Software review: DivX – Create DVD quality video
Posted by eoinzy on April 5, 2009
I figured I’d do my first software review here. I was thinking what software to review when I received an email from a mailing list I’ve been on for years, stating that there was a new software upgrade to a particular piece of software I’ve been using for the last 5 years. This software is called DivX.
DivX is a piece of software that allows you to watch and create your own videos in DVD quality. DVDs have quite large file sizes (~4700mb at their largest), so DivX basically lets you have the same quality, except a lot smaller (~700mb at most). This is invaluable to me, as I upload a lot of videos for family and friends to view, and it would take a long time to upload full DVD sized videos. It only takes a few minutes to upload, or email, the smaller DivX converted videos! Its also useful if you use YouTube or other similar websites.
Another advantage is that you can burn 6 DivX videos to a DVD. This is very convenient, you must admit, especially if you want to give the disc to friends/family to keep.
So how do you create your own videos? Well, DivX have a built in converter with their software. You basically pick the DVD you want to convert, and it does the rest. It may take up to an hour though, depending on the speed of your computer. Modern computers will convert it a lot faster than older computers though.
Also, these videos should work in all new DVD players so you can watch them on your TV, as well as your computer and the internet, and even some mobile phones support it too so you can watch videos on the bus or train. Very handy.
In conclusion, it’s a very good piece of software. The company started with only a few people and have grown in a few years to become the biggest video conversion software company in the world, even going so far as to become an industry standard for video playback to the extent that DVD player manufacturers all over the world are now including their software in their DVD players due its popularity. That must mean something.
To play these DivX videos, you can download the free software from the DivX website, but the software to actually create the videos can be bought from their online store for a small fee (about $20).
Link to the website is here:
DivX Pro 7
