VP8 support comes to Imagination's popular PowerVR VXE multi-standard video encoder IP

Extends lead for industry’s most widely deployed multi-standard mobile video IP

London, UK – 18 April 2013 – Imagination Technologies (IMG.L), a leading multimedia, processor, communications and cloud technologies company, announces support for the VP8 video codec in its industry-leading 4K-ready PowerVR E4500MP multi-standard video encoder IP.

Already supported in Imagination’s D4500MP video decoder IP, VP8 is a high-performance codec aimed at bringing high-quality video content and experiences to web-connected devices. VP8 is part of the Google-sponsored WebM open web media project, and is widely used in web-based video applications and real-time web/video conferencing.

Market-proven PowerVR video IP delivers a high-performance, high-quality video decode/encode solution designed from the start for low power. With more than half a billion units shipped, it is the industry’s volume leader. The PowerVR E4500MP video encoder is part of Imagination’s VXE Series4 family, and is capable of all major HD and still image standards, supporting resolutions up to 4Kx2K@30fps with unparalleled levels of colour fidelity through advanced features such as 10-bit and 4:2:2/4:4:4 support. Multi-stream capability, low-delay sub-1ms processing and support for multiple standards make the cores ideal for creating high-quality user generated content, video conferencing and transcoding at lower bitrates on mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras/camcorders and other consumer devices.

Says John Luther, product manager for the WebM Project: “We are delighted to see Imagination as a key player in the broadening ecosystem around VP8, the video codec behind many of the web’s video applications. As VP8 continues to gain adoption for real-time communication and VOD applications, hardware acceleration is becoming increasingly important to enable the high-resolution, cords-free experience that users have come to expect. We are integrating VP8 into real-time web communication platforms, Chrome OS devices, and video delivery for sites like YouTube Movies and Google Play Movies and TV. We anticipate that adoption of VP8 will continue to rise across the industry. Imagination is offering SoC vendors the opportunity to implement the VP8 encoder in hardware in its well-respected and popular video-encoder IP family, allowing for a high-quality, low-power and efficient solution, ideal for many of the mobile platforms available today.”

Hardware support for VP8 enables real-time encoding of high definition video, as well as real-time multi-stream transcoding between devices, allowing consumers to experience HD content anywhere on any device. Putting VP8 and other video codec support in hardware also offloads the CPU, saving precious battery life.

Says Tony King-Smith, EVP marketing, Imagination: “As real-time web video applications become more and more popular, consumers won’t settle for poor video quality. And since these applications are increasingly used on mobile devices, battery life is a major concern. Many applications are choosing VP8 as an ideal codec because of its low-cost, low-latency, high-quality video. Imagination fully supports VP8 and the WebM project, offering partners and consumers a choice of leading video codecs.”

In addition to VP8, the PowerVR E4500MP encoder cores support multiple standards including H.264 HP, H.264 MP, H.264 BP, H.264 MVC, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and JPEG. Programmes are already in place developing support for upcoming standards such as HEVC/H.265.

About Imagination Technologies

Imagination Technologies - a global leader in multimedia, processor and communication technologies - creates and licenses market-leading processor solutions including graphics, video, vision, CPU & embedded processing, multi-standard communications, cross-platform V.VoIP & VoLTE and cloud connectivity. These silicon and software intellectual property (IP) solutions for systems-on-chip (SoC) are complemented by an extensive portfolio of software, tools and ecosystems. Target markets include mobile phone, connected home consumer, mobile and tablet computing, in-car electronics, networking, telecoms, health, smart energy and connected sensors. Imagination's licensees include many of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers, network operators and OEM/ODMs. Corporate headquarters are located in the United Kingdom, with sales and R&D offices worldwide. See: www.imgtec.com.