iFrame (video format)

For other uses, see IFrame (disambiguation).

iFrame is a digital video format developed by Apple. It is based on existing industry standards, such as AVC/H.264, AAC and QuickTime, and can be used with compatible Mac and PC applications.

The format has been created to simplify video editing. Many non-Apple editing tools do not require conversion of video from source to intermediate format, instead allowing to edit the original videos directly.

Traditionally, Apple video editing tools like Final Cut Pro and iMovie have required conversion of video from its original format into intermediate format such as ProRes 422 or AIC for editing. With iFrame such conversion is no longer needed starting from iMovie '09.

Overview

iFrame video and audio is encoded using lossy compression. Only intraframe compression is enabled; every frame is a stand-alone i-frame. Video is encoded with the AVC/H.264 compression scheme. Audio is encoded with the AAC codec. The compressed audio and video are multiplexed into a QuickTime file.

To reduce data rate and hardware requirements, video frame has size of 960 horizontal by 540 vertical pixels with pixel aspect ratio of 1:1, which results in 16:9 display aspect ratio. Progressive scanning at 30 or 25 frames per second reduces data rate even further, but may result in increased “judder” when compared to the traditional rate of 60 or 50 fields per second used for television broadcast.

The video sub-sampling, bit-depth, and the video, audio and aggregate bit-rates are not yet publicly known.

Relation to other technologies

Frame size of 960 by 540 pixels - nicknamed qHD - became popular among manufacturers of smartphones, although Apple's own iPhone has screen resolution either lower (320 × 480 for the first three generations) or higher (640 × 960 for the iPhone4) than iFrame.

Hardware products

• October 2009: Sanyo HD2000A, FH1A Dual Cameras.
• April 2010: Sanyo Xacti VPC-SH1
• July 2010: Panasonic HM-TA1 HD Pocket Camcorder.
• October 2010: JVC Picsio GC-FM2 Pocket Camcorder.
• December 2010: Panasonic SDX1 camcorder.
• February 2011: Canon PowerShot SX230 HS, PowerShot SX220 HS, IXUS 310 HS (aka PowerShot ELPH 500)
• February 2011: Nikon S9100
• March 2011: Panasonic HDC-HS900, HDC-TM900, HDC-SD900, HDC-SD800, HDC-SD90, HDC-TM90
• May 2011: Panasonic HDC-SD40, HDC-SD41, HDC-TM40
• September 2011: Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
• November 2011: Canon PowerShot S100
• February 2012: Canon PowerShot G1X, PowerShot SX240 HS, PowerShot SX260 HS; Nikon COOLPIX P510
• January 2012: Panasonic HC-V700; Canon 110 HS
• February 2012: Panasonic HC-X900(M)
• May 2012: Nikon AW100

Software products

• iMovie
• Final Cut Express, Final Cut Pro X

See also

• 720p

External links

• SANYO Announcement of HD Camcorders that support iFrame
• iMovie '09: About the iFrame Video format
• Panasonic introduces the Panasonic HM-TA1 Camcorder

http://www.jvclatest.co.uk/product/gc-fm2.php