The Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute announced via a press release its new video format, H.266/VVC, on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. The electrical engineering and computer science division of the German division said the new development could cut data use by half in terms of video streaming compression.
The codec is called H.266/Versatile Video Coding. It is reportedly designed to take over the current format in place, H.265/High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), which requires 10 gigabytes of data to transfer a 90-minute ultra high definition video, notes Endgadget.
Made in partnership with Apple, Microsoft, Ericsson, Huawei, Intel, Qualcomm, and Sony, the German research institute states that the new codec will halve the current bitrate use in today’s industry.
Based on the firm’s press release, the H.266/VCC codec would facilitate a faster and more efficient file transfer and sharing capability. Using new technology, data transfers would now only require 5 gigabytes while still achieving the same quality.
This technology particularly aimed towards individuals who stream content in 4k or 8k television. Besides supporting 4k and 8k streaming video formats, the technology will also support all other prior formats, including 480p and up, reports Endgadget.
More than catering to smartphone users and avid television viewers, BBC states that the codec is a massive leap for the world of virtual reality as this can potentially “fill the user’s field of view” using a 360-degree panorama to screen format.
In a statement, head of Video Coding System at Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute Benjamin Bross said, “After dedicating almost three years toward this standard, we are proud to have been instrumental in developing H.266/VCC.”
“Because of this quantum leap in coding efficiency offered by H.266/VCC, the use of video will increase further worldwide. Moreover, the increased versatility of H.266/VCC makes its use more attractive for a broader range of applications related to the transmission and storage of video.”
In addition to the unveiling of the new format, the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute will also be publishing its first H.266/VCC support software. Though the program is still in the works, Engadget states it is slated to launch sometime during the fall.
Moreover, the team at Fraunhofer also emphasized that their team of engineers at the division is currently designing the “new chips required for the use of H.266/VCC, such as those in mobile devices.”
While the press release details the existence of current gold standards in the industry, namely the H.265 and its predecessor, J.264, both The Verge and BBC notes that Fraunhofer failed to mention the existence of AV1, a royalty-free alternative to the HEVC. It is backed by five major tech giants, including Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung, and Facebook.
