News Windows 10 gets native support for MKV and High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC)

[tom_mai78101]

Microsoft has been working very hard with Windows 10, addressing user feedback as part of the Windows Insider Program and making various refinements and improvements to the operating system. UnlikeWindows 8.1, Windows 10 will come with out-of-the-box support for two media formats.

Windows 10 will get MKV support. MVK, for those that did not know, is a flexible and open standard video file format that has quickly become the preferred file extension for high definition video. Now those who are on Windows 10 can have MKV support without the need for an additional codec.

High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), on the other hand, is a video compression standard and is a successor to H.264 or Advanced Video Coding (AVC). Also known as H.265, HEVC promises the same level of picture quality as H.264/AVC, however, there will be better compression so the file size can be smaller. This is important when dealing with 4K or UHD media. As the resolution increases, the file size increases along with it. HEVC promises better compression so these files are not massive.

Windows Media Player on Windows 10 will now be able to play these two new formats. Those of us onWindows 8.1 have had to rely on Media Player Classic or VLC for our MKV or HEVC needs, and that is still an option on Windows 10, but now you have native support which kills the need for a third-party solution.

Windows 10 gets native support for MKV and High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) - OnMSFT.com

Microsoft has been working very hard with Windows 10, addressing user feedback as part of the Windows Insider Program and making various refinements and

onmsft.com

 

[Accname]

I thought the windows media player in itself is a need for third party solutions.

 

[Hatebreeder]

I thought the windows media player in itself is a need for third party solutions.

How so?

 

[Slapshot136]

But can it play blu-ray disks without needing a 3rd party player?

 

[seph ir oth]

But can it play blu-ray disks without needing a 3rd party player?

This! I can't believe Windows 8 didn't have any support for that natively, even in their pro versions.

 

[tom_mai78101]

This! I can't believe Windows 8 didn't have any support for that natively, even in their pro versions.

They do, it's just that they moved it into another bundle pack, Windows Media Center value pack for $10. This is why it was separated.

 

[Slapshot136]

That is a proprietary format. I don't know if adding it to Windows natively will increase cost of the product itself a lot or not. And I don't even know if Microsoft had actually contacted the Blu-Ray Disc Association and asked to have it in natively.

So is DVD, which has been a standard feature in windows for a while now (with the exception of windows 8/8.1) - and the licensing cost is the reason that Microsoft chose to not include windows media player in the basic home version of windows 8, however did offer it as a separate purchase, and also included it in the professional version. This is about the technology, not the licensing.

HDMI is also a proprietary format (unlike DVI and DisplayPort) - that doesn't stop it from being quite popular.

The point is that while new technology is nice and all, it would be more useful to have working compatibility with current-day technology than focusing only on the next-gen. Imagine if computers didn't have any backwards compatibility for x32 applications, or usb 2.0 - they would be practically useless, regardless of how well they supported usb 3.0 and x64.

 

[tom_mai78101]

Found Microsoft's decision:

The actual pricing for the Media Center packs has not been announced. However, it will allow users to have DVD playback in Media Center, along with broadcast TV recording and playback and more. The regular Windows Media Player, which will be in all versions of Windows 8, won't be able to play DVDs anymore like it can with Windows 7. Microsoft states, "For optical discs playback on new Windows 8 devices, we are going to rely on the many quality solutions on the market, which provide great experiences for both DVD and Blu-ray."

Source. (Neowin)

Given the changing landscape, the cost of decoder licensing, and the importance of a straight forward edition plan, we’ve decided to make Windows Media Center available to Windows 8 customers via the Add Features to Windows 8 control panel (formerly known as Windows Anytime Upgrade). This ensures that customers who are interested in Media Center have a convenient way to get it. Windows MediaPlayer will continue to be available in all editions, but without DVD playback support. For optical discs playback on new Windows 8 devices, we are going to rely on the many quality solutions on the market, which provide great experiences for both DVD and Blu-ray.

We will offer two ways to acquire Windows Media Center.

Windows 8 Pro is designed to help tech enthusiasts obtain a broader set of Windows 8 technologies. Acquiring either the Windows 8Media Center Pack or the Windows 8Pro Pack gives you Media Center, including DVD playback (in Media Center, not in Media Player), broadcast TV recording and playback (DBV-T/S, ISDB-S/T, DMBH, and ATSC), and VOB file playback. Pricing for these Packs, as well as retail versions of Windows 8, will be announced closer to the release date. To give you some indication of Media Center Pack pricing, it will be in line with marginal costs.

MSDN Blog regarding to DVD playback.

More technical explanations for being able to play certain Blu-Ray discs.

Microsoft is clearly referencing third party solutions here like Cyberlink's PowerDVD or the free VLC Media Player which is restricted to unencrypted Blu-Rays. You may also want to check whether your Blu-Ray drive came with software that lets you play Blu-Rays on the PC.

I do not watch DVD or Blu-Ray on the PC, and do not really know how common this is. I do understand though that there are certain setups, a Home Theater PC for instance or a laptop that you use to play back movies for the kids while traveling. I always felt that it is a lot easier to rip those movies instead as you do not have to carry around the physical discs or copies thereof with you.

Source. (gHacks)

 

[Slapshot136]

I always felt that it is a lot easier to rip those movies instead
Source. (gHacks)

well.. looks like this be even more true for the near future..

 

[tom_mai78101]

well.. looks like this be even more true for the near future..

True, can't deny it.