Hantro sets new benchmark for performance levels with software MPEG-4 encoder

Hantro has announced the release of its next generation 4200 MPEG-4 / H.263 software encoder for ARM based wireless devices.
Significantly improving image quality, the encoder is particularly suited for fast movement making it ideal for implementing camcorder type applications in mobile handsets.
Reducing power consumption and CPU load by up to 10%, the encoder incorporates a new motion estimation algorithm which applies an adaptive indexed search method to reduce computational complexity and increase overall performance.
Over doubling the image quality, the new design can bring up to 3dB improvements in PSNR, which can equate to over a 30% reduction in the bitrate required for the video stream. This fact alone makes the encoder perfect for mobile applications such as video telephony, video messaging and push to view. The visual difference in quality is depicted in the image below.
"This revision of our encoder really raises the bar in terms of what can be achieved within the resource limited environment of embedded design," said Eero Kaikkonen - President and CEO of Hantro. "The best performance and lowest power consumption will always be realised with pure hardware acceleration however, software implementations provide significant benefits in flexibility and time to market and at Hantro we constantly strive to deliver the best possible performance in both technologies."
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