1:14PM

lol someones gona get in shit with microsoft :P

murph @ Nov 11th 2007 1:17PM

this would rock. i don't mind using Encode360 to convert files, but it would just be a lot easier and quicker if the 360 had Divx support. lots of rumblings on this rumor, looking good.

Eddy @ Nov 11th 2007 1:52PM

can someone clarify what this is? I've been hearing a lot of people hoping for this to happen but I'm not sure what's so great.

rom @ Nov 11th 2007 1:39PM

I would absolutely love it if this were true.

Don't let me down MS.

hue hue @ Nov 11th 2007 1:55PM

@4
That is exactly what I was thinking.
Making a deal with Mr. Hell.
Or the Devil.

mike @ Nov 11th 2007 1:59PM

if they get divx support, does that include Xvid? Cause really no1 uses divx, mostly xvid.

Also, what about .mkv x264 files?

MDJ2010 @ Nov 11th 2007 2:10PM

Don't the Divx codecs as a whole indicate xvix aswell? Basically any file that end with .avi - I could be wrong but i think this is the case.

MDJ2010 @ Nov 11th 2007 2:10PM

Don't the Divx codecs as a whole indicate xvid aswell? Basically any file that end with .avi - I could be wrong but i think this is the case.

Emperor Samoth @ Nov 11th 2007 2:13PM

Kevin Hell. Best. Name. Ever. Reminds me of Mazinger Z's Dr. Hell.

IncredibleBulk92 @ Nov 11th 2007 2:18PM

With the marketplace probably going to be released soon in other territories it seems unlikely that well ever see DivX support, but this makes me think maybe. That would be fricking awesome mind.

IncredibleBulk92 @ Nov 11th 2007 2:18PM

LMAO DivX comes from Hell!

Patrick @ Nov 11th 2007 2:19PM

id love my name to be hell

tropmug @ Nov 11th 2007 2:57PM

Now if they only added a browser (but what browser to choose?)...the possibilities would be ENDLESS.

LesbianHam @ Nov 11th 2007 3:06PM

opera

Token White Guy @ Nov 11th 2007 3:52PM

@ 8. DivX is a video codec.

@ 10. Xvid is pretty much the same as DivX

@ 11 Yes, .AVI is pretty much like DivX

coreya.k.a.ProjectModChamp @ Nov 11th 2007 3:54PM

@17 I've read alot on Browser opinions and the chances of a browser are 1/10 sadly, and if we did have a browser it would be a chopped down IE probably:/ Now for the update divx support would be nice, but I honestly don't care:p When I render my movies they are windows media player files, in sony vegas. So I can watch all my vids=] lol

Rob @ Nov 11th 2007 4:04PM

does this mean i can stream .avi movies to my xbox

Who Flang Poo @ Nov 11th 2007 4:33PM

Im sorry I if sound like an idiot, but whats Divx?
Just wanted to know lol.

sisedi @ Nov 11th 2007 4:50PM

@22: As far as I know, DivX is a way to encode AVI files so efficiently that they conserve space on your hard drive. DivX's revolutionary method was something along the lines of only giving the player information for when a pixel changed from one color to another rather than recording information for each frame of the movie.

For example, if you're looking at a completely black screen, DivX would encode those pixels as black for a certain amount of time, regular AVI encoding would dictate all the following pixels are black now, now, now, now, now and therefore disregards whether or not they change but simply keep track of them throughout the length of the video for each and every frame.

If one pixel became white, DivX would translate that pixel's specific change into the video data but for a reg AVI it would now be this many black pixels and 1 white pixel.

Does that kind of make sense? Someone correct me or add if I didn't mention everything.

Imadogg @ Nov 11th 2007 6:00PM

Damn, I was reading the post waiting for a "HELL YES!" joke but I guess it was overlooked.

Well, on topic: this is great news!

Anticrawl @ Nov 11th 2007 6:26PM

Did someone seriously ask what BROWSER MICROSOFT would put on the MICROSOFT XBOX if they added a BROWSER? Are you fucking kidding me? How can anyone be that stupid...........

Now that's if they'd even add a browser, but seriously, come one people, MICROSOFT... think about it. Jesus christ!!!

Anticrawl @ Nov 11th 2007 6:30PM

Well now that I think about it, ignore my last comment. I can't piss off your type because without morons like you, I'd be out of a job. Thank god people don't know how to fix a printer that gives an error message, "Printer out of paper."

And now I'm off to do extensive reasearch as to why I can't be in a tube while drying my hair with an electric hair dryer. I'll let you guys know what I find in case you have any questions.

Anticrawl @ Nov 11th 2007 6:36PM

Breaking News: The Zune is now going to come bundled with iTunes software. id software is developing for the Wii. Cars with now run on human urine. The stuff under the sink is OK to drink. Jack Thompson is the Mesiah. And finally the 360 will support the Safari web browser out of the box.

Foggy Bottoms @ Nov 11th 2007 6:53PM

divx is great for all you pc guys but all i want is to be able to stream my itunes stuff from my mac. obviously that will never happen, and Connect360 is as close to that as i can get. and Connect360 streams video IF i convert them to wmv. who wants to convert and waste their time like that?

Jeremy @ Nov 11th 2007 7:11PM

It would be nice for it to support Divx, but honestly I still can't see myself getting rid of my old modded Xbox for the home theatre. XBMC is just too rediculously awesome.

DjDATZ @ Nov 11th 2007 7:49PM

puweeeese be true?

i want to watch all my pirated movies on my 360. :D

James @ Nov 11th 2007 9:20PM

@28: I transcode my DVDs to a modified "Apple TV" H264 profile. It's basically AVC with 1500kbps video and 128kbps audio. Sounds and looks great and would *probably* play on an iPod. Of course, the rest of my e.g. recorded TV programs are in MPEG-2 or DivX (or xvid) and won't play on my 360. Man, I miss my XBMC...

Pat @ Nov 11th 2007 9:25PM

Just use Orb for 360... for free.. for the time being.

http://corp.orb.com/gamers/xbox.htm

DjFIL @ Nov 11th 2007 10:14PM

@28 (Foggy Bottoms): connect360 supports all formats that xbox 360 supports, that means windows media player and h.264 formats. i've played items i've encoded in to h.264 (which also works on quicktime/itunes/ipod) format via ffmpegx.

but... divx support would be awesome. but i too am still confused... is xvid playable via dvix codec? i know some divx\dvd players can play xvid format... hope this would be same too.

ToRo @ Nov 11th 2007 10:20PM

I dont care about watching movies on my 360! How about 4 people in one private chat? Or how about Making it easier to invite people to private chat? (you press X to invite them, then why can't you press RB to invite them to private chat?). Or how about having an option to sign on onto xbox live without telling everyone on you friends list that your online? Also, how about adding some classification into the friend list? (Sort of like how you separate your contacts on msn, Family, friends, ect.) Instead of having a big old list of people, why cant I categorize by game? One group for halo, another for Uno, ect.

I don't know about you guys, but all those issues I mentioned are way more important than adding Xvid.

eugene @ Nov 11th 2007 10:30PM

oooh, this would be a great upgrade for the xbox and would go a long way to truly making it a media center.

Granteezy @ Nov 11th 2007 10:41PM

Divx would be nice, but I really don't care. I have a media server to take care of all my media needs !

Noir @ Nov 11th 2007 11:54PM

Yes!!! finally Divx Support. Make it so microsoft. Don't let me down.

Jerry @ Nov 12th 2007 12:40AM

cant wait 4 dis. *looks at calender nd counts days den realizes he doesnt kno wat day it comes out* lol

Foggy Bottoms @ Nov 12th 2007 12:57AM

@DjFil

good to know but i'd still have to convert/encode my videos. i want 0 conversion or encoding. if microsoft wants to compete with apple tv they'll need to make it so people dont have to convert or encode anything. that wont happen, i know.

The Phil @ Nov 12th 2007 5:54AM

divx would be sweet, let's hope.

ChiTownRuler23 @ Nov 12th 2007 9:50AM

Hmmm didn't a big black console just get divx and then i see this... coincidence? i don't really care if it gets divx or not most of my video files are in mpeg4, avi and flv, come on microsoft not even ur own video format? pllz add avi to this codec list

AtomB @ Nov 12th 2007 11:34AM

for those that have asked if DivX would then let you play Xvid. the answer is no, they are 2 different codecs.

MB @ Nov 12th 2007 3:59PM

My God would this be great. No more screwing around with transcoding etc. I'd even pay for the feature.

Kyle @ Nov 13th 2007 12:48AM

Man, this would rock. I've been using a media streamer for a while and this would eliminate my need to have that ... I could just use my 360.

Make it so!

tastybytes @ Nov 13th 2007 9:06AM

i would consider buying another xbox360 to use as a media center if it had divx support.. since most of everyone uses divx

Tom @ Nov 16th 2007 6:59AM

"come on microsoft not even ur own video format? pllz add avi to this codec list"~ChiTownRuler23

What do you think DivX is? If they add DivX support, then most of those AVI files you've got... yeah, you can play those.

deviantpdx @ Nov 16th 2007 11:48AM

Actually AVI is a container, quite different than a codec. AVI files can be encoded with all kinds of codecs, even codecs not compatible with DivX/Xvid. MKV (Matroska SP?) is also a container, like AVI, and can be used for Divx files among hundreds of other codecs as well. The reason MKV is mainly used for HD is that it supports bookmarks, menus, multiple HD audio streams and more. MKV could likely phase out AVI over time, it has already started with HD content, mainly using the x264 codec (same codec as Blueray and HD DVD discs..)