Does Google Want On2 for a Gaming Console? (
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Google's acquisition of On2 Technologies prompts punditry and blog posts from all over the Web. Some say buying the video compression specialist was a YouTube play. Others believe Google will leverage the On2 codecs to fortify its position in our digital living rooms. One man believes On2 will be part of a gaming console Google is developing. What do you think Google will do with On2?The blogosphere
abounds with questions about Google's Aug. 5 purchase, a $106.5 million stock bid for video compression software maker On2 Technologies.
The leading question seems to be: Wherefore On2?
Google owns YouTube, the world's leading video-sharing Website, which
streams 1.5 billion video clips every day.
On2 makes On2 Video, a line of codecs that could compress video piped
through YouTube for easier transmission over the Internet and cellular
networks. On2 also makes video encoders that output Adobe Flash, Sun's JavaFX
video and H.264 video for Apple's iPhone and iPod. On2 counts Amazon.com,
Disney and Microsoft as encoding customers.
Finally, On2 designs embedded video codecs for chip sets and devices such as
mobile phones, mobile Internet devices, set-top boxes, games decks, digital TVs
and DVD players. Nokia, Samsung and Sony use
these technologies. ZDNet
breaks down the On2 assets, showing that they are woven intricately across
a broad swath of digital devices and applications from various vendors working
or dabbling in video.
Why On2 indeed? There are many
theories, but a few will likely suffice.
Google may want video compression technology to support its YouTube
video-sharing site, which is approaching profitability, according to Google
executives. Some believe Google wants to leverage On2's assets for its Chrome
browser, its Android mobile operating system and, eventually, its Chrome
Operating System.
After all, companies that want to play in video have developed their own proprietary
video technologies. Adobe has the market-leading Flash, Apple has QuickTime
and Microsoft has Silverlight in the hopper. Google surely desires to include
native video capabilities in Android, Chrome and Chrome OS without relying on
rivals' technology.
Perhaps Google will take the On2 video codecs and open-source them, giving corporate customers a lower cost barrier
to entry than the proprietary options. It would certainly fit with Google's
modus operandi of open-sourcing just about any technology that isn't search- or
advertising-related.
| | Reader Comments: Does Google Wants On2 For An Online Gaming Platform? | | >>> Post your comment now!
| | youtube uses h.264 and it sucks!!GOOG is the bad guy here. They are trying to rip the company from the owners of the company for pennies. They are going to make billion$ from VP8,... Posted At: 08-13-09
By: beamer man | | | | | | Shareholders will not approve the dealI am in contact with many ONT shareholders who are very unhappy with this deal. There are already lawsuits being filed against the ONT board for... Posted At: 08-08-09
By: k2j | | | | | | google talkI think they will use On2 to further there Google talk video chat on handsets/Mobile phones. Posted At: 08-08-09
By: ust some dude | | | | | | Decreases their payments to AdobeYouTube runs on Adobe's Flash scripting and video systems, which surely costs Google a lot of money. Flash's video systems are running On2's... Posted At: 08-08-09
By: Tina Belmont | | | | | | A user comment on this articleRick:
I read some articles on that yesterday, too, and think that's a strong possibility. I'd like to think On2 is going to be leveraged across... Posted At: 08-07-09
By: Clint Boulton | | | | | | HTML5 video codecI think Google may be interested in making codecs open source for use as a mutually satisfactory solution for the Video aspect of HTML5. Finding one... Posted At: 08-07-09
By: Rick | | | | | | On2 Bidding WarOn2's VP8 open sourced will crush h.264 use and the royalties they could earn on the web. Google just displayed what browser video could look like a... Posted At: 08-07-09
By: Obvious | | | | | | >>> Post your comment now! | | | | | |
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