Testing with a single not very representative clip is a poor idea, See the comment on the github: <a href="https://gist.github.com/4645784#comment-756444" rel="nofollow">https://gist.github.com/4645784#comment-756444</a>
Let's see how Daala and VP9 work out. Something should break the domination of closed formats, and MPEG-LA obviously plan to extend their grip on the market with H.265, since patents on H.264 are going to expire. Introducing an updated format will start this whole patent lock from the beginning.
DarkShikari (x264 dev) has blogged about VP8 a few times: <a href="http://x264dev.multimedia.cx/archives/category/vp8" rel="nofollow">http://x264dev.multimedia.cx/archives/category/vp8</a><p>"The first in-depth technical analysis of VP8" <a href="http://x264dev.multimedia.cx/archives/377" rel="nofollow">http://x264dev.multimedia.cx/archives/377</a>
Having done a lot of video encoding myself, I've found that H.264 offers the best quality, especially at lower bit rates.<p>I really do hope that VP9 can offer the quality of H.265. VP8 just wasn't good enough to compete against H.264.
"While I'd love a patent- and royalty-free video format to offer the highest quality compression you can find, I wouldn't hold my breath for one."<p>I wonder why couldn't they allow software usage ( Encoder and Decoder ) to be free. And only collect royalty on Hardware, and Industry Production use.
Oh look another article that's been flagged into oblivion by zealots.<p>{currently at the bottom of page 4 when by pts it should still be in the top 10)