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VP8 and H.264 Codecs Compared In Detail
An anonymous reader writes "Moscow State University's Graphics and Media lab have released their sixth MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video codecs comparison. Also of note is a recently added appendix to the report which compares VP8, x264, and Xvid. The reference VP8 encoder holds its own against x264 despite the source material offering x264 a slight advantage. The VP8 developers comment in the report: 'We've been following the MSU tests since they began and respect the group's work. One issue we noticed in the test is that most input sequences were previously compressed using other codecs. These sequences have an inherent bias against VP8 in recompression tests. As pointed out by other developers, H.264 and MPEG-like encoders have slight advantages in reproducing some of their own typical artifacts, which helps their objective measurement numbers but not necessarily visual quality. This is reflected by relatively better results for VP8 on the only uncompressed input sequence, "mobile calendar."'"
First, that claim was made by an x264 developer. Second, that comment in itself is misleading. VP8 developers didn't claim the bias affected visual quality. Here's the exact quote:
H.264 and MPEG-like encoders have slight advantages in reproducing some of their own typical artifacts, which helps their objective measurement numbers but not necessarily visual quality.
x264 developers need to take it easy and let their implementation speak on its merits rather than attempt to discredit VP8 at every opportunity.
For now at least.
You have to be realistic.
H.264 isn't just about the cell phone phone and the web.
It's a broadcast, cable and sattelite video standard, a Blu-Ray standard. It is deeply entrenched in industrial and security video.
A search of Google Shopping for "H.264" will return 40,000 hits.
There are 847 AVC/H.264 Licensees
The Asian industrial giants like Mitsubishi are very well represented.