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Divx Now Adware Supported Only

bogomip_bandit writes "The divx codec is no longer free, no strings attached. Until recently, when downloading the codec from divx.com, one could select Dr Divx for a price, Divx Pro for a price, the divx codec for free, or the divx codec with bundled adware to help support divx development etc. Recently the site has changed. Now when one visits the download page, the only free codec you can download is adware supported. This means even to just watch divx movies and not do any actual enncoding, one has to install adware on their machine. I for one will be finding a different video codec." Sounds like a good reason (if you needed one) to look curiously at Ogg Theora. Update: 08/20 20:04 GMT by T : Correction: As several readers have pointed out, the bare codec is still available, it's just listed below the payware / adware versions.

24 of 590 comments (clear)

  1. DIVX and porn by Hayzeus · · Score: 4, Funny

    Go together like toast and butter. Looks like some of us are going to have to go out and find girlfriends now...

  2. Using new codecs... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny
    I for one will be finding a different video codec.

    Well, that's all well and good, but alas, the pr0n websites continue to use DiVX. What are we to do?

  3. Yeah, this sucks. by JohnA · · Score: 5, Funny
    1. Re:Yeah, this sucks. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Not as bad as having to find free real player on real.com. And then there comes installing, oh the humanity...

  4. Re:Look further down by Satan+Dumpling · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hehe, he didn't even read the whole page before complaining...

  5. Re:Time for DivX-lite? by Cpt_Kirks · · Score: 2, Funny

    Naw, just DL DivxPro off Kazaa.

    However, they can shove their adware up their asses, sideways. I'm switching to Xvid...

  6. typical slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    it's amazing that not even the submitter reads the article. At least he mentioned an open source project to get posted.

    Way to go slashdot!

    1. Re:typical slashdot by Jucius+Maximus · · Score: 4, Funny
      "it's amazing that not even the submitter reads the article. At least he mentioned an open source project to get posted."

      Lack of uality control is one of the pillars of slashdot.

    2. Re:typical slashdot by Art+Tatum · · Score: 3, Funny
      Lack of quality control is one of the pillars of slashdot.

      I'm not so sure about that. I mean, how much quality have *you* seen roaming around here unfettered?

  7. Re:Look further down by k98sven · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wow. Most short-lived story ever.

    Well.. there was that one about SCO showing off infringing code.. :-)

  8. What's with the screwy names? by avalys · · Score: 4, Funny

    Why do the Ogg people keep coming up with such stupid names? Ogg Theora? It sounds like a female character from a bad Star Trek movie. Ogg Vorbis would be her husband.

    I mean seriously, what sounds more professional when you're proposing something to your manager: "We should use Ogg Vorbis!", or "We should use MPEG Layer 3". I know which one I'd rather be saying to my boss.

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    This space intentionally left blank.
    1. Re:What's with the screwy names? by LittleGuy · · Score: 2, Funny

      Why do the Ogg people keep coming up with such stupid names? Ogg Theora? It sounds like a female character from a bad Star Trek movie.

      Substitute 'recent' for superflous adjective in bold...

      I mean seriously, what sounds more professional when you're proposing something to your manager: "We should use Ogg Vorbis!"

      'Ogg Vorbis!' sounds like the exclamation of a Medieval SysAdmin from the Canterbury Tales....

      --
      Mod Karma -1: I sed bad wurds. If I cep my mouf shut, I wud be at riyses.
  9. Dear Slashdot Editors by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I have a bridge for sale at bargain prices.

  10. Re:Forget Ogg, its time for Quicktime by BdosError · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sure, free, no ads. Except for the "Buy QuickTime Pro now?" popup every time you launch it. But at least there aren't any ads.

    --
    Complexity is Easy. Simplicity is Hard.
  11. Re:Look further down by TheViffer · · Score: 2, Funny

    No .. he actually took the time to include the link in html.

    But after doing some research, it can be shown that your comment was copied from earlier prior work that is publically available.

    Therefore claiming that he stole your intellectual property is a false and misleading claim.

    Arg .. Dam SCO articles .. look what they are doing to me!

    --
    -- Knowing too much can get you killed, but knowing who knows too much can make you rich.
  12. Re:Look further down by daeley · · Score: 4, Funny

    This advert for Ogg Theora brought to you by...Ogg Theora!

    --
    I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
  13. In the immortal words of Emily Latilla... by artemis67 · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Oh! Never mind...."

  14. Right on the money by Wrexen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Posted by timothy on Wed August 20, 02:42 PM
    from the neither-factual-nor-new dept.

  15. Re:Look further down by Merk · · Score: 2, Funny

    So now, with the correction on the front page, the story can be summarized as: "The divx site changed and for a moment it seemed like you could only use an adware-enabled version, but if you look closer you can see that you can still get the free one". This can be further summarized as: "The divx site changed".

    Way to go guys!

  16. Re:Look further down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    -1 boring

  17. Re:windows media player? by benzapp · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just go with Windows Media Player and Windows Media Video for most tasks, it is just so much easier.

    A few months ago I got an AIW9700Pro and started using it to record TV shows while I was out. For whatever reason, I downloaded the Windows Media Encoder to encode the MPG output... Turns out the quality is pretty damn good, better than DivX I think maybe slightly better than Xvid. Windows Media Encoder also compresses video to PocketPC size perfectly... People laugh, but I think its damn cool watching TV shows on your PDA. I am a pretty busy person, and I just don't have the time to watch TV at home. If I have time after work, I will spend it at a bar. But, I spend 45 minutes each way commuting... Perfect for a recorded TV show.

    Now, I compress everything into WMV. It works, and I can play them in Windows Media Player using many of its cool features such as volume levelling and playback speed adjustment.

    And as you mention, everyone can play it... Including your computer illiterate friends.

    --
    I don't read or respond to AC posts
  18. Re:Good business plan :-/ by thebatlab · · Score: 2, Funny

    Some hacks? It's not that hard to remove the adware for even an average computer user who understand the whole "executables" deal. To completely remove it, I believe it requires mucking in the registry but if the program isn't "there" when windows tries to "run" it, then it won't get "run"

    Unless of course there is some reason that this is a smarter-than-average adware thing (oxymoron??) in which case when you try to delete it it causes the Y2K bug to be summoned out of hibernation and bitch slap you.

    Either way...might as well give it a shot.

  19. Re:VLC by Obiwan+Kenobi · · Score: 2, Funny

    But...can it check your email? ;)

  20. Re:XviD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The big problem with XviD is that for most people it's nigh impossible to find the codec.

    Lets say you're looking for the XviD codec : You go to google and search for "xvid codec". The first link is for "XviD.org :: Home of the XviD Codec". Horray! But what's this? All you can find is source downloads? What the hell?

    So, you read the FAQ, which contains no mention of this obviously Frequently Asked Question. You ask in the site's forum, and are told rudely that "Our page XVID.org is only about the development of XVID, not about anything else, in particular not about how to play downloaded movies. "

    So...where do I find the codec? Surely I should be able to find an answer at the "Home of the XviD codec"?

    Of course, eventually you can find it on some seedy third-party "DVD Backup" site, as compiled by "some guy", but you have to jump through hoops. Smells like a barrier to widespread adoption to me...