codec

We have synthetic life! Craig Venter's new bacterium is alive and is blue... because that's what it's programmed to be. Also, Google says Happy 30th Birthday Pacman by putting a playable game into the Google banner. Tech support calls ensue.

Apparently, Australian border guards can now search your laptops for porn when you enter the country. Um. Ok. As a protest, we suggest everyone flying there just declare that they have porn. Why not? Also, tons of news coming from Google I/O, including the very interesting Google TV and the latest on Android 2.2. Let the waiting begin.

We wanted Google to announce its set-top box at Google IO today, but what do we get? A new video codec, an app store in Chrome, and (yawn) Google Wave going into open beta. And, oh yeah, homeland security seals (the marine mammals, not the hulky military guys) protecting our harbors.

In a modest boost for a brand-new Google effort to overhaul Web video, Microsoft said Wednesday it will "support" the open-source, royalty-free WebM technology--as long as Windows users install software on their own.

Google launched the WebM project Wednesday at Google I/O, drawing support from Mozilla and Opera for the video technology based on its VP8 video encoding technology. Microsoft offered a lukewarm statement on the matter:

"When it comes to video and HTML5, we're all in. In its HTML5 support, IE9 will support playback of H.264 video as well as VP8 video when … Read more

There are a number of video formats that are used for compressing and distributing videos these days. While most use common and open standards such as H.264 that are readily viewable, others may be more obscure and will require you to install a codec to view videos encoded in them.… Read more

A disagreement between Google and Mozilla is making a once-obscure debate into a real issue for those who watch Web video or host it on their own sites.

Last week, Google's YouTube announced early support for HTML5 video, which can be built directly into Web pages and viewed with browsers without relying on a plug-in such as Adobe Systems' Flash, Microsoft's Silverlight, or Apple's QuickTime. Another Web video site, Vimeo, followed suit.

Native video on a Web page sounds nice, and many Web companies support the effort broadly. But there's one big devil in its detail: … Read more

Google has announced new, more lucrative terms for its desired acquisition of On2 Technologies, a "final offer" intended to sway reluctant On2 shareholders.

In a Dec. 29 regulatory filing, On2 twice postponed a shareholder meeting to consider the offer--0.001 shares of Google Class A common stock for each share of On2 stock--to give itself more time to persuade shareholders of a deal that the video compression technology company wants to conclude. On Thursday, On2 and Google announced that Google would pay an extra 15 cents in cash per share as well.

On2's stock closed at 59 … Read more

Axara Audio Converter provides a very user-friendly way to convert audio files. By showcasing a simple set of commands and performing its task quickly, it's a great program for audio novices.

The program's interface is laid out in a very intuitive fashion, complete with large command icons that more or less walk you through the conversion process. The program functions much like dozens of other audio converters, but its simple and efficient layout sets it apart from the crowd. You can creating an MP3, MP4, WAV, WMA, AMR, OGG, AIFF, or AAC file by simply clicking its logo. … Read more

MediaCoder provides all the tools needed to convert audio and video clips, but it also adds a level of complexity that audiophiles will love. Casual users, however, will be confused and should steer clear.

The program's interface was helpful but also baffling. While it walks you through the setup process, it does so online, which was a bit odd and certainly different. Nevertheless, it coordinated the program setup in a few easy steps. We were able to convert our audio and video files into corresponding formats like MP3, MP4, AMR, WAV, and a few others. MediaCoder works with a … Read more