In the comparison table, both the iPods & Zunes are marked as supporting MPEG-4. Does that mean that they both play divx/xvid avis, or is that a different proprietary version of mpeg-4?
DviX/XviD video codecs are MPEG-4 based. If configured accordingly, they can produce MPEG-4 compatible streams. But normally they don't. Also MPEG-4 specifies also container file .mp4, but DviX traditionally uses heavily hacked .avi files. (DivX by default uses MP3 codec for audio, MPEG-4 - AAC.)
Check www.divx.com - it has list of many (not all) devices supporting DivX.
DivX and XVid are MPEG-4 part 2 implementations, but they belong to the 'Advanced Simple Profile', which the iPod is not capable of displaying: it is 'Simple Profile' only. Don't know about the Zune but it is probably the same.
Btw, H.264 is also a MPEG-4 format (MPEG-4 Part 10)
If properly stored in an MP4 container, the Zune (and any proper MPEG-4 compliant device) will play XviD/DivX codec video -- assuming that the video resolution and bit rate is compatible.
XviD and DivX (more so DivX) are proprietary implementations of the MPEG-4 SP/ASP codec. Admittedly, the flexibility and ubiquity of the AVI container is one the primary reasons why the people behind DivX 'hacked' MPEG-4 video into it.
I don't get how Zune, looking to take market share from the iPod, wouldn't include the two biggest formats on the net, Xvid and divx. Same thing with the 360. I'm holding out for the new zen vision w, whenever that comes out.
There is also a hack on Zuneboards.com that allows .avi and other new files to be supported for the current Zune, not sure about the new firmware, though.
The reason XviD and DivX are so rarely supported by these major manufacturers in their multimedia devices (PSP, X-Box 360 and PS3 included) has less to do with paying codec fees and more to do with not wanting to piss off media allies. With XviD/DivX being the preferred method for encoding ripped television shows and DVDs these days, supporting them in their products would be seen by some in the industry as support for piracy. That the PSP could play movies at all earned Sony, who themselves have a major motion picture arm, considerable scorn from their peers in the motion picture industry.
how about not having to go through the process of hacking a player, there are so many players that support the formats, creative,archos, iriver etc, I hate how people looking to not get an iPod just jump the gun and get a Zune without doing research
I do not like Itunes. I have used Itunes and I am not an "M$" fanboy. I dislike the interface and prefer WMP (any competent person can use WMP). I don't like Apple interfaces in general, and the products are too hyped. And I really don't understand why every single apple fanboy must use "M$". I don't see ms fanboys doing the same thing even though apple is, this may surprise some of you, just as greedy. I think it might have something to do with the fact that both apple and ms are businesses (I may be wrong, but that is my understanding) and businesses like to make money for the stockholders and employees (this is capitalism, right?) Oh well, here is a very misleading name. Apple. Apples are pretty non-toxic (except for small amounts of arsenic in the seeds) and I don't think that they harm the environment (don't trees consume carbon dioxide and produce oxygen?). Get this, Apple (the company) isn't very environmentally friendly (quite the opposite actually). Sorry for the rant, ignorant hypocrites are quite annoying.
@Dragod, sort of. I use it today, but all it really does is make the Zune software see those file types as video in the software. The Zune software then uses DirectShow codecs to convert those files to a WMV that the Zune can handle. It works, but what the update will provide is native playback of those mp4 formats as you'd typically find in video blogging. You will still be able to watch Divx/XviD movies if you convert them, just as today. Given that I can reduce an entire DVD to ~300 MB for a 320x240 WMV, that conversion process is worth it... should also result in longer playback too since the HDD consumes most of the power on devices like this, and not the decompression routines.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Andrew @ Oct 3rd 2007 7:29AM
In the comparison table, both the iPods & Zunes are marked as supporting MPEG-4. Does that mean that they both play divx/xvid avis, or is that a different proprietary version of mpeg-4?
Cheers.
Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Oct 3rd 2007 7:37AM
DviX/XviD video codecs are MPEG-4 based. If configured accordingly, they can produce MPEG-4 compatible streams. But normally they don't. Also MPEG-4 specifies also container file .mp4, but DviX traditionally uses heavily hacked .avi files. (DivX by default uses MP3 codec for audio, MPEG-4 - AAC.)
Check www.divx.com - it has list of many (not all) devices supporting DivX.
Again, DivX/XviD != MPEG-4.
Yo @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:23AM
Which sucks.
They're not that damned different - Why haven't they paid the damned license fees already? Give me SOME codec choice. Pain in the ass monopolists....
mhc @ Oct 3rd 2007 9:25AM
DivX and XVid are MPEG-4 part 2 implementations, but they belong to the 'Advanced Simple Profile', which the iPod is not capable of displaying: it is 'Simple Profile' only. Don't know about the Zune but it is probably the same.
Btw, H.264 is also a MPEG-4 format (MPEG-4 Part 10)
Willen @ Oct 3rd 2007 9:39AM
If properly stored in an MP4 container, the Zune (and any proper MPEG-4 compliant device) will play XviD/DivX codec video -- assuming that the video resolution and bit rate is compatible.
XviD and DivX (more so DivX) are proprietary implementations of the MPEG-4 SP/ASP codec. Admittedly, the flexibility and ubiquity of the AVI container is one the primary reasons why the people behind DivX 'hacked' MPEG-4 video into it.
leland @ Oct 3rd 2007 9:50AM
I don't get how Zune, looking to take market share from the iPod, wouldn't include the two biggest formats on the net, Xvid and divx. Same thing with the 360. I'm holding out for the new zen vision w, whenever that comes out.
Dragod @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:06AM
There is also a hack on Zuneboards.com that allows .avi and other new files to be supported for the current Zune, not sure about the new firmware, though.
Bah @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:12PM
The reason XviD and DivX are so rarely supported by these major manufacturers in their multimedia devices (PSP, X-Box 360 and PS3 included) has less to do with paying codec fees and more to do with not wanting to piss off media allies. With XviD/DivX being the preferred method for encoding ripped television shows and DVDs these days, supporting them in their products would be seen by some in the industry as support for piracy. That the PSP could play movies at all earned Sony, who themselves have a major motion picture arm, considerable scorn from their peers in the motion picture industry.
JohnTitor @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:20PM
how about not having to go through the process of hacking a player, there are so many players that support the formats, creative,archos, iriver etc, I hate how people looking to not get an iPod just jump the gun and get a Zune without doing research
DreadConches @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:21PM
I do not like Itunes. I have used Itunes and I am not an "M$" fanboy. I dislike the interface and prefer WMP (any competent person can use WMP). I don't like Apple interfaces in general, and the products are too hyped.
And I really don't understand why every single apple fanboy must use "M$". I don't see ms fanboys doing the same thing even though apple is, this may surprise some of you, just as greedy. I think it might have something to do with the fact that both apple and ms are businesses (I may be wrong, but that is my understanding) and businesses like to make money for the stockholders and employees (this is capitalism, right?)
Oh well, here is a very misleading name. Apple. Apples are pretty non-toxic (except for small amounts of arsenic in the seeds) and I don't think that they harm the environment (don't trees consume carbon dioxide and produce oxygen?). Get this, Apple (the company) isn't very environmentally friendly (quite the opposite actually).
Sorry for the rant, ignorant hypocrites are quite annoying.
Alex M @ Oct 3rd 2007 5:24PM
theres gunna be a new vision:w? mines way too big :P
unless you're thinking of the Creative ZEN
Ryan @ Oct 3rd 2007 5:29PM
@Dragod, sort of. I use it today, but all it really does is make the Zune software see those file types as video in the software. The Zune software then uses DirectShow codecs to convert those files to a WMV that the Zune can handle. It works, but what the update will provide is native playback of those mp4 formats as you'd typically find in video blogging. You will still be able to watch Divx/XviD movies if you convert them, just as today. Given that I can reduce an entire DVD to ~300 MB for a 320x240 WMV, that conversion process is worth it... should also result in longer playback too since the HDD consumes most of the power on devices like this, and not the decompression routines.