DivX watches HDTV as its compression technology expands

The video compression and playback technology was found in only about 5 percent of U.S. DVDs in the first quarter, but the figure climbed to about 20 percent in the third quarter, according to Jordan Greenhall, CEO of DivX, the company of the same name.
Jordan Greenhall Jordan Greenhall

The lack of DivX players in the U.S. is mostly just a problem of inertia and not part of a plot to keep the technology out of the country, Greenhall said in a meeting this week, ahead of the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January. "It's the DivX conspiracy theory. You can get it in Canada, but you can't get it in the U.S."

Manufacturers don't want to put something on their boxes until they see that buyers want it. That's finally begun to happen, so manufacturers are responding.

The company charges a licensing fee of about $1 to $2 every time a manufacturer loads the company's software onto a device. To date, Europe and Asia have been the more popular geographies for the company.

DivX essentially sells software that lets viewers watch videos encoded with DivX software. Years ago, consumers used it for a vehicle for piracy, and the company was reviled by studios. A few years ago, the company started to more actively support digital-rights management and now works with entertainment companies.

A sign of corporate respectability came this year when DivX held an IPO. The stock went out at $16 in September and now sells for more than $28. (Initially, the company planned to price its shares at between $12 and $14.)

So what will DivX talk about at CES? It wants to branch out into high-definition TV. Blu-ray Disc players and HD DVD players are too expensive for consumers in India or Eastern Europe. The company will try to cut deals with Bollywood executives and film producers in those countries to get them to adopt a high-definition version of DivX, Greenhall said.

"The supply of DivX HD content will be compelling," he said. The San Diego, Calif.-based company also plans to promote Stage 6, its own video site, at the conference. Professional filmmakers post their movies there--some are known, some are unknown. The site mostly seeks to attract artists who aren't getting mainstream recognition.

"We do outreach to find some of this stuff," he said. "If you have been doing postproduction in Hollywood for 10 years, you've got to have a lot of interesting material. The number of people who make a living in the video industry is pretty big."

One thing that won't likely happen soon, though, is a deal with a studio in the United States. In late 2004, the company said it was negotiating with a couple of major studios, but the deals fell through.

"It was kind of depressing. We thought they would be realistic," Greenhall said.

Razer's DeathAdder gaming mouse

While we're slightly uncomfortable with the idea of wrapping our hands around something called a "death adder" on a day-to-day basis, peripheral-maker Razer seems to think there's enough gamers in touch with their dark sides to make its latest corded mouse a hit. Helping the DeathAdder earn its sinister moniker is the so-called 3G infrared sensor at the heart of the mouse, boasting an impressive 1800 dpi resolution, as well as Razer's trademark 1000 Hz "Ultrapolling" technology and a barely there 1ms response time. To keep all that precision under control, Razer's outfitted the mouse with rubber-coated buttons up top and some smooth-sliding Teflon feet on the underside -- lefties, however, are out of luck, as this one's tailor made for right-handed use. Look for the DeathAdder to hit just in time for the holidays at a not-unreasonable price of $59.99.

iHome iH21 wireless speaker system

Home's already been busy this morning and now we can add the iH21 to their product catalog. The kit is said to transmit iPod music anywhere in the house to that "water-resistant" speaker. Get it? You can leave the iPod docked-up, far(ish) away from your filthy azz while streaming music to the speaker in the hot mustiness of nausea you call bathroom. Now, we're not sure what technology they're packing (WiFi, Bluetooth, PowerLine, etc) but we've got a sneakin' suspicion these are Bluetooth-equipped. Hell with EDR, A2DP and AVRCP profiles, that 32 foot transmission range (unobstructed) should be just about right with the remote. But we'll wait for these to be unveiled at CES before getting too riled up.

Verizon phones to show YouTube

If you can't get enough of exploding Mentos in Diet Coke bottles or the guy who showcases the history of dance, Verizon Wireless has some good news for you. The carrier announced today that it signed a deal with YouTube to bring a limited number of videos to Verizon's 3G handsets starting in early December. Users also will be able to use their phone's camcorders to record their own videos to share with other Verizon customers or YouTube viewers. Granted, the video quality from a camera phone won't be spectacular but if you want to catch your best friend or your local politician making a fool of himself, then you'll be good to go.

To view the content, Verizon customers will need an EV-DO phone such as the new LG enV and a subscription to the carrier's V Cast streaming video service. V Cast is available for $3 per day or $15 per month.

Fan hacks Linkin Park singer's phone, caught in the end

We'd be willing to be more than one of you know the likeness of Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington, but how many among us would go so far as to try to break into his phone? Apparently a 27 year old woman by the name of Devon Townsend used a machine at a Sandia National Lab in New Mexico to gain access to Bennington's Verizon account, and obtained call records and cameraphone shots; apparently she also got access to his wife's email and went so far as to verbally threaten the poor Mrs. Bennington. Like Chappelle before him, we can understand Bennington not wanting someone playing on his phone, but think he should be glad he made it out of this one relatively scot free. Celebs before have faced the wrath and aftermath of leaked seX tapes to leaked A-list phonebooks, so be glad, Chester, that you still have your dignity.