Indeo® Video Version 5.03 and Indeo® Audio Software Version 2.5

Release Technical Notes

Overview
--------

The Indeo® video 5.03 and Indeo® audio software 2.5 release notes contain the 
following sections: 

Introduction 
Getting Started 
Enhancements in Indeo video 5.03 
Features of Indeo audio software 2.5
Progressive Download 
Other Features of Indeo video 
Installation Notes 
Known Problems

Introduction
------------

Intel is pleased to introduce the Indeo video 5.0 and Indeo audio software 2.5. These 
Release Notes describe the features of Indeo audio software, Indeo video, the 
enhancements included in version 5.03, and instructions on how to download and install 
the new version. 

Getting Started
---------------

The Indeo video 5.0 codec, documentation, sample source code, technical information,
and access to technical support are available on this site: 

http://developer.intel.com/ial/indeo/video/index.htm. 

You can obtain all of the documents mentioned in these Release Notes from the
documentation page: 

http://developer.intel.com/ial/indeo/video/doc.htm. 

The Indeo audio software 2.5 codec, documentation, technical information, and access to
technical support are available on this site: 

http://developer.intel.com/ial/indeo/audio/index.htm. 

You can obtain all of the documents mentioned in these release notes from the
documentation page: 

http://developer.intel.com/ial/indeo/audio/doc.htm. 

You can download the latest drivers from the Indeo drivers page: 

http://developer.intel.com/ial/indeo/video/driver.htm. 

Enhancements in Indeo video 5.0
-------------------------------

Indeo video version 5.03 supports virtually all of the features of the previous 4.x releases,
but performs better in each category. Enhancements include: 

-A new wavelet compression algorithm which greatly improves visual quality; 
-Better compression at all levels of video quality than previous generation codecs; 
-Playback performance enhancements for both MMX technology and the Pentium
 II processor, included smoother, interpolated "zoom by 2" playback on processors
 with MMX technology; 
-Progressive Download, a feature enabled in Microsoft's DirectShow* architecture
 and supported by the new Internet Explorer 4.0 browser, which allows high-quality
 scalable video for the Internet and intranet. This feature can be used with Netscape
 Navigator 3.x, Netscape Communicator 4.x, and Internet Explorer 3.x browsers as
 well by installing the Indeo video 5.0 plugin.
-Indeo video version 5.03 supports encoding with Microsoft® DirectShow  

Features of Indeo audio software 2.5
------------------------------------

Indeo audio software 2.5 is the primary audio compression codec used by the Indeo 
Video 5.0 Progressive Download Publisher (see 
http://developer.intel.com/ial/indeo/video/web.htm). This release includes the following 
features. 

8:1 Compression

Indeo audio software compresses 16-bit raw PCM audio by a factor of eight. For 
example, a one-second CD quality audio (16-bit PCM, 44.1 kHz sample rate, stereo) clip 
requires 176,400 bytes of storage. After compression, it requires 22,050 bytes of storage. 

Support for Standard Multimedia Sample Rates 

Sample rates of 8,000 Hz, 11025 Hz, 22050 Hz, and 44,100 Hz are supported. It is 
possible to convert to a lower sample rate while compressing an audio clip with Indeo 
audio software. For example, the one-second CD quality audio clip mentioned above 
could be converted to 8,000 Hz sample rate during compression. In this case the 
compressed clip would require 4,000 bytes of storage. Note, however, that decreasing the 
sample rate can dramatically reduce the audio quality. 

Support for Stereo and Mono 

Both stereo (two channel) and mono (one channel) compression and playback are 
supported. Mono requires half the storage space of stereo. For example, if the 
one-second CD quality stereo audio clip mentioned above is compressed as mono at 
8,000 Hz sample rate, the resulting compressed audio clip would require only 2,000 bytes 
of storage! However, note that compressing stereo audio as mono can dramatically reduce 
the audio quality. 

For more information 

Read more about these features and how to use them at the Indeo audio software home 
page:

http://developer.intel.com/ial/indeo/audio/index.htm 

Progressive Download
--------------------

Indeo video 5.0 scalability allows Internet videos to be downloaded progressively. Video
files on a Web server can be created in such a way that lower resolution, lower frame rate
video can be viewed almost immediately, allowing the user to quickly decide if they wish to
continue viewing the video or download it to their hard drive. Given more download time,
and/or a faster Web connection, a Progressive Download file will continuously improve in
both quality and frame rate until all of the video data is downloaded from the Web server
to the client PC. 

This gives Web authors the ability to create high-quality video content, and lets viewers
use fast connections and/or longer download times to get the highest quality video on their
PCs. Those connected to the Web at slower speeds, however, can still access video of
good quality without unreasonable waits and download times. 

To create a Progressive Download file a video producer first creates a standard .AVI file
using a video editing/compression tool such as Adobe Premiere* or Asymetrix Digital
Video Producer*. When creating the file, Indeo video's "Scalability" compression option
must be turned ON. 

The file is then modified using Intel's Indeo video 5.0 progressive download publisher tool.
This tool opens and re-saves the file, creating the progressive download file structure and
optionally compressing the audio into Intel's new Indeo audio format as it does so. To
learn more about this process read about how to use the Indeo video 5.0 progressive
download publisher tool. 

Other Features of Indeo Video 5.03
---------------------------------

The Indeo video 5.03 release includes most of the features in previous releases of Indeo
video. 

Video access protection
Many multimedia developers are concerned about the illegal distribution of their
copyrighted material. The Indeo video 5.0 codec helps prevent misuse of video clips by
using access keys (numeric passwords that can be inserted into a video clip during
compression). Applications need the password to play video clips encoded with an access
key.

Key-frame flexibility
The Indeo video 5.0 codec offers control and flexibility over the use of key frames. The
key-frame interval is unrestricted, allowing a variety of values:

0   Only the first frame in the file is a key-frame. No other key frames occur in the file. 
1   Every frame in the file is a key frame. 
2, 3, ... n   Every nth frame in the file is a key. The value of n has no upper limit. 

Along with this flexibility in key frame intervals, Indeo video 5.0 allows for non-periodic
key frames. This means that during editing, the encoding application can tell the Indeo
video 5.0 codec to place a key frame at any location. Video producers can then specify
access points anywhere within a video sequence, or better control video quality by placing
key frames on scene-change boundaries.

Application interactivity
Indeo video 5.0 incorporates features that make it possible to include video in interactive
multimedia applications and games, challenging the traditional notion of video as having a
fixed size and rectangular shape.

Transparency
For years, the movie and television industries have used the technique of chroma keying
(sometimes called blue-screening) to place foreground objects over synthesized
backgrounds. One example of chroma keying is when TV meteorologists appear to be
standing in front of a wall-sized map, when in fact, they are standing in front of a blue wall.
Chroma key circuitry electronically separates the foreground pixels representing the
meteorologist from the blue background pixels and overlays the meteorologist on an
electronically-generated weather map. The Indeo video codec supports this type of
transparency. During encoding, a compression application can send information to the
codec describing a color or range of colors that represent a transparent background (such
as the blue wall in the meteorologist example). Indeo video then analyzes each frame,
separates the background pixels from the foreground, and makes the background pixels
transparent, encoding only the foreground objects as compressed video. 

Indeo video 5.0's transparency encoding is flexible, allowing for arbitrarily-shaped multiple
foreground objects. Foreground objects can also move from frame to frame, allowing you
to create what might be called video sprites. Video sprites are transparent video objects
that can be overlaid on other video or bitmap backgrounds. During playback, foreground
objects can be composited dynamically over different backgrounds. For example, the
meteorologist can appear over different weather maps on PCs with sufficiently powerful
Pentium processors. A foreground object can even appear over another video stream, as
in the case of a tornado. 

Local decode
Sometimes an application needs to display only part of a decoded video image. For
example, in a game, you might look through the periscope of a submarine where your view
is limited to a small subset of the entire image. This subset changes as the video plays,
depending on where the periscope is rotated. 

In this case, much of the source image does not need to be displayed, and it's preferable
not to waste processor resources decoding it. Indeo video 5.0 provides this capability
through a feature called local decode. 

The playback application can tell Indeo video 5.0 to decode only a rectangular subregion,
called the view port, from the source video image. The minimum possible size of the local
decode viewport is defined during compression, but the display size and location of the
viewport can be changed dynamically during playback. 

Real-time video effects
The brightness, contrast, and color saturation of Indeo video 5.0 files can be modified
interactively during playback. This makes it possible to simulate different lighting
conditions, or to tailor the appearance of the video playback to particular graphics
environments and preferences. 

For more information 
Read more about these features and how to use them at the Indeo video Release 4.3 home page:

http://developer.intel.com/pc-supp/multimed/indeo/index.htm 

Installation Notes
--------------------

1.To obtain the decode only drivers for: 

      Indeo video 5.03 codec, 
      Indeo audio codec, 
      Indeo Video 3.x and 4.x codecs
      Progressive Download Plugin and
      DirectShow filter, 

select on the Download Area page the Playback only option (Iv5play.exe)

2. To obtain both the decode and encode drivers for:

      Indeo video 5.03 codec, 
      Indeo audio codec, 
      Indeo Video 3.x and 4.x codecs
      Progressive Download Plugin and
      DirectShow filter

select on the Download Area page the Developer install option (Iv5devl.exe) 

Note: The Iv5devl executable also allows the option to install the Indeo installation source 
code and YVU9 codec.

3.To obtain the Indeo video 5.03 progressive download publisher tool and its 
components, select Indeo video 5.03 Progressive Download Publisher on the Downlaod page. 

4.Complete the registration pages. 

5.Download the executable and execute once the download is complete. 

NOTE: The Indeo video 5.03 codec is a 32-bit driver which supports Microsoft® 
Windows* 95 and Windows NT*. Windows 3.1 support is not available. 

UnInstall
------------

To UnInstall the Playback Only:

   1.From system tray, click on Start, select Run.
   2.Type in the command, regsvr32 -u "driver name", or from system tray, click on 
     Start, open Programs and select the MSDOS Command Prompt. Change the 
     directory to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM (WIN95) or C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 
     (WINNT4.0) and type in regsvr32 -u "driver name"
   3.Hit return. This will unregister the codec.
   4.After unregistering the codec, the compressed files cannot be played back.
   5.Go to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM (WIN95) or C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 
     (WINNT4.0) and manually remove the driver files from this directory.
   6.Open the Registry, and go to this location: 
     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SharedDLLs 
   7.search for the value <WINSYSDIR>\ir41_32.ax. If the value is exactly equal to 1, then 
     you may, optionally, delete the file <winsysdir>\iacenc.dll (Warning: If the value under this 
     registry item is greater than 1, and if you remove the file, it may break other software you 
     have installed on your machine)
   8.Remove the key from the registry:

Note: The driver names are ir50_32.dll, iac25_32.ax and ivfsrc.ax

To UnInstall the Developers verison:

   1.Go to Control Panel and select "Add/Remove Programs" icon
   2.Highlight Indeo® Software and then select the Add/Remove button
   3.Select "Yes" when promted to comfirm your uninstall selection
   4.All of the componets installed onto your system will be removed. Files that were 
     previously on your system will not be removed.

To UnInstall the Progressive Download Publisher Tool:

    1.Explore C:\Program Files\Intel\Indeo. Highlight and delete the folder in which the Web 
      Publisher Tool was installed (default is the Progressive Download Publisher folder), or 
      delete the Tool from the destination location selected during installation. In this folder the 
      following files should be listed: ivi5pub.exe, web.htm, fig1.gif, fig2.gif, fig3.gif and fig4.gif
    2.From system tray, click on Start, select Run. (Note: This is an optional step to remove the 
      iac25_32.ax driver. Doing so can possible affect other software that might depend on the 
      audio codec.)
    3.Type in the command, regsvr32 -u iac25_32.ax, or from system tray, click on Start, 
      open Programs and select the MSDOS Command Prompt. Change the directory to 
      C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM (WIN95) or C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 (WINNT4.0) and type 
      in regsvr32 -u iac25_32.ax
    4.Hit return. This will unregister the codec.
    5.Go to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM (WIN95) or C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32 (WINNT4.0) 
      and manually remove both the iace25_32.ax and iacenc.dll drivers from this directory.
    6.Bring up regedit. Look for the key: 
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SharedDLLs 
      search for the value <WINSYSDIR>\iacenc.dll. If the value is exactly equal to 1, then 
      You may, optionally, delete the file <winsysdir>\iacenc.dll endif; WARNING: if the value 
      under this registry item is greater than 1, and if you remove the file, it may break other 
      software you have installed on your machine.
    7.Remove the key from the registry: 
      SOFTWARE\\Classes\\CLSID\\{AC7E3750-516E-11D1-9683-00AA00A5F56D} 

 Note: If the value under this registry item is greater than 1, and if you remove the file, it may 
 break other software you have installed on your machine

Known Problems
------------

Iv5devl.exe

1. Developers: The Iv5devl.exe is set to have the Indeo video 5.03 quick compressor 
   driver (ir50_qc.dll) installed before the Indeo video 5.03 driver (ir50_32.dll). If the Indeo 
   video 5.03 driver is installed before the Indeo video 5.03 quick compressor an option to 
   reboot your system will appear after the second installation of Iv5devl.exe on WINNT4.0 
   or on WIN95 with Microsoft® DirectShow installed. If making changes to the installation 
   executable with the Indeo Software Installation Code ensure that the Indeo video 5.03 
   driver follows the installation of the Indeo video 5.03 quick compressor to avoid the 
   reboot option.

Installation

Note: The install of the Indeo video 5.03 Progressive Download Plugin places the plugin in 
the plugins directory of the most current version of Netscape on the system, as well as in 
the plugins directory of Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0.

1. The Indeo video 5.03 Progessive Download Publisher install is not supported on 
   Windows NT 3.51 systems.

Indeo video 5.03 Codec

There are several known problems associated with Indeo video 5.0 codec. These 
problems are listed below.

1. The Indeo video 5.03 compression in ActiveMovie is not supported.
2. The Indeo video 5.03 compression may result in slightly higher data rates than 
   requested. 

Indeo audio software 2.5

1. Known Problems Many of the known audio and video players have the capability 
   of moving an arbitrary distance forward or backward within a stream and resuming 
   play. This is usually accomplished through the player's GUI controls (e.g., fast 
   forward or rewind buttons, slider bar, etc.). Due to limitations of the DirectShow 
   architecture, there may be a short period of silence before playing resumes.

2. The "Internal Name" and "Original Filename" in the iac25_32.ax file properties 
   erroneously show up as "IAC2.ACM" rather than "iac25_32.ax". The file 
   properties of iac25_32.ax are displayed by right-clicking on the file name in 
   Explorer and selecting the "Version" tab. This problem is cosmetic and does not 
   affect the performance of the codec.

DirectShow Filter

Note: Internet Explorer 4.0 Preview 2 is required on the system in order for Progressive 
Download DirectShow filter to work. 

1. The dial-up connection may terminate the connection prematurely. The work 
   around is to establish a dial-up connection before the browser is loaded, disable or 
   increase the line activity timeout, or continue using the browser while downloading. 
   The line activity timeout can be adjusted under the "CONNECTION" tab of the 
   Internet Properties. 
   
2. Sometimes the Save As option may not be enabled when downloading a clip over a 
   LAN or other high-speed link. 
   
3. The browser "STOP" button does not stop the download. You need to leave the 
   page or save the progressive download media clip to stop the download. 
   
4. When attempting to save a progressive download media clip before the file is fully 
   downloaded, the operation may sometimes fail. If this occurs, you can try refreshing 
   the page and saving the file again. 
   
5. Heavy network activity using a slow connection speed while downloading or saving 
   progressive download media clips may cause truncated or corrupted AVI files. 

Progressive Download Plugin

Note: The Progressive Download Plugin is designed for Netscape browsers and Internet 
Explorer 3.x. It is not supported by Netscape and Internet Explorer 2.0.

1. The size of the progressive download media clips in html source includes the control 
   panel. The work around is add 12 to the width and 64 to the height to compensate 
   for the control panel.
2. If ActiveMovie 1.0 or Microsoft® DirectShow is installed the Plugin will not work 
   with Microsoft® IE3.0. If either ActiveMovie 1.0 or Microsoft® DirectShow is 
   installed it is recommended upgrading to Microsoft® IE4.0. 

Progressive Download Publisher

1. The progressive download conversion options are not always re-initialized when 
   openning more than one progressive download media clip within the same instance 
   of the tool.