Redakcja Choose TV
The technology industry has welcomed the premiere of another important video standard. After several years of delays, the AV2 codec has officially been presented, which is set to become the successor to the increasingly popular AV1. The new solution was developed by the Alliance for Open Media, which brings together the major players in the technology market. The creators argue that AV2 will significantly reduce the amount of data needed to transmit high-quality materials. This could have a huge impact on streaming platforms and users around the world.
AV2 is expected to provide higher image quality with less data transfer
The biggest advantage of the new codec is its significantly better compression efficiency. According to test results, AV2 can reduce bandwidth requirements by up to about 30 percent compared to AV1. In practice, this means that streaming services will be able to offer the same image quality with less data usage. It will also be possible to increase the quality of materials without raising the requirements for the user's internet connection. The new standard has been designed with many types of content in mind. It will handle SD, HD, 4K, 8K materials, as well as content intended for virtual and augmented reality. The developers introduced a number of technical improvements for more effective image compression. Among them are larger image processing blocks and more advanced methods of predicting the next frames. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of data transmitted without noticeable deterioration in quality. This is particularly important in times of increasing popularity of 4K and 8K materials. Streaming platforms are constantly looking for ways to reduce data transmission costs. AV2 could prove to be one of the most important tools in achieving this goal. At the same time, end users can expect more stable streaming on weaker internet connections. In the long term, this technology could significantly impact the way video content is distributed.
There is a long road ahead for AV2, but the situation looks better than that of the competition
Although the codec's premiere is an important event, its popularization will not happen immediately. History shows that the implementation of new video standards can take many years. AV1 debuted in 2018, yet it is still not used by all streaming platforms. The biggest advocates of this solution remain Netflix and YouTube. At the same time, many services continue to primarily use the HEVC codec. However, the creators of AV2 are counting on a faster implementation than its predecessor. This is aided by the fact that the standard's development is overseen by companies with a huge influence on the electronic devices market. Among them are Apple, Google, Microsoft, Samsung, Amazon, Nvidia, and Netflix. These companies are responsible for the development of browsers, Smart TVs, smartphones, computers, and streaming services. Unlike the competing VVC standard, which has not gained much popularity for several years, AV2 has a much stronger technological backing. Additionally, many modern devices already support AV1, which may facilitate the transition to its successor. Initial AV2 implementations are likely to begin in the coming years. However, full popularization of the new codec will still require some time.
AV2 has officially joined the ranks of the most important video standards in the market. The new codec is expected to provide up to 30 percent better compression efficiency compared to AV1, which could translate to higher streaming quality with lower data consumption. Although its implementation will be a process stretched over years, support from major technology companies gives it a strong chance of success. In the future, AV2 could become one of the foundations of the modern internet and multimedia services.
source: flatpanelshd
