iPhone got an undocumented video boost with 1.1.1
iPhoneCode has posted a list of some of the undocumented features brought to the iPhone with the 1.1.1 Firmware update. There are a bunch of goodies in the report, some more useful than others. But one thing I found interesting is their claim that:
“The iPhone can now playback H.264 video at throughput rates up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats. Previously the maximum encoding throughput rate for H.264 video was 1.5 Mbps.”
Assuming that’s true, that’s quite a boost! Personally, I didn’t have much of a problem with the iPhone’s native video quality to begin with when watching shows on the built-in screen, in fact I think they look gorgeous (especially when compared to the PSP). But since that same 1.1.1 update also added video out capabilities to the iPhone, I suppose the 2.5 Mbps limit will make a difference on the big screen (although again, in our tests with the Apple Composite Cable, they don’t look too shabby as is).
My questions now are: when will Apple update the iPhone exporting options in QuickTime to take advantage of the new bitrate limit? – and will they make separate “iPhone high” and “iPhone low” settings to help save space on users’ iPhone who do not plan to play back their shows on the big screen (which is at a premium on the iPhone). As it stands, I find my 8 GB model is a bit tight between music, photos and video. I hate to not have the option of a “phone-only” video quality setting.
You think that applies to the iPod touch running 1.1.1 too?
I while back, I tested the h264 capability using the x264 codec. I found that the outside limits where 720×576 before the iPhone started decoding things badly. ( a band to the side would be messed up if >720 and would play jibberish if >576 )
jwa.