DivX Connected News
Hello All,
First of all, thanks to all the loyal DivX Connected users who have contributed to the community and helped produce a great product. As you may have noticed, we’ve been pretty quiet lately about DivX Connected as we are working to create an even better connected experience for you. Our focus is the next generation of connected video playback – and we’re very excited about what's to come.
If you use a DivX Connected device like I do, please continue to enjoy DivX Connected while we work on an improved solution that is based on the feedback of our consumers, our partners and the mad scientists we’ve employed. Note that because we are working on our next solution, we will not be providing further software updates for the current DivX Connected platform.
Thanks for your passion and loyalty. We'll do our best to post updates on our progress as they become available. To better organize the forums here on DivX Labs, threads about media streaming, which include DivX Connected, media extenders, and game consoles will be consolidated. Old posts will be locked and archived, but this step is necessary in our effort to keep threads easily visible and on topic.
Thanks again for your support and feedback. Look for more from DivX very soon!
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Releasing the source
I would really like to see the Connected Platform's source be released so the current users can continue updating/enjoying the software for DivX 7 support and more.
Or at least releasing some of the specs for interacting between the software and the DSM so that devs could write their own software.
This is great news! Though I
This is great news!
Though I have one comment on the compatibility issue with DSM-330:
I ( and I believe many DSM-330 users) have terabytes of video,audio files that already have meta data files. So at least implement a way that in the event of an old DSM-330 user buys the new hardware and wants to use his/her terabyte drive with the new device, don't make us cry and beg, please make the new device at least pick up DSM-330 file and folder hierarchy and use it.
Personally, I do not want to wait for a free tool, or in the worst case manually enter all the meta data again and again.
And please, pretty please do not make the UI like the ones that Network Media Tanks are using. Keep it wife compatible but of course improve.
I said one comment, but I cannot stop myself writing. The first time I saw the DSM-330 on the amazon, I said to myself, this device will be destined to die, because of the hardware partner you guys have choosen, I haven't seen a device from D-L*** that havent been abondened in a year. The only reason that made me believe in the device was the DIVX. Please this time find a hardware partner that have the same vision as divx, and equally as exited about the product.
Anyway, thanks again!
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Human. It's kinda like Sebacean, but we haven't conquered other worlds yet, so we just kick the crap out of each other.
Crichton
PK Tech Girl
lol "keep it wife
lol "keep it wife compatible..." What "wife" version do you have? I think you may have to upgrade to wife 2.0
Backward Compatibility
I would happily buy new hardware but don’t see why the new server architecture cannot be designed to work in conjunction with the DSM-330 as well as the new box. Surely the similarities cannot be so indistinct? That way I can use the new server software to feed my DSM-330 in the bedroom AND the new box in the living room.
The alternative? Two sets of server software running on my machine. Not what I am really hoping for.
Keep your existing (and loyal) customers happy DivX! Don’t let the DSM-330 go to waste. Or, as fkm and others suggest, open source Connected and let the community have a go at perfecting it.
No Firmware Update
Truly sorry, but no, there will be no firmware updates. As mentioned, we cannot continue updating the current implementation because it does not fit in with the next generation solution we're working on. The DSM-330 was fine when there was a PC in the mix, but we're really aiming for a direct-to-tv solution.
I think much of what FKM said below (thanks for your feedback) are reasons why we are not going to do more updates to this generation. Many of the issues he mentioned point to hardware limitations.
I have to be really clear and state again that there are no more software/firmware updates for the D-Link DSM-330, GejBox, or Connected PC and the server software.
New hardware or new software?
Yes I would also like to know what the plans are, the more info page doesnt give any details. Are we talking about new hardware that we would have to buy to get the new version of DivX Connected?
I hope this isn't the case and that it would be new software that would work with our current DSM-330's. There are a lot of people on here who really got on board with DivX Connected and have had very little support or response on questions from anyone from DivX.
I would appreciate if someone from DivX could reply to this giving us some more information.
Chris
New hardware?
I think if you look at one sentence:
"Note that because we are working on our next solution, we will not be providing further software updates for the current DivX Connected platform."
you will see that no new software will be provided for the CURRENT platform i.e. the DSM-330. Also the word "solution" I feel means new hardware. As many of us have suspected for some time, I guess, the party is over.
No Software/Firmware Updates
Slow-V is right... there are no updates planned for current implementations of DivX Connected, so that means the server software as well as the firmware for the D-Link DSM-330 and GejBox. I can't say much more about the next generation devices, other than point you the information that has already been announced publicly (e.g. our acquisition of AnySource).
You may remember that I was closely involved with the DivX Connected plug-ins scene, so now I'm heavily involved with all of the DivX public SDKs and developer platforms, but I'll do my best to keep you guys in the loop when I hear what's next.
next generation of connected video playback?
What does it means ?
will i be able to use my dsm-330 with this "next generation of connected video playback?"
Domenic
First, while certainly
First, while certainly overdue, I for one appreciate the notice on the discontinuation of the current Connected platform. While it's disappointing to get official confirmation, it will come as no surprise to those who have been present on these forums for a while.
Regarding future Connected strategy, I am curious. DivX made some great choices in developing Connected but also some very bad ones. Will these be repeated this time around? The media player landscape has changed considerably since 2007. Back then, the big one was Apple TV and the Popcorn Hour A100 was only making its appearance. IMO, clearly the big areas Connected fell down on were:
1. Limited File Support.
Time has shown that this is a minimum requirement in media players. Players that have had this restriction have all failed - Apple's golden touch couldn't be repeated with Steve Job's pet project Apple TV and the same happened to the DSM-330. Media Players these days need mimimum native MKV H264, DTS, ISO etc... It's understandable for companies like DivX and Apple to want to develop players that support (almost exclusively) their file formats but the market has shown that these players will be rejected.
2. Lack of 1080p Support.
3. PC Dependent Architecture
Understandable in keeping costs low. Didn't really put me off but obviously the market felt this was a bad thing.
Hopefully these have been taken into consideration. On the positive, the GUI was and still is fantastic. The database architecture is essential in providing a fluid, fast and easy to use interface. WD, Asus Oplay, CinemaTube, Xtreamer, Popcorn - they are all still using onerous file explorer type GUI's. Please stay away from this archaic form of browsing.
The acquisition of AnySource for $7.5M shows that the future strategic focus of Connected will likely rest with delivering internet content. It's obviously a very large growth area with enormous potential. I still hope they will give due weighting to delivering home content too (which arguably is still the biggest reason people are buying these devices).
Are other users interested in DivX's forthcoming product plans? As previous DSM-330 owners, would you commit to another DivX product?
I know many will be disillusioned with the company for abandoning the 330 after only 2 years (and to be fair, accompanied by an absence of development for the last year). Commercial & economic limitations aside, the lack of communication has also been frustrating for those that invested their money and time with the product, plug-ins and themes (particularly so given DivX were so great at it in 2008).
Personally, I'm willing to keep faith in the company. While I know the media player industry reasonably well, I still haven't found a player for the money that provides a better user experience (though I do place a greater emphasis on GUI etc).
Obviously I'd love to see DSM-330 supported but I can only assume the hardware is incompatible with future Connected plans. And to be fair, DivX's future development plans should not be limited by past products.
Looking forward with interest to the next generation of Connected.
PS On a side note, for the many loyal users of the DSM-330, are there any plans to release the software code to enable the community to take advantage of what is (after only 2 years) a discontinued media player?
would i buy another div connected device?
fkm asked a very good question. after you experience of the last divx connected platform would you buy another device supporting their platform?
i bought the dsm-330 to play my already owned media downstairs on my tv, music and video (stage6 was never a big deal for me, sure it was good, but i was concerned more with local content). since buying the dsm-330 it served me well in the video arena living up to the hype of an easy to use QUICK interface. it lacked a decent meta data utility [relying on public plugins] but all in all was perfectly adequate. music playing capabilities were not so good since this REALLY does heavily rely on a decent user interface. but i coped. now getting back to the question....would i buy another divx connected device?
yes as much as i would buy any other developers device though i might be a little skeptical about divx i would just need convincing that they are committed to the device. [i understand the media streamer market is newish in terms of common adoption and need for new products and continual development which often results in past projects being left behind] as long as what divx produce is a mature product in terms of package and support then it would sound good [i still feel the first outing was a technology exercise and almost left to end users to make it work with the user plugins - i thought this would be an option and divx would produce SOME useful additions like decent music library and not leave it up to end users;)] just make it clear whether you intend to develop the user interface to the levels we users expect or leave it to the public.
i still like the idea of a media streamer and will still keep an eye out for one that will suit my purposes better than my dsm330 AND more importantly warrant the cost of the upgrade versus the added benefits :)