Software update: XviD 1.0.0 beta2

XviD is an open source MPEG4 codec and is used to encode movie files. The latest version is numbered 1.0.0 beta2 and has been given the codename Ciao. The next release notes are available:

Changes since 1.0.0 beta1 (Aloha):

• xvidcore:
  • MPEG4 compliance is back (beta1 was missing the VOS header)
  • matrix quantization is finally thread safe
  • improved vop type decision
  • 2pass2 plugin: min key interval was a misleading name. It’s been renamed to kfthreshold. And as the kfthresholding behavior was a bit too aggressive, it’s been disabled until we decide how it should behave w/o hurting quality
  • single plugin: fixed quant capping
  • interlacing artifacts fixed.
• VFW font:
  • some misuses of xvidcore were fixed
  • min key frame widget renamed and moved to the 2pass panel
• Debian package:
  • small errors in the control file reported and fixed by Nicolas Boos
• Active Items to work on:
  • update vfw & dshow decoder frontends
    • GUI isn’t perfect for vfw and dshow still links against xvid.dll which doesn’t export internal functions anymore because of the license change.
  • decide on vfw & dshow linking policy. presently we statically link, however this increases the size of zips/packages where both vfw & dshow are included.
  • update/fix CBR plugin
    • misses target bitrate, bitrate burst in static motion/high motion transitions
  • bug hunting (ed.gomez/syskin)
    • xvidcore is still a place where bugs feel comfortable
  • docbook writing (every developer should contribute)
    • New API has to be documented.
  • two pass code should not introduce quality regressions (every tester)
    • first feedback proved kfthresholding was hurting quality, a decision on its behavior has to be settled.
  • YV12/I420/USER Clarification
    • item submitted by Ivan Kalvachev Planes are swaped
  • MMX MPEG4 quantization is unprecise. This is probably an inherent problem in some MMX opcode precision.

Next beta releases will focus on tuning for better quality and/or speed. Though we don’t know of any standard compliance problem at the moment, continue using beta releases with care.[break]The downloads are on this page ready to be leeched and compiled .