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Vinny, I watch a movie and it's GONE--no intention to ever see it again. Isn't DivX a DVD burning program to copy movies. Is it considered a form of piracy or did they change the rules for personal use? I recall years ago buying one of of the "last" copies of DivX with a bunch of warnings--never used it--figured BIG BROTHER was watching.

I gather things have changed.

Sid

they many programs, one enables you to view a movie in the DivX format or it was loaded as a DivX movie...very legal to watch on line, not copy.

You will need the Divx codec for internet explorer. One solution would be to use Ace Mega Codecs, a package that has just about every codec you could ever need.

You can control which of the many codecs you install during the install or in the configuration program when it is installed.

A codec is needed for a media player to understand the method that the video was created with

www.soft32.com/download_3916.html

VLC media player. It plays almost everything and has plugins for your browser. There's also the Divx Web player but VLC is far more versatile. It's what I use and I haven't had any troubles on Vista or XP.

Sid, there are now stand alone Dvd players that will play Divx movies and the PS3 plays them as well. Divx, it's not just for pirates these days, Arrrrgh matey.

^^^ hear hear - VCC is just about perfect for display of virtually any media content from anywhere ( on the web or local storage )

Current release is 0.8.6h, available here ... which opens in a new window.

from the website:

* It is a free cross-platform media player
* It supports a large number of multimedia formats, without the need for additional codecs
* It can also be used as a streaming server, with extended features (video on demand, on the fly transcoding, ...)

grrr - make that VLC not VCC

OK, I did what you guys said except clicking a link. Did search and downloaded VLC from Download.com (my trusted site)--yep, I'm a paranoid security freak--take no offense...lol.

Life was simple about a year ago. Codecs, Shmodecs, whatever. I use Netflix for monthly 3out-3in (5 time rotation monthly) and use their free service--but you must install their viewer (MS Media Player based). Also subscribe to CinemaNow for instant gratification of current movies--again, you MUST install their My Media Player (again MS Media Player based). Use Cyberlink Ultra for Netflix DVD movies--it plays EVERYTHING including Bluray (SP?). Finally, downloaded every codec package I could find thinking they would fill any "holes".

Yeah, I got the PS3 and can play any kind of DVD. BUT, I choose to view ALL media on my 17" laptop. Had my reading glasses adjusted for exactly 23" (distance from eyeballs to screen). Use high-end headphones as well. RESULT: Screen size (relative to viewing distance) huge and sound in the ear is immersive--puts me in the scene. Only watch the 52" Sony Bravia HDTV for TV.

Too antsy to go to a real movie theater so my laptop IS my theater--haven't been to the "movies" for at least 15 years--now reserve 11:00 PM-1:00 AM to watching movies (moslty shoot em up crime and adventure flicks).

NOW, please tell me what I'm going to do with VLC now that I have it. How do I use it when I seem to be locked in by required media players. I've already complained to CinemaNow that I sometimes get a yellow bar on the player--they say it can't be--but I see it--give me a break!

YIPPEE, I got a new toy, always a thrill. But this thrill is a chill so far.

Sid

Sid,

I'm not familiar with CinemaNow but umm, you have to use NetFlix' player for their "Watch Instantly" selections .. there is no two ways around that.

btw, an excellent NF blog is here: www.hackingnetflix.com ... in a new window - don't be upset by 'hacking' in the site name!

What version of VLC did you acquire from Download.com?

VLC can be used to play DVDs on your laptop, if you want, it will add itself to the 'open with' list if you're prompted at media insertion; not sure if it will 'do BlueRay discs, if you're surprisingly fortunate enough to have an appropriate drive in the computer!, I expect it would. Installation of the software should allow you to do your own selection - or select by default - any/all media file types for assMP3, WMV, etc ( video ) and MP3, etc ( audio ) files that you can find, either on your computer drive(s) or even on the net by specific URL.

I'm so impressed with the software that I've moved off WinAmp in favor of VLC.

Noted: VLC does not need any additional codec packs installed.

Cinemanow requires Internet Explorer, and an ActiveX file and WMP 10 or better, so much for your security.

There is a WMP 11 plugin for Firefox that might work, but I don't know. I refuse to use any site that requires IE and ActiveX. I do know that Vista Home Premium's Media Center has the Cinemanow channel built in. But I won't use that either....lol.

There's a greasemonkey script that lets you download Netflix movies. I have tried that one. It works pretty well. Except that Netflix doesn't have anything I want to watch that I don't already have. Plus I'm po'd at their plan to slap on extra charges for bluray discs. They're currently on hold and will probably get dumped altogether.

As for how to use VLC, set it as your default video and audio player. It's got a decent EQ plugin, will work as Firefox's web media player and will stream media to other machines if you want it to. Plus a whole lot more if you dig into it. You can even use it to rip dvd's and cd's. That one you'll have to look up for yourself.