Google Adds Hardware Acceleration Support to WebM
Jan 13, 2011, 8:54 AM by Eric M. Zeman
Google recently announced the availability of WebM (VP8) video hardware IP designs, which it is making available to manufacturers of semiconductors for mobile devices such as smartphones. The benefits of hardware acceleration will be realized in video playback. Google says that the new code will allow mobile devices to play high-quality WebM content from the web and conduct high definition video chats. Google says the hardware-accelerated VP8 video encoding will allow for video conferencing at 720p or 1080p at full frame rate with minimal impact on the battery life. Google didn't indicate when chips supporting hardware-accelerated WebM are expected to reach the market. In related news, Google recently said that it will cease to support H.264 video playback in its Chrome browser and OS, preferring instead to support its own WebM technology.
Comments
Mass hypocricy
I think Google is confusing "open" with "free"
In certain instances you will have to pay royalties to the companies that hold patents for H.426 but their source codes are 100% open and able to be viewed/edited etc.
EVERY mobile device records video in H.426, EVERY bluray player uses H.426, TV broadcasting uses it and it is something you absolutely do not need a plugin for.
WebM, on the other hand, is 100% NOT OPEN SOURCE. It is a proprietary format that GOOGLE OWNS and has not opened up the source code for. It has a near zero percent market share and is supported by absolutely no hardware at the moment.
It makes no sense for Google to drop H.426...
(continues)
You can also add h.264 support to a Chrome browser by downlo...
(continues)
You don't think the source is available?
http://www.webmproject.org/code/ »
Guess what that is.
Also H.264 requires royalties paid by device and browser vendors.
I can question the choice to exclude H.264 from th...
(continues)
Isn't this monopolizing?
I mean, it's not smart, but it's also not a monopoly.
Now, if Google had the only browser on the market THAT would make it a monopoly.
But you can't really be accused of anti-competitive measures for selling a product that only...
(continues)
GettingSleepy said:
Google only allowing for their products to work with their services?
WebM is a format Google championed. Youtube HTML5 videos are WebM.