DiVX video to include MP3 support

While MP3 audio has been used with Divx encoded movies for yonks, the official licensing of the technology from Fraunhofer and Thomson means that the codec can be used in official / legal / commercial content created with the video format, rather than just episodes of 24 downloaded from BitTorrent.

The MP3 Surround codec enables 5.1 audio to be compressed in a similar and backward-compatible way to existing stereo MP3, saving space and avoiding alienating the existing installed base of MP3 devices.

The Surround codec was launched back in December, and is designed for applications like car audio, gaming and web streaming. Divx said that the deal "Has the potential to broaden the competitive technology options for video device manufacturers and premium content publishers," presumably meaning that Dolby better get ready to let go of its stranglehold on surround audio.

Divx codecs are used by around 160m people worldwide, and a by-thumb analysis by the INQ suggests that 39.4% of those people are watching DVD-ripped porn.* µ

*not necessarily accurate.