The Quiet Disappearance of Video Codec Support: What It Means for Your Devices
Over 25 million laptops and desktops – that’s the combined sales volume of just HP and Dell in a single quarter. Now, imagine a growing number of those devices losing native support for a core video technology. It’s happening, and it’s not about planned obsolescence; it’s about escalating costs and a shifting landscape in video compression. The move by manufacturers to disable hardware acceleration for codecs like HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) signals a potentially significant disruption for content creators, consumers, and the future of video playback.
The Rising Cost of Video Compression
The core issue is money. Licensing fees for **HEVC**, a widely used video compression standard, are set to increase in January. Access Advance, the licensing administrator, announced a rate hike to $0.24 per unit for over 100,001 units sold – a 20% jump. While 4 cents might seem small, it quickly adds up when you consider the sheer volume of devices shipped globally. This increase is a major driver behind the decisions by companies like Synology to drop support for HEVC, along with older codecs like H.264/AVC and VCI, on their NAS devices. Synology’s rationale? Widespread codec support on end-user devices means they can offload the processing burden, improving server efficiency.
Why Manufacturers Are Rethinking Codec Support
Synology’s move isn’t isolated. OEMs are increasingly questioning the value of including dedicated hardware for codecs burdened by complex licensing. The argument is simple: if most smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs can already decode these formats, why pay the licensing fees and dedicate valuable chip real estate to redundant hardware? This is particularly true for higher-end devices, where consumers are more likely to have supporting hardware elsewhere in their ecosystem. The frustration is palpable, as one Redditor pointed out, questioning why $800+ “Pro” machines are losing features that are increasingly essential for professional workflows.
Beyond Streaming: The Expanding Use of HEVC
For a long time, HEVC was primarily associated with streaming services like Netflix. However, its applications are rapidly expanding. Professional video editing, content creation, and even scientific visualization are increasingly reliant on HEVC’s efficient compression capabilities. Removing hardware acceleration forces these applications to rely on software decoding, significantly impacting performance and battery life. This shift could stifle innovation and increase costs for professionals who depend on these tools.
The AV1 Alternative and the Future of Codecs
The situation isn’t entirely bleak. The emergence of AV1 (AOMedia Video 1) offers a potential solution. AV1 is a royalty-free, open-source video codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media. It boasts comparable compression efficiency to HEVC and, crucially, avoids the licensing headaches. However, AV1 adoption is still in its early stages. While hardware support for AV1 is growing, it’s not yet as ubiquitous as HEVC or H.264. The Alliance for Open Media is actively working to accelerate AV1 adoption, but the transition will take time.
Implications for Consumers and Content Creators
The trend towards dropping HEVC hardware support has several implications. Consumers may experience longer encoding/decoding times, increased CPU usage, and reduced battery life when working with HEVC content. Content creators may face similar performance bottlenecks, potentially hindering their workflows. The long-term impact could be a fragmentation of the video landscape, with different devices and platforms supporting different codecs. This could lead to compatibility issues and the need for more transcoding, further adding to the complexity and cost of video distribution.
The quiet removal of codec support isn’t just a technical issue; it’s a reflection of the complex economics of video compression. As licensing costs continue to rise and royalty-free alternatives gain traction, we can expect to see further shifts in the codec landscape. The future of video playback may well depend on the success of open-source initiatives like AV1 and the willingness of manufacturers to prioritize cost-effectiveness and consumer choice.
What are your predictions for the future of video codecs? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
