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Why can WebM be the future of images on the Internet?

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In 2010, Google announced a new video technology with a bold proposition: to be the future of streaming video over the Internet. Thinking of the full potential of Web Giant, the idea is not that megalomaniac, especially since YouTube, the main video portal of the current global network, belongs to the company.

This technology is WebM, a video “format” that works in conjunction with HTML5 and offers more satisfying results compared to traditional methods such as Flash videos or even animated GIFs.

Technically speaking, this format works with more colors, takes less time to load, and displays videos at 60 frames per second. It combines different features in a package designed with the web in mind, putting you at an advantage over other competitors.

Google itself has been using WebM for some time experimentally on YouTube – if you have activated the video player in HTML5 format, know that the screens are made in this new format – but despite all the advantages, does it have potential? to go further and really be the future of images on the Internet?

Open and expanding technology

WebM is an open source technology that works with open multimedia standards: structure based on the Matroska container, VP8 video codec (also developed by Google) and Vorbis audio stream. So the technology can be modified, applied, and redistributed for free by anyone who wants to embrace the idea, and some websites and browsers have already done so.

Currently, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Opera already support WebM natively, being able to take advantage of the pages that offer content in this format. Internet Explorer and Safari do not run natively WebM, but there are add-ons that can be installed to give them this functionality.

Thinking of laptops, increasingly important for web browsing, only Chrome has full support for the new format: Firefox, Opera Mobile and the native Android browser have partial support. The portable versions of Safari and Internet Explorer do not work with WebM.

Currently, several web services already use the format:

YouTube: in the HTML5 video player;
Wikimedia: also in an HTML5 media player with WebM;
Skype: implemented the VP8 codec for video streaming in version 5.0;
4chan: now allows the publication of videos in WebM, limiting the playback time to 120 seconds and the file size to 3 MB, all without audio;
Logitech: You plan to use the method in a video calling service;
NVIDIA: Announced HTML5 Video Service Using 3D Vision Technology;
Nintendo: Nintendo Wii uses the WebM format to stream videos;
NeoGAF – One of the largest forums on the Internet can be formatted via a Firefox plug-in.

And what are the advantages?

WebM is a format designed for the web, so it is developed taking into account some peculiarities of the network, such as improved performance to avoid bandwidth losses, better ratio between quality and file size, etc.

At this point, WebM consumes few hardware resources, exhibiting satisfactory performance also on simpler computers. In a simple way, it can be said that the ability to offer high quality content, openly and without overloading the PC or even the Internet connection are the main differentials of this method.

Performance

It can be said that the chances of success of WebM come essentially from the combination of several good elements in its composition. Choosing Matroska as the basis for everything, for example, makes control over video execution much more precise, as this format has an excellent response time for video searches.

Other advanced features such as multiple audio, video and subtitle tracks during streaming and also recovering from a streaming failure from the same point where it stopped, show how Matroska is a competent container and can serve customers. WebM purposes.

Size and quality

The size / quality ratio is probably one of the challenges of streaming video services, after all, the ideal is to offer the best quality in files with the smallest possible size. WebM achieves good results in this regard by using the VP8 video codec, developed by ON2, a company acquired by Google.

This codec is considered one of the few existing standards capable of guaranteeing an optimal balance between image quality and file size during compression in MPEG4. It was not by chance that Google acquired it and later became an open license.

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About the WebM format

What is webm?

WebM is a multimedia container format designed to provide a high-quality, royalty-free video compression format for use with HTML5 video. The development of the project is sponsored by Google. A WebM file consists of VP8 video and Vorbis audio, in a container based on a Matroska profile. The project launches related WebM software under a BSD license, and all users receive a royalty-free, non-exclusive, worldwide non-exclusive patent license. The purpose of the repository is to maintain the video and audio streams, so that they can be synchronized for playback. The container is comparable to a QuickTime or MPEG4 file.

What is the VP8 video codec?

VP8 is a highly efficient video compression technology developed by On2 Technologies. Google acquired On2 in February 2010. For more information, see the “VP8 Video Codec” section below.

What is the Vorbis audio codec?

Vorbis is an open source audio compression technology. It is an independent project of the Xiph Foundation. For more information on Vorbis, visit www.vorbis.org.
A valid WebM file can only contain VP8 video and Vorbis audio in a webm container.

Native support for Mozilla Firefox 4, Opera 10.6, and Google Chrome WebM was announced at the Google I / O 2010 conference. However, not all web browsers natively support WebM.Media players, such as VLC, Miro, and Winamp , have announced their compatibility. MPlayer has native support for playing WebM files.

YouTube now offers WebM videos as part of its HTML5 player experience. All files uploaded at resolutions of 720p and higher are encoded for WebM at 480p and 720p, and other resolutions will follow. YouTube is committed to encoding its entire video portfolio for the online encryption platform WebM.Sorenson Media now supports VP8, and WebM.Skype has implemented the VP8 codec for Skype 5.0 software. Logitech plans to use WebM as part of a video call service. NVIDIA announced support for 3D Video for WebM through HTML5 and its NVIDIA 3D Vision technology.

What is the WebM format?

WebM is a container form (with the extension * .webm) for multimedia files, therefore video and audio files. VP8 and VP9 video encoders, as well as Vorbis and Opus audio encoders, are used within the container form. As announced at the Google I / 0 2010 conference, WebM was originally designed as an alternative to the MP4 format with the H.264 encoder. The latter is free for consumers who use it to watch videos, while developers who want to work with the encoder must pay for the license. Instead, WebM is an open source project that anyone can work with without having to pay.

WebM was created for use with HTML5. VP8 and VP9 encoders are designed so that even with significant compression, decompression requires minimal computing power. The goal is to be able to watch real-time videos from the Internet from all devices (desktops, tablets, smartphones or multimedia devices such as smart TVs). So it’s no surprise that YouTube, as a subsidiary of Google, has turned all videos into WebM format, regardless of the original file format. However, YouTube still supports H.264 for those who can’t play WebM.

WebM has become a political problem in the Internet community. While Google is trying to impose this format on audio and video in all its forms, other competing companies, such as Apple and Microsoft, still insist on other formats, such as MP4. The main reason is the problem of patents: both software companies are part of the MPEG LA patent group, retaining the patents of the encoders they use and collecting license fees. Google is trying to overcome these patents with WebM.

This has already caused legal problems in the past: the controversy was the VP8 encoder. Many companies have criticized the fact that the coder did not take into account their patents. Google has reached an agreement with MPEG LA, but Nokia, which is not part of the patent team, is violating their rights. However, the first lawsuit filed by the company in a lawsuit against an HTC competitor that identified V8 devices was rejected by the Mannheim District Court.

WebM is compatible with some of the main browsers: Chrome, Chromium, Firefox and Opera do not require more features to play the format. Microsoft Edge needs an additional addition. Safari can also be customized to play WebM, at least on the desktop version. Instead, it becomes annoying for iPhone and iPad users, who need to install additional software to play video on their devices.

The most popular program for playing WebM files is probably the VLC player. This program is also available for iOS devices, so Winamp and Kodi also have the ability to play WebM. Windows Media Player 12 can also play WebM. However, to do this you need to install the WebM Media Foundation. WebM video playback can also work on Internet Explorer.

WebM vs MP4: advantages and disadvantages
While WebM is still a relatively new form, MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) and H.264 have been used for many years. This has turned the previous format and its encoder into a standard: in fact, you will find very few applications that are not compatible with MP4. In addition to Internet services and software for PC and Mac, there are also many devices (eg cameras) that can manage MP4. The high degree of acceptance makes the format interesting for both the manufacturer and the user.

However, Google earns points for WebM’s open source character: there are no costs for the manufacturer and developer to use the form, and this applies to the end user. The software is then distributed through the open BSD license.

The issue of the license to be used for MP4 and H.264 is unclear: most users, even those who create professional videos, do not know if they already have a valid license to purchase hardware and software or if they have The videos will find license fees. By using WebM you avoid all this confusion. However, MPEG LA announced in 2010 that the use of the H.264 encoder will be free in the future, provided that the videos produced are made available to users for free.

H264 Vs Webm

H264 Vs Webm videos

The H264 Video file format

The H.264 file extension is used for H.264 encoded video files. This video compression format is one of the most popular today, especially for high definition video. This type of file has the ability to record video and manage video compression and distribution. The first launch of this format took place in mid 2003. Its latest editions have improved its functionalities. The H.264 format is frequently used in AVCHD video recorders and HD DVD and Blu-ray players.

Technical details about H264 files

The H.264 format was created to develop a method of providing high video quality while maintaining the low bit rates that have been used in the past. Developers wanted to avoid complex design, maintain a reasonable cost level, and give the format enough flexibility to support its extensive use. The H.264 file is usually named incorrectly because in many cases it is an MP4 file. The H.264 component is a video compression codec and you need a container to store the video file is in question.

Webm format

With the support of Google, in 2010 a new multimedia file format was launched on the Internet. WebM represents an open source alternative to other video formats (especially MP4) and is primarily intended for use on the Internet in combination with HTML5. But what can the WebM format do that other video formats cannot?

What is the WebM?

WebM is a container format (with * .webm extension) for multimedia files, that is, for videos and audio files. In the same container, the VP8 and VP9 video codecs are used, as well as the Vorbis and Opus audio codecs. At the Google I / 0 2010 conference, the company announced its plan for WebM to be an alternative to the existing MP4 format with its H.264 codec from the start. The consumer can use the latter free of charge when viewing a video, but developers who want to work with the codec must pay the license fees. By contrast, WebM is an open source project that anyone can work with without having to pay royalties for it.

WebM is intended for use with HTML5. The VP8 and VP9 codecs are designed so that in those cases where considerable compression must be carried out, extraction can still take place with little computing power. The objective of this design is to allow the reproduction of Internet videos on practically any device (regardless of whether it is a desktop computer, a tablet, a smartphone or a multimedia device such as a Smart TV). It is no wonder that YouTube, being a subsidiary of Google, converts all its videos to WebM format, regardless of the original file format. Regardless, Youtube still supports H.264 for those who can’t play WebM.

WebM has become a political issue within the Internet community. While Google tries with all its strength to consolidate this audio and video format, other important market players such as Apple or Microsoft cling to formats such as MP4. The main reason is, above all, the patent system: both software companies use a patent pool from MPEG-LA, as MPEG-LA is in charge of keeping the patents of the used codecs and collecting copyrights for them. Google is trying to circumvent these patents with WebM.

This situation has already led to legal problems in the past, with the VP8 codec being the point of contention. Several companies have criticized that their codec patent has been ignored. Google would have reached an agreement with MPEG LA, however, Nokia is not part of this patent pool and believes that its rights have been ignored. A first lawsuit, in which the company faced its competitor HTC, whose devices support V8, was dismissed in court by the Mannheim regional court.