On2 Technologies reveals 1080p hardware video decoder for handsets

On the same day that Texas Instruments chose to showcase a new chip that would enable HD recording capabilities on cellphones, On2 Technologies is taking a moment from its hectic day in Barcelona to trumpet an all new 1080p hardware RTL video decoder. The Hantro 8190 reportedly supports Adobe Flash along with H.263, H.264, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, VC-1, Sorenson Spark and VP6 video formats, and it can even handle JPEG images up to 16-megapixels. According to On2, the device was created to be easily integrated with ARM, MIPS and "other embedded CPU and DSP cores," and can supposedly decode 1080p H.264 video at 30 frames-per-second using a clock frequency of just 165MHz. As it stands, the Hantro 8190 is currently available for licensing, but only time will tell who's going to bite.

[JLTate @ Feb 11th 2008 1:33PM]

Interesting... now if only we had handsets that supported greater than 480p video output.

[Chris @ Feb 11th 2008 1:50PM]

I agree with you, cell phones don't even have enough space for 720p wide let alone 1080p. Well in like 20 years we'll buy movies directly to our phones then wi-fi them to our super ultra way better than "full hd' tvs.

[rv @ Feb 11th 2008 4:25PM]

Chris, I think that is possible now, except that the video isnt decoded on the phone, the file can be streamed to a computer which is hookedup to a hdtv. So while it isnt exactly like that, you can do something like that right now.

[Eric @ Feb 11th 2008 1:51PM]

Yes, Apple needs to pick this up and put it in the iPod Touch. Then, they need to add some sort of video output that'll let me connect the iPod Touch to an HDTV for 1080p video playback.

Granted, you'll only be able to store 2 movies on a 32GB iPod Touch, but hey...it'll still be pretty sweet.

[Tom @ Feb 11th 2008 2:31PM]

4 movies actually

[Ron Smith @ Feb 11th 2008 1:57PM]

The biggest thing is the pipeline. If we had handsets with the bandwidth of broadband at the same price, then cell phone use would explode. Yes it is huge now, but laptops and TVs would start to use the same protocols, and as a result cell phone companies could compete with cable and phone for home usage. Right now they are willing to nickel and dime consumers, however once they see the big picture the industry will become an integrated part of most/all consumer electronics.

[John @ Feb 11th 2008 3:05PM]

So, once we get past the obstacle of fitting 1080x1440 resolution onto a handset, we're also going to make handsets with large enough screens to see all that detail?

[Reader @ Feb 11th 2008 4:03PM]

Most phones already take pics way out of their supported viewing resolution.

[chris_85 @ Feb 11th 2008 4:00PM]

John, i am in full agreement with you! like i said in another post: HD video would be pointless on a phone unless you're gonna hook it up to a decent HDTV or something of the like. How many of us actually view footage that we have recorded on anything BUT our phones? The screens are so small it would make the difference between standard definition and high definition material on a phone negligible. a pointless use of the spectrum that could be used for other, better solutions.

[uhmm @ Feb 12th 2008 2:34AM]

cali lewis in HD on an ipod/iphone. yum :)
(otherwise: no, i dont see the point in a HDScreen on a mobile either. really don`t)

[boe @ Feb 11th 2008 5:00PM]

LOL - that will be great for HTC in about 50 years when they finally move away from QVGA 240x320 screens! I've had 3 generations of HTC phones but wish I could use an IMATE or ETEN with my carrier as I'd love VGA resolution and to find out if all WM BT connections suck or if it just an issue with HTC phones.

[uhmm @ Feb 12th 2008 2:38AM]

they all do. own an eten and bt sucks. big time. like with all windows devices. "plug and play" should be a little less "pray"..

[Ahmad @ Apr 10th 2008 7:15PM]

this would be great publicity for the Zune or windows mobile devices if Microsoft used this chip *wink*

[Stefan @ Feb 12th 2008 4:56AM]

I think the summary is misleading!

This chip doesn't decode Adobe Flash per se, but only the On2 VP6 format that has been used in Flash 8, 9 and Lite3, see also http://www.on2.com/index.php?536

I am not aware of any chip that has a Flash (Lite) Player built into silicon.