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Friday, August 4, 2006
As we ramp up to the next generation in DVD with HD-DVD, many may have forgotten that the original DVD had to battle against a competitor like its second generation brother is doing against Blu-ray. The format was called DIVX (short for Digital Video Express and no relation to the current video codec DiVX) and it was an evil, evil, format.
DIVX was the brain child of Circuit City and a bunch of entertainment lawyers. Can you already see the problem here? Conceived in some bar, I’m sure, in 1997, the two groups set out to coax in some manufacturers (I remember Zenith was one of the big players) and some studios (Paramount and Buena Vista the two big names here) to sign onto the greedy ride. One gloomy Friday morning on September 25, 1998, DIVX players and a few titles rolled out. One such title was Titanic. An exclusive release to DIVX only. DVD users (myself included) were less than happy with Paramount. Like the boat, both the movie and format sunk.
Why? Because the discs (which where pushed as DIVX DVDs) would only work for 48 hours. Sure, it only cost $4.49 but who wanted a rental video disc? Granted the “silver” versions would unlock the disc for unlimited play, but how many silver coffee coasters you think exist today now that DIVX is history? Mmm.
The irony in all this is that Circuit City pitched a way to limit the consumer and was the founder of this incredible idea. Now that all is forgotten, it is now offering to rip the format it competed against and put the video onto your iPod. Dig deeper and the irony gets more dark as this puts Circuit City in complete violation of the DMCA act! The act plainly states any cracking of any software is illegal and all DVDs are encrypted and thus are being cracked to allow for transfer! What a kicker for $10 each, too! Aaah, man, I just love it!
If you’re not skilled enough in your Google searches and you can not find one of the assorted software titles out there to perform this service for you in your home for the price of 5 DVD transfers (or even free,) then you better hurry up to your local Circuit City and get this done ASAP. It’s only a matter of time before the Feds will be knocking at the Virgina-based electronic stores headquarters real soon. While you’re there, ask them about DIVX, too. I’m sure you’ll get a comical response (and it won’t have anything to do with discs.)
