Apple has joined Amazon, Cisco, Google, Intel, Microsoft, Mozilla and Netflix, among others, in the Alliance for Open Media, the group of companies working together to develop the next-generation, open-source, royalty-free video format, AV1.
As it stands, Safari users are unable to watch YouTube videos in Ultra HD; Google uses its proprietary VP9 codec for UHD content, while Apple has thrown its weight behind the industry-standard HEVC format.
According to Mozilla, the new AV1 codec can reduce file size by 25-35%. Now with every major player supporting its development, an initial version is expected to be completed this year.
Analyst Comment
It’s an interesting turn of events that Apple and Google are putting their long-term differences aside for this project. If an industry-wide switch to AV1 were to be adopted by the major web companies, all now united under the alliance, UHD video would be available to all consumers, irrespective of browser preference or brand loyalty. (AF)
