Autumn’s dropped by for a monthslong visit. Also dropping by? A new Unified Streaming software version: GA 1.15.29.
Let’s take a look at a few features inside the update and see how they help streaming services, platforms, and broadcasters. Shall we?
🎃 hls: added support for Roku Image Media Playlist (EXT-X-IMAGE-STREAM-INF and EXT-X-TILES) tags (#8963)
If you live in the U.S., you’re for sure familiar with Roku. The streaming platform also enjoys a big presence in Mexico, Canada, and Latin America. And it works just fine in a bunch of countries in Europe. Oh yeah, Australia, too.
Anyway, with this update, you can now generate and handle specific HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) playlist tags designed for video thumbnail previews during scrubbing (aka fast-forwarding and rewinding) on Roku devices.
What the HLS tags do:
🍁 EXT-X-IMAGE-STREAM-INF
This tag signals a secondary stream/playlist inside an HLS manifest that contains only visual image tracks instead of audio or video data.
🍁 EXT-X-TILES
These define the grid structure (such as layout rows and columns) and resolution for composite thumbnail "sprite sheets.” That has nothing to do with soda. Sprite sheets are large image files combining many smaller timeline preview images into a single graphic.
Why it matters
🍁 Trick play support
The feature allows video streaming servers using Unified Streaming tools to supply standard HLS thumbnail tracks that Roku OS can natively read.
🍁 Better performance
Viewers see smooth visual previews when fast-forwarding or rewinding video content without relying on older, less compatible legacy formats like BIF files. What’s a BIF? It’s a Base Index Frame. But you knew that. So why’d you ask? (Really, why?)
🎃 transcoding (media processing): added the x265 HEVC video encoding plugin, and its prerequisite x265_encoding_service
This is a major new feature: HEVC (aka H.265) encoding!
It is still rather new, so some issues are to be expected. But we are curious what customers will come up with.
Why it matters
🍁 HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) offers an advanced video compression standard that can reduce file sizes by up to half versus older codecs like H.264 (AVC), while keeping the same visual quality. HEVC supports resolutions up to 8K UHD and frame rates up to 300 fps. This resolution fidelity does mean that the video compression codec does guzzle more compute power to encode and decode video compared with its older cousin H.264. HEVC is usually used for premium content like top-tier Hollywood movies, live sports, and ultra-HD broadcasts.
🎃 live: added support for signaling track labels using a labl box in UserDataBox (udta) according to dash-if ingest (#9609)
This is a neat way for customers to attach custom descriptions to tracks, without having to resort to Manifest Edit. However, it requires encoder support for these 'labl' boxes.
Why’s that matter, by the way?
🍁 Better UX (user experience)
Streaming video players can now display much more precise options to the viewer. Instead of just seeing "English 1" and "English 2" in their audio options, they can see "English (Main)" and "English (Stadium Sounds Only)" during a live sports broadcast. Or “English (Main)” and “English (Screams and Sounds of Struggle Only)” during a horror movie.
🍁 Standardization
Because the feature follows the DASH-IF standard, video engineers don't have to rig custom, messy workarounds to pass along track names from the broadcast truck to your screen. The standard labl box manages it seamlessly across different systems.
Upgrade while you enjoy your pumpkin spice latte
For more info, and for the full list of changes in the GA, quick reminder: check out the release notes here.
And if you have questions, please email us. We’ll get back to you as soon as we’re done rolling the lint roller on our sweater vests.