RealNetworks has new codec, RMHD

[mandarinka]

RealNetworks apparently shows a new codec on CES, an upgrade of RMVB that is supposed to improve compression by 60 % (of course, that is just the usual bla-bla, as we all know, it isn't really possible to gauge compression like that).

Sadly, I don't see any details about what is it based on - possibly a clone of HEVC?

http://www.streamingmedia.com/PressRelease/View.aspx?PRGuid=37618

[Selur]

unless:
a. there's a command line encoder which supports at least raw video via std::in pipe
b. it's free for (at least) personal use
c. it doesn't suffer from banding
d. it's speed and compression vise (at least) comparative to H.265
e. it get's decoder support through libav
-> not really interested

[Asmodian]

All that was true about RMVB (maybe a. wasn't but I know you could use file input). At least it was competitive with the current codecs at the time, for a bit.

Most likely closely related to HEVC. The article seems to stress a hardware decoding chip will be available and widely integrated but I cannot tell if they can use an HEVC decoder hardware or if they mean RMHD only hardware (unlikely I would think).

[Nintendo Maniac 64]

To use an analogy, I cannot see this as being anything but the equvalent of Windows Phone to iOS (HEVC) and Android (VP9).

[mandarinka]

To use an analogy, I cannot see this as being anything but the equvalent of Windows Phone to iOS (HEVC) and Android (VP9).

Switch HEVC and VP9 around, that would fit more.
But Windows Phone is actually pretty usable, so the comparison isn't really good. Maybe Sailfish (although that one has at least some following), Tizen and actual "me too" attempts like that.

[Sparktank]

I don't remember the last time I got excited for anything with "RealMedia" attached to it.

[Nintendo Maniac 64]

Switch HEVC and VP9 around, that would fit more.

Both Android and VP9 are free yet moderately proprietary open-source technologies that have been questioned on software patent use and are even made by the same company (Google).

iOS and HEVC aren't quite as similar to eachother, but I was limited for choice.


Anyway, the main idea is that, like Android and iOS, we already have two things that cover both ends of the spectrum, and it's questionable what a third entrant could offer to the market (see: Windows Phone).

[mandarinka]

Both Android and VP9 are free yet moderately proprietary open-source technologies that have been questioned on software patent use and are even made by the same company (Google).

iOS and HEVC aren't quite as similar to eachother, but I was limited for choice.

That is why I think my comparison was better :)
Because HEVC is the thing everybody is going to use (like every phone company +-except Apple uses Android), while VP9 is one company's counter-attempt to have its own personal thingy (iOS).

[Nintendo Maniac 64]

That is why I think my comparison was better :)
Because HEVC is the thing everybody is going to use (like every phone company +-except Apple uses Android), while VP9 is one company's counter-attempt to have its own personal thingy (iOS).

But HEVC is not free...that's kind of a big reason Android gets used in the first place.

Consider when Android was new - barely anybody used it. At that time only iOS was taken seriously, much like HEVC is taken much more seriously than VP9 is right now.

[mandarinka]

That is just a tiny, not really important thing. The cost of using HEVC is very small, and the important thing is that it is an industry-wide effort developed by many players and meant to be licensed and used by anyone.