DivX is often affectionately referred to as "the MP3 of video" and, like MP3, its purpose is to produce high-quality files that are as small as possible. Using clever data-compression techniques, DivX files manage to squeeze some of the highest-quality digital video available into a format that can allow in excess of 100 minutes of material to be fitted on a single CD-ROM.

This guide aims to let you find out more about DivX and how you can use it, highlighting along the way some of the exciting products that are now supporting this increasingly talked-about technology.

Overview

DivX is based around state-of-the-art MPEG-4 compression techniques and can be used to produce high-quality full-screen video files about an eighth of the size of the MPEG-2 files used by DVDs.

DivX from the Comfort of Your Living Room

Although DivX files can be viewed on your Windows, Mac or Linux computer using the downloadable player, you can now also watch in the comfort of your living room using one of a range of DivX-compatible DVD-players that are now starting to become available. Players such as the DP-450 from Kiss is a good example, allowing you to view DivX files burnt onto a CD as easily as if they were on a standard DVD.

As demand for DivX technology integrated into home-entertainment products increases, it is likely that we will see the introduction of more players such as the Kiss DP-500, which also includes Ethernet connectivity. This feature is perfect for those with a library of DivX material stored on their PC. Using home-networking technology, this machine lets you play files directly from any computer without needing to copy them to CD first. Other DivX devices starting to appear include palmtop computers and handheld media jukeboxes, fitted with tiny LCD screens designed to let you take your music, photos and videos with you wherever you go.

DivX Certification

To help consumers find DivX-compatible devices, DivXNetworks Inc, the company behind the technology, have created a program to identify products that have been officially tested and verified as being DivX compatible. Three categories exist to represent the minimum performance standards expected of various types of DivX device. These are: Handheld (mobile phones, low-end cameras and PDAs), Portable (multimedia jukeboxes, video cameras and still cameras) and Home Theatre (DVD players, PVRs and some types of video camera). Although not all devices that play DivX material use these relatively new certifications they do provide a useful guide for consumers to look out for.