Enhancements to Video for Windows, Version 1.1

SUMMARY

Video for Windows version 1.1 includes many enhancements and improvements. The following is a list and description of most of these changes.

NEW COMPRESSORS AND DECOMPRESSORS

The incorporation of Intel's Indeo version 3.1 and Supermac's Cinepak compression/decompression (codec) algorithms allows for higher screen resolutions (up to 320 x 240) or faster frame rates (up to 30 fps). Performance optimization for Windows files. Microsoft has significantly increased the performance of video images displayed under Windows with more efficient reading and rendering to the screen. This combination provides a 50-percent speed increase over 1.0.

MORE FLEXIBLE ARCHITECTURE

Video for Windows applications can now include multiple data streams audio, video, still images, and text in a single file.

INSTALLABLE RENDERERS

These give developers tremendous creative freedom in determining how video images will be displayed to the screen. They can spin, flip, shrink, and dissolve video windows, and create other special effects.

FILE HANDLERS

This improvements provides a common interface for accessing data from a time-based file (for example, animations, motion JPEG files, and proprietary formats) using Video for Windows.

NEW APIs

There are two new Windows classes that allow developers to do more with their video development: MCIWIND provides a common video playback interface for incorporating video playback into applications, and AVICAP provides a standard way to incorporate capture capability into applications.

AUDIO COMPRESSION MANAGER/SOUND MAPPER FACILITY

Developers can now compress audio tracks using the Video for Windows built-in MSADPCM and IMA ADPCM audio codecs or codecs of their own. The sound mapper facility allows developers to author high-quality 16-bit audio files and play them back on 8 or 16-bit sound boards.

INSTALLABLE COMPRESSION MANAGER

This allows developers to install third-party codecs into Video for Windows.

VIDEO CAPTURE DRIVER INTERFACE

Microsoft has defined a universal video capture driver interface that allows video capture board manufacturers to plug their products into the Video for Windows architecture.

SUPPORT FOR 32-BIT DIBS

Video for Windows codecs can decompress to a higher resolution 32-bit DIB (device-independent bit map).

MCI VCR SUPPORT

Third-party developers can write MCI VCR drivers using the VCR command set.

NEW TOOLS

Microsoft has added the following to the Video for Windows existing toolset of VIDCAP (for performing video capture), VIDEDIT (video editing) and Media Player (playback video), Microsoft has added the following:

Screen Capture Utility

This allows developers to take any screen image or movement, place it in a Video for Windows file, and play it back. For example, a developer might create a video-based product demonstration by simply executing key product features on screen and capturing them for later playback by prospective customers.

Visual Basic Custom Controls

Video for Windows provides Visual Basic 3.0 custom controls that allow developers to capture, edit or play Video for Windows files within any Visual Basic application.

New Digital Video Clip Library

Microsoft has updated the video clip library that comes with Video for Windows by adding technical and general business sections.

VISCA Controller

The VISCA protocol was developed by Sony as a way to interact with its consumer and professional video equipment (that is, camcorders, VCRs and so on). This MCI controller allows developers to step frame capture video sequences from video equipment, resulting in higher quality digital video.

Updated Media Player

Media Player can now play back in OLE clients.

VidTest Utility

The VidTest utility allows allows developers to test a PC's ability to play back digital video files.

Cross-Platform Support

Video for Windows version 1.1 allows playback of Video for Windows files on the Macintosh, as well as the ability to take QuickTime files and convert them to a compressed AVI format.