Multimedia Application

Question: What is the difference between Indeo® video Release 3.2 and Indeo video interactive (Release 4.1)?

Indeo video interactive is the latest release of Indeo technology. A t a given data rate, it yields better image quality than Release 3.2. In fact, it often produces better image quality at lower data rates. It is optimized for playback on Pentium® processor-based systems. Indeo video interactive also includes a wide variety of features to support developers of interactive multimedia applications. See the section entitled "Answers for Application Developers and Video Producers" for details on these features. Release 3.2 is an older release of Indeo video, designed for Intel486TM processor­based systems, although it still provides good quality on Pentium® processor-based systems.

Question: Why does Intel distribute IndeoŽ video for free?

Our goal is to help developers create exciting multimedia PC software, of which video is an important part. Video on a PC can be far more exciting than a linear, passive television show, because video on PCs can branch and change interactively. In order to realize this goal, video playback must be a standard capability of every desktop PC. To this end, a software-only video solution such as Indeo video is clearly an advantage, as end users do not need to buy or install special hardware to play video. Furthermore, the special features of Indeo video interactive are a substantive step toward taking PC-based video into this new and exciting territory.

Question: How can I get IndeoŽ video?

Indeo video is included in Video for Windows*, Windows 95, and on multimedia titles that use Indeo technology. You can also download the latest drivers, as well as sample video files and supporting documentation, from this Indeo video Web site.

Question: Is it legal to develop and distribute software titles that install IndeoŽ video drivers on an end user's system?

Yes, Indeo video drivers can be freely distributed and are available to developers royalty-free. However, the codec remains the intellectual property of Intel, and the Indeo video logo is trademarked. Information on using and licensing the Indeo video logo is available from Intel; call Indeo video Product Marketing at (503) 264­8287.

Question: What are the differences between IndeoŽ video interactive and Indeo video Release 3.2?

The main differences are higher quality video, processor scalability, and new features designed for interactive multimedia applications. Indeo video interactive software uses a completely new compression algorithm, including advantageous features such as bidirectional prediction, to yield better image quality than Release 3.2, comparable to software MPEG. Indeo video interactive also encodes data at lower rates than Release 3.2, so more video of a given quality can fit onto a CD­ROM. Indeo video interactive also allows image quality to scale according to the processor power available. Finally, Indeo video interactive supports the development of interactive multimedia applications with features unavailable in Release 3.2. You can specify that portions of a video frame be rendered as transparent, or that only a portion of the frame be decoded. Users can change the brightness, contrast, and saturation of video files during playback. Key frames can be placed wherever they are needed, at arbitrary intervals. And video files can be protected from unauthorized access.

* Legal Information © 1998 Intel Corporation