Talk:Codec

I wasn't sure how to fit this stuff into the article, so will just make some quick points here:

• The term 'Codec' can apply to any compression/decompression - including audio (http://FLAC.sf.net, http://Speex.org, http://Vorbis.com (in the .ogg container), MPEG-1 layer 3 (known as .mp3), still picture (png, jpg, gif, JPEG2000, http://DjVu.org), or even 'generic' data (zip, gz, bz2, 7z (this is very high compression, see http://7-zip.org)).

• Implementing MPEG standards (such as mp3 or H-264) is difficult to do without encountering patent issues which will require royalty payments to http://MPEGLA.com

• As a bit of curiosity: Xvid is Divx spelled backward

• http://Dirac.sf.net Dirac is a video codec that provides general-purpose video compression and decompression tools comparable with state-of-the-art systems. Dirac is a format and a compression technology, not a specific codec.

• http://Schrodinger.sf.net The Schrödinger project will implement portable libraries for the high quality Dirac video codec created by BBC Research and Development. Dirac is a free and open source codec producing very high image quality video.

-- Ownut 09:30, 31 January 2008 (PST)

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Michel--Mbauwens 04:10, 1 February 2008 (PST)

not an expert in these matters, so feel free to update the main article as you wish...