DivX 6.2.5 and spyware?

[evilclive]

I remember DivX 5.0.x being released in three flavours: the free one with limited functionality, the Pro version (for which you had to pay) and the Pro version with GAIN spyware (which was otherwise free).

I also remember DivX 5.2.0 being released with an incredible six-month trial period, plus spyware. There was no limited version without the spyware this time.

Does the latest version of DivX (either free or paid-for) come bundled with spyware?

[tommy_vercetti]

Hi dude, that was way back, the tables have turned, in competetion with Xvid, DivX is kind of free, no spyware, they even gave free serials during a promotional week.

[evilclive]

That's what I thought, until I read http://www.divx.com/company/partner/drm.php

Can I trust anyone who implements DRM in their codec not to screw me over in the future, or would I be much safer with an open source codec, i.e. XVid?

[jggimi]

That feature was developed specific to the internet-based rental markets, and has been there in one form or another since the DivX 4 days. It has never had any impact on personal use versions of the codecs, to date.

Please try to remain objective -- either test the codec and make your own determination whether or not to use it -- or don't use it at all. Either way, the spreading of FUD is not appreciated. See http://forum.doom9.org/announcement.php?f=56 for details.

[unskinnyboy]

Latest version of DivX doesn't have any spyware, but it has Google Toolbar and Google Desktop Search bundled with it, but you can choose whether to install them or not while installing DivX.

DivX claims (http://www.divx.com/divx/whatisgoogle.php) they are offering these because they think these are cool software, but the truth is that they get paid by Google for every user who installs the toolbar and desktop search via DivX bundle. Same like what Real Networks used to do sometime back with their RealGold Player.

I am fine with it, at least the installation process is transparent to the user, light years away from what it used to be.

[DigitAl56K]

Hi guys,

We haven't shipped adware for over two years now, and as tommy_vercetti hinted at we have continued to make DivX as "free" as we could since then. Two years ago we extended the DivX Pro trial to 6 months, and more recently (in DivX 6.2) we released the DivX Community Codec, which gives you all of the features you need to work with popular community applications for free persistently, including nearly all of the available quality modes.

Regarding our reasons for bundling various Google components at this time, yes we do get paid for them, but we also think they're cool and personally I couldn't be happier that we're now helping to spread the Firefox browser. I use it on all of my machines every day and I'm quite proud to have done a lot of that work myself. Although we're a company and there is no denying that we need to make money, I think we're very well intentioned and motivated to do the right thing by our users and the community.

Hope that helps :)