Latest news articles related to codecs & multimedia.
The Real Story of MP3: How a German Lab Built Audio's Universal Standard
The 30-year story of how a German research project, a Suzanne Vega song, and a free Windows player turned MP3 into the audio format running 95% of the world's podcasts.
Dolby vs Snapchat Just Validated MX Player's Weirdest Tech Bet
Why Dolby's March 2026 patent lawsuit against Snapchat - combined with analysts pronouncing VVC dead just months earlier - turned MX Player's 2021 H.266 bet into one of the cleverest strategic moves in streaming.
x265 4.2 Lands With Threaded Motion Estimation and 8K-Ready Levels
x265 4.2 is the April 2026 update to the leading open-source H.265/HEVC video encoder - the engine behind most free HEVC tools on Windows - bringing a new parallel encoding mode and support for the HEVC spec's highest tiers.
After 20 Years of Nothing, PNG Now Updates Every Year
The PNG format is moving faster than ever - here's what the 4th and 5th Edition specifications are adding, and why compression is finally on the table.
X Codec Pack 3 Is Coming - Two New Audio Tools Already Live
X Audio Codec Pack 1.1 and X Audio Converter 1.0 just dropped. X Codec Pack 3 is next.
Dolby Sues Snapchat Over AV1 and HEVC Patents
Dolby sued Snap on March 23, 2026, alleging Snapchat uses AV1 and HEVC codecs without proper patent licenses - the first such action against a streaming platform by an Access Advance licensor.
Sora Is Gone - OpenAI Spent $15M a Day on an App That Made $2.1M Total
OpenAI's viral AI video app lasted just 6 months as a standalone product. Here's the full story - brutal economics, a dead $1B Disney deal, and a big strategic pivot.
Microsoft Updates AV1 Codec to 2.0.7.0 - Here's Why It Matters
Microsoft updates AV1 Video Extension to 2.0.7.0 with stability fixes as the codec dominates Netflix and YouTube streaming.
Your TikTok Data Is a Weapon
ARTE's explosive documentary reveals how TikTok became the frontline of a US-China digital cold war over your personal data.
Why Your Netflix Looks Better Now - AV1 Hits 30% Milestone
Netflix reveals AV1 codec now delivers 30% of all streaming content with plans to make it their primary format.
Rufus 4.12 Released: Critical Security Update
Rufus 4.12 patches a script execution vulnerability and adds better SSD detection for this essential bootable USB tool.
Windows Gets Better iPhone Photo Support with HEIF 1.2.29.0
Microsoft's HEIF Image Extensions receives a January 2026 update with performance improvements for opening iPhone and iPad photos on Windows.
Sony Hands BRAVIA TV Division to TCL - Cheaper Prices Coming?
Japanese electronics icon Sony cedes majority control of its legendary BRAVIA TV business to TCL, creating a powerhouse joint venture launching in 2027.
Is DeepSeek Safe? Privacy Concerns, Security Flaws, and Global Bans Explained
The Chinese AI chatbot that rivaled ChatGPT now faces restrictions worldwide.
MP3 in 2026: Still King After 30 Years
After 30 years, MP3 still dominates digital audio. Discover why newer formats like FLAC, AAC, and Opus haven't replaced the legendary codec.
2026 Golden Globes: How Modern Codecs Stream Awards in 4K HDR
Full 83rd Golden Globes recap with winners, red carpet highlights, and how advanced codecs deliver flawless 4K streaming worldwide.
Forget Windows 11 - Linux Mint 22.3 Just Changed Everything
Fed up with Windows 11? Linux Mint 22.3 'Zena' delivers what Microsoft won't - a fast, private, ad-free desktop.
WinSlop: The Safe Way to Debloat Windows Without Breaking Updates
New open-source tool safely removes Windows 11 bloatware and Copilot without corrupting system updates.
Is XviD Still Relevant in 2026? The Codec That Refuses to Die
XviD celebrates 25 years in 2026 - we examine if this legendary codec still deserves a place on your system or if it's finally time to let go.
Apple HEIF vs AVIF: Which Image Format Wins in 2026?
Apple keeps HEIF as iPhone's default while royalty-free AVIF hits 93% browser support. Here's what it means for your photos.
How to play FLAC files in Windows Media Playe...
@Drasko What is the error message you're seeing? Can you provide more details?
Read More →The Best Video Player for Android TV - And th...
On Android, Kodi has far the best foreign language subtitle support. Vlc and MX had issues displaying the correct ...
Read More →How to Download HEVC Video Extension for Free
我是一名中国用户，这是我第二次成功在文章指导下下载插件，这篇文章很实用！简单易懂！ 我使用的是Windows 11 家庭中文版，操作系统版本 26200.8246。 2026.4.25我已成功下载并使用！感谢发布者，谢谢您！
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