Its DivX video compression technology has become a Web sensation, and now DivXNetworks Inc. has partnered with Plextor Corp. to offer the first DivX-certified hardware encoding and editing device. The Plextor ConvertX Digital Video Converter ($159) lets users convert video from a wide variety of sources to high-quality DivX video in real time using a Windows-based PC.

ConvertX makes it easy to edit DivX video content, cutting unwanted scenes or adding transitions, titles, and special effects. MPEG-4-compatible DivX compression technology lets a single CD hold up to 2 hours or a recordable DVD up to 10 hours of video -- 10 times the amount possible with MPEG-2. The compact ConvertX has composite video and audio and S-Video inputs and a high-speed USB 2.0 interface.