[ad_1]
Why it issues: Support for the AV1 video codec has been spreading just lately. Qualcomm could also be one of the essential corporations hopping on the AV1 bandwagon by an upcoming cellular chip. Firefox can also be upgrading its help for AV1 quickly, although it’ll require some very current {hardware}.
Last month, sources advised Protocol that an upcoming Snapdragon cellular processor can be Qualcomm’s first chip to help AV1 decoding natively. The chip, internally codenamed SM8550, is anticipated to launch in direction of the tip of 2022, so merchandise that includes it would begin showing subsequent 12 months. However, these particulars are topic to alter.
The codec is extra environment friendly than some others like VP9, and in contrast to H.265, utilizing it does not require paying anybody royalties. AV1’s draw back is that it requires extra highly effective {hardware}.
In January, Qualcomm GM of cellular Alex Katouzian advised Anandtech that the corporate had been sluggish to undertake AV1 as a result of it plans its chips about two or three years prematurely. He confirmed Qualcomm is working to help AV1 sooner or later with out offering actual particulars.
Another firm making ready so as to add AV1 {hardware} help is Mozilla. Last week, a bug report on Bugzilla asking the corporate so as to add AV1 decoding to Firefox was closed. Can I Use notes that the function will arrive with Firefox 99, which can see a full launch on April 5. So far, Firefox has solely decoded AV1 by software program.
Late final 12 months, Mozilla stated AV1 wasn’t a precedence as a result of solely round two p.c of its customers had the {hardware} to help it. According to Microsoft, it requires the most recent Intel, Nvidia, or AMD chips on Windows. Users will want both an eleventh era or later Intel CPU, an Nvidia RTX 30 sequence GPU, or an AMD RX 6000 sequence GPU.
Google added AV1 help to YouTube final 12 months in hopes that it could push extra {hardware} producers to undertake it.
[ad_2]