DivX Plus for connected devices
September 1, 2011
By Colin Mann
Rovi Corporation has unveiled DivX Plus Streaming, a secure adaptive streaming solution for the delivery of a feature-rich, premium digital entertainment experience to connected devices including HDTVs, Blu-ray Disc Players, smartphones, game consoles, PCs, Macs, and cable set-top boxes. DivX Plus Streaming not only delivers video content in high quality, but also supports advanced multimedia features that have historically only been associated with Blu-ray Discs.
In order to enhance the digital entertainment experience, DivX Plus Streaming – unveiled at the IFA trade fair in Berlin – includes support for 1080p high definition, DTS Audio, subtitles, multiple language tracks, and trick-play features such as smooth fast forward and rewind, quick-start playback, and the ability to resume playback across devices. The DivX Plus Streaming SDK is available immediately for retailer, CE, and IC manufacturer integration.
Features such as smooth fast-forward, quick stream start and subtitle support have been considered real consumer pain points with existing streaming solutions and should help differentiate DivX Plus Streaming in the market.
DivX Plus Streaming will be featured in Rovi offerings for the cable industry and seamlessly integrates into the Rovi Entertainment Store, formerly the RoxioNow platform, which currently powers digital entertainment services on a broad ecosystem of consumer electronics devices for leading retailers, PC makers, consumer electronics manufacturers, as well as studios’ direct-to-consumer initiatives.
“This brings DivX into the mainstream,” commented Rovi’s chief evangelist Richard Bullwinkle, who revealed that both Samsung and LG hads committed to incorporating the solution on all of their players, from tablets to TVs. “That’s like an iTunes ecosystem,” he observed.
DivX Plus Streaming offers smooth resolution scaling to maintain optimal visual quality as bandwidth fluctuates and helps to provide a buffer-free playback experience. DivX Plus Streaming is based on a flexible DRM framework that is capable of powering a variety of distribution models including electronic sell through, timed rentals or subscription, as well as an array of consumption scenarios such as streaming, downloads, and side-load transfer to enable both online and offline playback.
“The adaptive streaming allows very close to Blu-ray quality,” noted Bullwinkle, who said that the increasing preference for digital media indicated that Blu-ray could well be the last-generation of physical media. “Digital media will pass it at some stage in the future, but it will take some time, as there are bandwidth limitations at the moment and it’s pushing limits to achieve that quality,” he said.
Separately, Rovi announced that its Rovi TotalGuide will power Panasonic’s next generation electronic programme guide (EPG) for its connected TV and DVD/BD recorder products in Europe.
Rovi TotalGuide is an advanced media guide that provides a single destination for finding and discovering various types of content. It includes deep, descriptive information and rich multimedia on cast, programmes and movies, and enables consumers to easily navigate from one content element to another, a key aspect of Rovi’s ‘six degrees’ media discovery experience. In addition, TotalGuide features interactive advertising capability that enables brands engage with consumers that extend beyond the traditional banner and commercial advertising.