depends on what you mean by encode. With Quicktime Pro 7, an old G3 or old PC running 500mhz can encode 1080p —it'll just take a decade. Realtime is different of course. Realtime encoding of 1080p H.264 would take serious hardware and would only allow CBR. I'm biassed. I like 2-pass VBR.
H.264 is such an efficient MPEG4 codec it's become the standard in so many areas as Jeremy has stated.
I don't think this is a poop-your-pants-worthy groundbreaking "invention" —more like a common-sense implementation. Making their entire platform of computers (from the minis to the pros) playback H.264 with little CPU-usage and dramatically cutting down encoding times is note-worthy.
It's not an invention, just smart implementation. Something other computer companies haven't implemented (yet).
It's all about Steve's phrase "it just works." Webcams are HARDLY a new thing, but implementing them across an entire computer line (except the Pros) is —and iChat using H.264. The inferred remote is nothing new. Heck, nearly everything in the iLife suite is "nothing new", but innovative implementations of concepts is really Apple's strength.
The new things Apple does often seem like "duh" items. They just do those "duh" things really well. And soon you see other computer companies trying to implement the same ideas.
the Nook Color proved it was an undercover tablet all along, Barnes and Noble has hit back with this latest Nook as proof of its focus on one thing: reading.
The most commented posts on Engadget over the past 24 hours.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
@ Jon
depends on what you mean by encode. With Quicktime Pro 7, an old G3 or old PC running 500mhz can encode 1080p —it'll just take a decade. Realtime is different of course. Realtime encoding of 1080p H.264 would take serious hardware and would only allow CBR. I'm biassed. I like 2-pass VBR.
H.264 is such an efficient MPEG4 codec it's become the standard in so many areas as Jeremy has stated.
I don't think this is a poop-your-pants-worthy groundbreaking "invention" —more like a common-sense implementation. Making their entire platform of computers (from the minis to the pros) playback H.264 with little CPU-usage and dramatically cutting down encoding times is note-worthy.
It's not an invention, just smart implementation. Something other computer companies haven't implemented (yet).
It's all about Steve's phrase "it just works." Webcams are HARDLY a new thing, but implementing them across an entire computer line (except the Pros) is —and iChat using H.264. The inferred remote is nothing new. Heck, nearly everything in the iLife suite is "nothing new", but innovative implementations of concepts is really Apple's strength.
The new things Apple does often seem like "duh" items. They just do those "duh" things really well. And soon you see other computer companies trying to implement the same ideas.