Originally posted by Mask of Destiny@Mar 17, 2004 @ 01:27 AM
Quicktime technically is a container format and not a codec. Unfortunately, Apple refuses to make such a clear distinction.
Well, then it can die outright, as it is a sucky container too.
Jedi: I have no problems with Xvid or Divx playback - my gripe is with regards to the file containers these are stored in. As the .avi file container has had native support in all WMP versions for ages, Divx+mp3 streams stored in .avi only requires you to download the Divx codec. It is easy and harmless to grab one or two codecs (although again, inconvenient for those who are not tech-savvy). However, it is less fun getting .ogm and .mkv working when they *should* have native support in the most popular player. This is what I am talking about.
I must stress again that I am speaking mostly from the point of view that most people just use what they have, and joe average shouldn't have to go read volumes on the issue to get a video or audio file to play. As far as my personal knowledge, it is cake for me to get things working, but I shouldn't NEED 3 players, jackloads of codecs, and extra plugins/filters just to get things working! I just don't like cluttering up my system like that, it bothers me. It wasn't a problem before, but the advantages of newer formats are causing more people to use them. On one hand this is good as it IS superior in some regards. Bulletproof VBR is possible with .mkv as it has timestamps, and it also supports advanced text streams that allow for your subtitles to be included in your file without hardcoding (easy editing, enable/disable, less bits wasted). But on the other hand, many people who download a .ogm or .mkv won't know what the F*&# to do with it.
Sorry if I've rambled on. However, you can't entirely blame me - I wasn't the one who started the tangent, I just hopped aboard. Amazingly enough, I still don't understand what exactly happened at the beginning of this thread.