Theora 1.0 Arrived, Thusnelda Following Soon
In times of YouTube and Co., a free video codec offers a good base for video enjoyment on the Internet -- independent from the interests of commercial providers. After a long development and some criticism, Ogg/Theora seems to be getting there. Yesterday saw the release of codec version 1.0, with Ogg in container format.
One criticism that spoke against the codec was speed. According to the press release, the reference library now utilizes a decoder that runs significantly faster than in earlier Theora versions. The release states that Xiph.org carried out a scan by the Coverity static analysis tool which revealed only two defects: one false alarm and the other now fixed.
Many webmasters have in the past reached for the proprietary Flash because the multiplatform format is well established and is usually problem-free, making it easy for inexperienced users to run. But Theora is catching up. The latest version of Opera and the next version of Firefox natively support the video codec, which should greatly increase its popularity. Wikipedia, the champions of openness, uses Theora for all of its videos.
It doesn't stop there. Xiph.org has been working on a next-generation encoder, codenamed 'Thusnelda' which hopes to make Theora more attractive for applications where cost and CPU consumption are not defining factors. Theora 1.0 can be downloaded as TAR.GZ-Archive or as ZIP-Archive from the download section of the Theora website.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
First Release Candidate for Linux Kernel 6.14 Now Available
Linus Torvalds has officially released the first release candidate for kernel 6.14 and it includes over 500,000 lines of modified code, making for a small release.
-
System76 Refreshes Meerkat Mini PC
If you're looking for a small form factor PC powered by Linux, System76 has exactly what you need in the Meerkat mini PC.
-
Gnome 48 Alpha Ready for Testing
The latest Gnome desktop alpha is now available with plenty of new features and improvements.
-
Wine 10 Includes Plenty to Excite Users
With its latest release, Wine has the usual crop of bug fixes and improvements, along with some exciting new features.
-
Linux Kernel 6.13 Offers Improvements for AMD/Apple Users
The latest Linux kernel is now available, and it includes plenty of improvements, especially for those who use AMD or Apple-based systems.
-
Gnome 48 Debuts New Audio Player
To date, the audio player found within the Gnome desktop has been meh at best, but with the upcoming release that all changes.
-
Plasma 6.3 Ready for Public Beta Testing
Plasma 6.3 will ship with KDE Gear 24.12.1 and KDE Frameworks 6.10, along with some new and exciting features.
-
Budgie 10.10 Scheduled for Q1 2025 with a Surprising Desktop Update
If Budgie is your desktop environment of choice, 2025 is going to be a great year for you.
-
Firefox 134 Offers Improvements for Linux Version
Fans of Linux and Firefox rejoice, as there's a new version available that includes some handy updates.
-
Serpent OS Arrives with a New Alpha Release
After months of silence, Ikey Doherty has released a new alpha for his Serpent OS.