Home Media Networks integrates
DivX technology

By SUSAN RUSH
From CED Broadband Direct, August 13, 2002

DivXNetworks and Home Media Networks believe the PC will become the entertainment hub of the home, and are integrating their products to help make that vision a reality.

Home Media Networks has licensed DivX video compression technology as the default video compression format for all versions of its ShowShifter Home Media Center software, which includes PVR functionality. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The companies are already selling ShowShifter Pro, which integrates the DivX technology, through their web sites. Unlike most desktop viewing software, the ShowShifter software does not require a user to be at a PC terminal to operate it. Its FarView interface is controllable via a remote control.

ShowShifter is designed to let a user playback video files, browse an electronic program guide, watch DVDs, listen to music and watch, time-shift and record television.

DivX recently released DivX5.0. The MPEG-4-based video software is geared to produce DVD-quality video over broadband connections, at file sizes 41 percent smaller than previous DivX versions, according to the company.