DivX today announced the launch of DivX TV Internet TV platform, with LG's Blu-ray players to support it, introduced the DivX Plus HD technology found in Philips' 2010 Blu-ray players and announced the DivX Plus HD certification for Seagate's FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player.
DivX TV
DivX today announced the launch of DivX TV, an embedded Internet TV platform that provides access to online media content streamed directly to any connected device from any manufacturer.
DivX TV does not require a PC or a separate, dedicated box under the television. With a user-friendly interface, speed and performance and a broad content line-up, the DivX TV platform is easy to implement and can be supported on virtually any kind of Internet-connected consumer electronics device, including digital televisions, blu-ray players, gaming consoles, pay-tv operators set-top devices, multimedia storage devices, and even mobile phones. The DivX TV platform will also enable consumers to stream their own personal digital media content over a home network, and offers full playback of a variety of video formats, including all DivX videos.
"DivX TV revolutionizes the television experience by giving consumers quick and easy access to a virtually limitless universe of online content, and it's as simple to operate as changing channels with a remote control," said Kevin Hell, CEO of DivX, Inc. "Our partners will also be pleased to know that DivX TV is designed specifically to work with today's mass market consumer electronics. It's easy to implement and support and new content sources can be added with very little effort. DivX TV - bringing the future of entertainment to a living room near you!"
LG Electronics was announced today as the first manufacturer to license the DivX TV platform for upcoming network Blu-ray Disc players and home theater systems. The alliance between LG and DivX contemplates that the new DivX TV technology will be implemented on LG's Blu-ray players and home theater systems with NetCast Entertainment Access that enable consumers to stream content directly to their living rooms. The first DivX TV firmware update for LG NetCast Blu-ray Disc players and home theater systems is expected to be available later this year, according to LG.
The DivX TV content lineup currently includes more than 70 channels from a variety of genres, including free Internet content as well as full-length films and television shows. Content providers include Associated Press, CNET, Dailymotion, Picasa, Revision 3, Rhapsody, TED, Twitter and many more.
DivX will be unveiling the DivX TV platform at a private press event at CES at the Moon nightclub at the Palms on January 7th, and demos of the platform will be shown at the DivX meeting rooms in the South Hall of the convention center.
DivX Plus HD on upcoming Philips Blu-ray players
DivX also announced that Philips will introduce the DivX Plus HD playback feature in its next generation of Blu-ray products to be launched in early 2010. Philips' new line of Blu-ray players will be able to playback DivX Plus HD video using the MKV container. Philips will be the world's first brand to launch products that offer DivX Plus HD playback.
Philips Blu-ray Disc players with DivX Plus HD playback support will be available to consumers first in Europe beginning April 2010.
DivX Plus HD devices support the playback of all content created with DivXsoftware - from previous versions of DivX video to new DivX Plus HD (H.264/MKV) files. Based on H.264, the emerging standard for digital video compression, DivX Plus HD supports video files in the MKV container. Also, DivX Plus HD technology provides advanced features including automatic and authored chapter points, quick start, smooth fast forward and rewind (up to 32x in both directions), and support for high-quality AAC audio, up to eight subtitle and audio tracks, and metadata.
In addition to these new features, DivX Plus HD offers easy playback of premium Hollywood movies in the DivX format from online movie download sites for flexible, simple viewing via a disc, USB drive or directly through a home network (DLNA).
DivX and Seagate Announce DivX Plus(TM) HD Certification Planned For FreeAgent Theater+(TM) HD Media Player
Take video to the next level with Hollywood movie playback, DivX Plus HD video up to 1080p and advanced features in the MKV container
Seagate's FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player certified for DivX Plus
Seagate's latest version of its FreeAgent Theater+(TM) HD media player will be DivX Plus(TM) HD Certified, DivX added.
The FreeAgent Theater+ media player is Seagate's next generation home theater solution designed to instantly enable people to bring their digital media libraries from their computer to the home entertainment systems. The player makes it simple for consumers to have access to their full library of videos by connecting to their TV via outputs like HDMI. The Seagate FreeAgent Theater+ player combines a docking system for a Seagate FreeAgent Go portable drive, as well as two additional USB ports and Internet access through an Ethernet port or the optional USB wireless adapter.
Once the FreeAgent player is DivX Plus HD Certified, and following delivery of a firmware update scheduled for the first quarter of calendar year 2010, digital Internet videos up to 1080p and Hollywood movies in the DivX format can be loaded onto the portable drive or easily played back via one of the USB drives. Consumers will be able to store up to 100 HD movies on a 500 GB hard drive.
DivX Plus HD Certified devices support playback of DivX Plus HD content (H.264 video in the MKV file container) created with DivX or other third-party tools, while also supporting previous versions of DivX video up to 1080p. DivX Plus HD also enables the playback of Hollywood movies in the DivX format now available on online video download e-tailers in the U.S. and Europe.