Nic's XviD Codec

Owning a computer sooner or later has you playing a media file. Most of them require decoders in order to be played, such as Nic's XviD Codec, a nifty video filter designed to decode videos processed with the XviD codec library. Aside from the ability to play XviD files, it can also decode DivX clips effortlessly.

XviD is one of the most popular codecs out there used to compress and decompress MPEG-4 videos. In other words, XviD is not a video format and its purpose is only to process media content.

However, due to concerns regarding patents, XviD.org does not provide a compiled version of the XviD codec. Only the sources are offered for download, which, nonetheless, provides an excellent opportunity for developers who are looking to code XviD–based applications.

Nic's XviD Codec is just the solution for videos processed with the XviD codec. It was designed for all user types and is incredibly easy to deploy.

The installation process requires you to press a few ‘Next’ buttons and this is where your efforts are pretty much put to an end. User interaction is not required, since there is no configuration window. Indeed, it is as simple as it sounds.

After deployment, you should be able to play any XviD-based movie or video clip in a player of your own choice (Windows Media Player included). It worked just fine during our tests, so it should do just fine on any computer.

In conclusion, Nic's XviD Codec has the sole purpose of getting your system ready for XviD and DivX playback. It is one of the simplest video decoders out there, so lower your expectations drastically. From the looks of it, the project is not likely to receive updates any time sooner, so exploring other codec packs can’t harm anyone.