Linked by David Adams on Fri 20th Apr 2012 01:31 UTC, submitted by fsmag
"When I started working on a no-DRM, open-standards-based solution for distributing high-definition video on fixed media ('Lib-Ray'), I naturally thought of Theora, because it was developed as a free software project. Several people have suggested, though, that the VP8 codec would be a better fit for my application. This month, I've finally gotten the necessary vpxtools and mkvtoolnix packages installed on my Debian system, and so I'm having a first-look at VP8. The results are very promising, though the tools are somewhat finicky."
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Member since:2007-02-18
"I naturally thought of Theora..."
What's wrong with some people? Will they use something just because it's an open and royalty free, despite being clearly unfit for the purpose?
What's wrong with some people? Will they use something just because it's an open and royalty free, despite being clearly unfit for the purpose?
Linux started out being clearly unfit for the purpose of a high performance computing kernel.
What's wrong with people choosing a format for their own purpose? It's not like they're forcing YOU to use Theora. One little project using Theora is not going to destroy the future hope of MPEG-4 and your HD needs.
Not everything is about you.
Member since:2010-03-08
At the time where the project was started, Theora apparently was the least awful option. Now that VP8, which is a superior format in every respect, is available, the guy has chosen to switch to it. So, what's the issue ?
It would have been great if Xiph were as good at designing video codecs as they are at designing audio codecs, or if the MPEG-LA weren't a bunch of dicks that would patent the concept of moving pictures if they could. But sadly, this isn't the case, so people had to find a less-than-optimal compromise until Google bought and open-sourced a true competitor to H.264.
Edited 2012-04-20 15:36 UTC
Member since:
2011-04-11
"I naturally thought of Theora..."
What's wrong with some people? Will they use something just because it's an open and royalty free, despite being clearly unfit for the purpose? Despite what the Stallman crowd will tell you, Theora achieves a Mpeg1/Mpeg2 level of compression, so it's not fit for HD streams, because you are essentially looking at 56Mbit/s bitrates. You may have it as an option (like bluray-m2ts has mpeg2), but that new Lib-Ray format also has to have a proper format, like VP8. The fact that guy started the LibRay project without having secured a proper format is dumb.
Theora was glorified as a viable format back when it was the only intraframe lossy royalty free format in existence, and the FSF needed to propose an alternative to H.264 to the HTML5 comittee. So, Theora was dragged to fulfull a mission it was clearly unfit for. Aka pure politics. But for some reason all this pro-Theora campaign lead many people to believe Theora is the hottest format in the town.
Edited 2012-04-20 14:02 UTC