YouTube will show the possibility of streaming 4K video at CES-2014, which will be held in Las Vegas next week. This will be possible through the use of a new free video codec VP9, developed by Google as an alternative to H.265, according to GigaOm.
This is not Google’s first attempt to create an open and royalty-free alternative to a commercial video format. In 2010, the company released the VP8 video codec, which was supposed to be the default format for streaming and real-time communication systems without the use of plug-ins. However, these plans did not come true because of the lack of hardware support and tough resistance from a number of companies interested in using established and well-known commercial video formats on the market.
This time, Google gained strong support from hardware partners to promote VP9. The list includes 19 hardware manufacturers, including LG, Panasonic, Sony, ARM, Intel, Broadcom, Marvell, Samsung, Sharp and Toshiba.
Director of YouTube for International Cooperation, Francisco Varela, does not consider the release of VP9 as the beginning of the video codec war. According to him, VP9 will help the service to improve the delivery of video content and put an end to buffering. At the same time, the company is in no hurry to abandon support for H.265.
Using a new video codec will help YouTube not only organize a higher resolution transmission at a reasonable bit rate, but also significantly reduce the amount of data needed for streaming regular HD video.
It is expected that VP9 hardware support will appear first on personal computers and mobile devices, after which TVs will receive it. The management is confident that the use of a new video codec will benefit not only YouTube, but also other video hosting sites.
The article is based on materials .
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