Zond 265 Windows version history

07 March 2024 5.1.2403.7

Features:

Added saving Zond 265 install location to the registry

12 February 2024 5.1.2402.12

Features:

Specification download window updated

01 September 2023 5.1.2309.1

Fixes:

Retrieving timing_info for AV1 codec
Frame rate calculation for .ivf container with AV1 codec.

18 July 2023 5.1.2307.18

Fixes:

Fixed tfhd and ftyp atoms parsing in fMP4 demuxer
Added FPS request from fMP4 and MP4 demuxers if timing_info is missing in VUI for HEVC and AVC

18 May 2023 5.1.2305.18

Fixes:

Fixed incorrect Motion Vectors values when stepping backward for AVC

08 September 2022 5.1.2209.8

Feautres:

Analysis of the first 50 frames in demo version
7-days free full trial request in demo version

14 April 2022 5.1.2204.14

Features:

AV1 decoder updated to the version 3.3.0
Added OBU streams support for AV1
Added display of the decoding errors on opening AV1 files

Fixes:

Added missing fields in the Bitstream tab for AV1
Fixed Tiles, Transform partitions and Quantizers grids generation for AV1

08 December 2021 5.0.2112.8

Fixes:

Crash on checking conformance with HEVC specification
Crash on opening invalid bitstreams
Opening files (license, reference files, EVC bitstreams etc.) with non-ASCII symbols in paths.

12 November 2021 5.0.2111.12

Fixes:

Оpening MP4 files with HEVC NAL units stored in Annex B format. "MP4 specification mismatch" notification shown in the Error tab for MP4 in this case.

06 September 2021 5.0.2109.06

Features:

EVC codec compatibility updated to the ETM v.7.3 reference software and added to MAC OS and Linux versions

Fixes:

Fixed launch with Administrator privileges after installation.
Fixed hang when generating a report with a specified frame interval
Fixed sidx atom parsing and building Index Segments table for Fragmented MP4
Fixed frame buffer initialization for transport streams with AVC bitstream

31 May 2021 5.0.2105.31

Features:

EVC bitstreams support

Fixes:

Memory leaks in license server (for Floating licenses)
Incorrect quality metrics calculating for last frame for selected interval in reports
Incorrect Chroma values in PSNR reports

30 December 2020 4.9.2012.30

Fixes:

Incorrect macroblock size calculation for H264 streams with multiple slices which lead to crash

20 November 2020 4.9.2011.20

Features:

AV1 codec compatibility updated to the AOM v.2.0.0 reference software (2020-10-30, commit: 0ddee40c6d8e407698055aa3654184311e02374d)

Fixes:

Fixed Reference file selection dialog's file type filters
Fixed calculating VMAF metric for all frames in file
"Show PSNR video quality map" button hidden for AV1 and MPEG2 codec

09 October 2020 4.8.2010.9

Fixes:

Crashes and other issues on reports generation

25 August 2020 4.8.2008.25

Fixes:

Errors on opening YUV files

26 June 2020 4.8.2006.26

Features:

Added Y4M files support

Fixes:

Changed default port number
YUV grid scaling
Correct scrolling of YUV tab data
YUV tab data display improved

27 April 2020 4.8.2004.27

Fixes:

Decoding artifacts on the video frame slices if another slice of the same frame is missing from a stream
HEVC validation false alarm for num_entry_point_offsets value

13 April 2020 4.8.2004.13

Features:

Presentation of intra prediction modes as a vector overlay on a decoded picture

Fixes:

Mouse click pins decoded picture's blocks for YUV files

06 April 2020 4.8.2004.6

Features:

YUV files Preview. Supported formats: I420, I422, I444, YV12, YV16, YV24, YUY2, UYVY, NV12, both 8 and 10 bit (little endian) files

Fixes:

Fixed issue with slow playback of HEVC files on macOS 10.14.6 and later
Fixed errors in help output for CLI mode
Fixed crash on decoding HEVC files in CLI mode

05 September 2019 4.7.1909.5

Features:

Decoded picture buffer (DPB) visualization for HEVC video

Fixes:

Saving YUV frame data via the context menu on the preview image area
HEVC validation false alarms for sps_max_dec_pic_buffering_minus1 and BufferingPeriod SEI

09 July 2019 4.6.1907.9

Fixes:

Ability to open HEVC files with no intra frames (Gradual Decoder Refresh or GDR files)
Ability to open single frame HEVC files
"Bitstream" tab flickering
Incorrect decoded frame preview for HEVC files with "GBR" color matrix option
Memory leaks for files with MPEG2, AVC and AV1 video
False alarms of HEVC validation (when checking "field_seq_flag" and HRD buffer fullness)
Unsupported files opening do not result in application hang up

01 April 2019 4.5.1904.1

Features:

Updated AV1 decoder (Windows version, compatible with reference software AOM 1.0.0, commit date 2018-12-25, 9b1252eab0616d2c1f6d7990c6256441c0b6483f)
Added support of MP4 and MPEG Dash files with AV1 video (Windows version)

Fixes:

Decoding artifacts on some files with AVC video
Crashes on files with multiple slices AVC video
Opening files with non-ansi characters in path
Crashes on positioning during VMAF values calculation
Incorrect VMAF values on files with interlaced HEVC video
Decoded picture overlays scaling on high DPI displays

20 November 2018 4.4.1811.20

Features:

Interlaced HEVC video support
No-reference PSNR for AVC video
Average quality metric values over the entire stream

Fixes:

MPEG-TS files multiplexed with packets size greater than 188 bytes now can be opened correctly
Ability to open HEVC streams without IDR/CRA/BLA NAL units

18 May 2018 4.1.1805.18

Fixes:

Wrong MB tab content after positioning inside DPB on AVC/H.264 files

29 March 2018 4.1.1803.29

Features:

Netflix VMAF metric for quality estimation supported. Quality estimation comparing original YUV file with preloaded video file by Netflix's Video Multimethod Assessment Fusion (VMAF) metric

06 March 2018 4.0.1803.6

Features:

AOMedia Video 1 (AV1) codec is compatible with reference software 2018.03.06
Translucent overlays QP, TU, RefIdx for MPEG-2 and AV1 codecs
Predicted and residual pictures for MPEG-2 codec
Quality metrics (PSNR, SSIM) calculation for MPEG-2 and AV1 codecs

Fixes:

Interlaced 4:2:2 frames displayed incorrectly for MPEG-2 video streams
Problems with backward order frame decoding for MPEG-2 video streams

28 December 2017 4.0.1712.28

Features:

AOMedia Video 1 (AV1) codec is supported in WebM format. Compatible with reference software 2017.12.21
MPEG-2 codec is supported as video elementary stream
HEVC Screen Content Coding Extension (SCC) supported
MP4 Dash segmented and fragmented format is supported for HEVC and AVC
Reports generation in CVS or JSON in GUI with adjustable level of reporting (frame stats, headers, coding unit, PSNR, etc.)

Fixes:

GoPro HD5 MP4 AVC files couldn't be opened
Some issues with report generation for AVC from CLI
AVC: intra PU mode for 16x16 was wrong

15 May 2017 3.7.1705.15

Fixes:

Possibility to evaluate a version even when the evaluation period of a previous version is finished
Problems with opening a second file when Zond 265 is started
Wrong Intra PU modes for size 16x16 on AVC/H.264 files

20 April 2017 3.7.1704.20

Features:

High Dynamic Range (HDR) Detection and Analysis. Frame-by-frame parsing and interpretation of SEI units into discrete Frame Information.
Hypothetic Reference Decoder (HRD) Buffer Flow: Instant insights into buffer occupancy - available from the interface and through CLI reports.
Comprehensive File Info in a Single Source, including profile, level, chroma subsampling, bit depth, resolution, aspect ratio, bitrate, frame rate, HDR information, compression efficiency, and GOP length statistics.
Bitrate Histogram. Bitrate peak values update every second in the course of consecutive frame reading.

16 March 2016 3.1.1603.16

Features:

Automatic update checking in Windows version

Fixes:

MP4 file cannot be opened if some of its frames have size more than 2 MB
Problems with license activation if license file was assigned to disabled network adapter

03 March 2016 3.1.1603.3

Features:

Support of MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 12) file format for HEVC/H.265 and AVC/H.264 video streams

Fixes:

Wrong preview picture on frames with dimensions not multiple of 4

12 February 2016 3.1.1602.12

Features:

Increased speed with translucent overlays of the image of encoded file (PU, TU, QP, Bits, RefIdx, PSNR) for high-resolution files: the mapping, scaling, responds to mouse movement
Added data in the generated report in the console mode: average PSNR and SSIM for the whole file, file size, duration, bitrate

Fixes:

PDF specification file was not displayed
Extra blank lines in the report file were removed
Fixed the crash on files with the data of HRD model if there are some pic_timing SEI missed
Fixed a problem with opening a HEVC file if it does not begin with a key frame, but with the frame with a large value of the Picture Order Count
Displaying of an error message when opening an unsupported file
The current marker was not updated sometimes

08 September 2015 3.1.1509.8

Features:

Frame Stats tab displays Luma/Chroma Intra Prediction Mode Statistics
Intra Prediction Mode Statistics report from CLI
Zond 265 now launches in NW.js runtime instead of web-browser

17 June 2015 3.0.1506.17

Features:

HEVC stream validation conformance according to the specification in GUI and CLI available
Compatible with the reference software HM 16.5
New HRD building mode. CPB fullness analysis based on SEI messages of the stream
GOP length statistics
Expansion of NAL unit headers in Bitstream tab
Specific highlight of key frames on Frame Bars tab
Simplified management of personal and floating licenses activation
Added GUI managing to license server ( before only CLI was available )
Added information to clients which IPs uses ZOND currently (for floating license)
Write access to "Program Files" no longer required for activation

26 December 2014 2.0.1412.26

Features:

HEVC stream errors detection. Available in an "Error” tab and as CLI report
Mac OS X version of ZOND for HEVC streams
Support of MPEG-2 Transport Stream for HEVC/H.265 and AVC/H.264 streams
H.264/AVC support in a release mode
Compatible with the reference software HM 16.2
Support of 4:4:4, 4:2:2, 4:0:0 chroma format for HEVC
Support of 10 bits video compression for HEVC
Delivering Short Term Reference Picture Set in Frame info Tab
Optimized CLI reports generation process for more than one simultaneous reports per run

09 October 2014 1.9.1410.9

Features:

Compatible with the reference software HM 14
4K big optimization. 5 times faster handling UltraHD 4K files. Testing PC Intel Core i7-2600 3.4GHz, 16GB RAM, Windows 7 x64 comparing with 1.8.1407.29
H.264/AVC video elementary streams supported in a beta mode
CLI reports can have now CU data for entire frame, frame and stream statistics
Saving as a YUV files different stages of picture decoding in command line mode: final, after deblock, before deblock, residual, predicted
Resizable layout. Now it can be shrinked with no minimal size of a width

Fixes:

If a stream had cropping requirements, wrong quality metrics would be calculated
Quality metrics were not calculated if YUV file had 1 frame
It could crash if two different HEVC files were loaded in two ZOND instances / browser tabs
Some streams errors handling added
Fixed table sorting in a Frame Stats tab
Wrong scrolling when expanding bitstream header
Info about pixel number predicted from a definite reference picture is missed
Some routines didn’t operate properly in Internet Explorer of versions 8-12
Sometimes navigating through HEX hanged Zond
Sometimes headers values contained garbage

29 July 2014 1.8.1407.29

Features:

Quality estimation comparing original YUV file with preloaded HEVC file by PSNR and MSSIM metrics
Quality graph to show separate PSNR /MSSIM values for separate Y, U,V channels Visual map of PSNR for a frame coded tree blocks (CTB)
HEVC specification quotes for most of syntax elements. Just put a mouse pointer to any element name and get an information scope or open a specification at the necessary place (the specification should be downloaded and placed to a necessary folder)
Linux 32 and 64 bits versions of Zond 265 are available. The distributive operates on Ubuntu version 12.04 and above
Command line interface for quality estimation
Showing a residual picture type
Playback ability enabled
Copying a bitstream slice in detail to a clipboard
Compatible with HM13 and previous HMs starting from HM 10.01
Floating license server shows names of PCs / IP addresses of a current users

Fixes:

Optimized HEVC files opening and processing. It works 50-60 % faster than previous version
Improved Zond operating stability. Fixed many crashes and hangs
Improved last frame navigation in case it is not complete
Fixed. TU partition was sometimes shown overlapped
Fixed. Wrong handling of frames with negative POC after IDR

05 December 2013 1.5.1312.05

Features:

Hex viewer displays file contents in binary and hexadecimal formats with the abilities to search and navigate.
Hex pannel is fully movable, resizable and hidable.
Hex viewer is synchronized with a bitstream tab and highlights header blocks and bitstream header bits. It has been significantly optimized compared to betas and demos.
Added the support for reading HEVC streams from MPEG transport streams in a beta vesion.
Compatible with the reference software HM 12.1.

Fixes:

Opening file procedure was optimized. Now it works faster for large files.
Optimized action responses for large files: mouse clicks, data showing.
1 frames stream could not be opened.
Open file dialog has now OnTop property as it happened that is didn't arise.
Calling a nonexistent file from a history didn't deliver an error.
Hanging on some large files.
Crashes on some files.
Display order was shown incorrectly if slice_pic_order_cnt_lsb had some skips.

Changes:

Stream statistics parsing moved to a separate procedure. It is managed in Stream Stats tab. Can be paused and resumed.

20 June 2013 1.4.1306.20

Features:

Compatible with reference software HM 11

18 February 2013 1.4.1302.18

Features:

Compatible with reference software HM 10
Shows video parameter set (VPS) structure
Shows supplemental enhancement information (SEI)
Extended stream statistics - CU types, Reference pictures, Intra/Inter PU sizes, TU (Y / Cb / Cr) sizes
Sorting frame / stream statistics elements (residuals, mvd, etc.) by default order or by percentage
Shows a progress while file loading / parsing

Changes:

A zoom mode changed. A filter was applied that altered visual pixels in a picture zoomed in. Cancelled
Zond is now automatically launched in Google Chrome (if installed) despite of what browser is default one.
New values in fields of HRD Buffer (bitrate, framerate. etc. ) are updated by Enter keyboard button (as well as by "Rebuild”)
"Recent Files” drop-down list is not any more closed if a mouse pointer goes up

Fixes:

Sometimes if to close Zond browser tab, the process was not killed and remained running
Sometimes Intra 64x64 blocks were depicted with incorrect additional subpartition at PU / CU overlay grid

04 December 2012 1.3.1212.4

Features:

Compatible with reference software HM 9.1
Picture tiles partitioning bounds. Layout menu-> "Tile Boundaries" button
Tile index information in CU tab
Stream statistics. Bitrate, average frame size, I/P/B frame size
Performance optimization while stream loading
Extended frame statistics (frame stats tab). Compression efficiency: number of bits, bits per bin, bits per pixel, compression ratio, motion vectors per pixel

29 October 2012 1.2.1210.29

Features:

Compatible with reference software HM 8.2
Highlighting of reference frames for selected CUs. Pointer is shown below frame bars as a small colored angle. Its color specifies an offset of a reference frame from a current one in display order and it changes from green (nearest distance) to red (longest one).
Highlighting of reference frames for a selected frame. Pointer is shown below frame bars as a small colored bar. Its color specifies an offset of a reference frame from a current one in display order and it changes from green (nearest distance) to red (longest one).
Reference indexes overlay for CUs. Menu->"Compression details”->”Bits”
More detailed map of bits and quantizers. Now it is shown for SCU instead of LCU (was in previous version). If the numbers don’t fit to cell, they are not depicted. To see them just zoom in a picture
Extended frame elements statistics. Percentage of CU types (intra/inter), reference pictures, PU (intra/inter) of different sizes (4x8, 4x16, 8x4 etc.), TU(Y/U/V) of different sizes. The table can be sorted by elements name, percent or bits. Appropriate headers are clickable
Timeline "Times” option added in format of hour:mins:sec;msec
Ability to save a frame as IYUV file. It’s available for different picture modes - Predict, Before/After deblocking, Final. That works through clicking of right mouse button to a picture area or a picture bar and using "Save frame as YUV data” button
Adjustable showing frame elements statistics as a bits-graphic overlaid to frame bars
Zooming and moving picture area by mouse (wheel - zoom, left button - moving)
Highlighting selected CU after zooming
64 bits version gets available. It allows analyzing of big resolution streams ( > 4K).

Changes:

Frame statistics is shown as performance chart instead of pie chart.
Reference indexes overlay for CUs ( instead of LCUs). Menu->"Compression details”->”Bits”
A color for skipped blocks in PU partitions. Not it’s grey instead of yellowish (in version 1.1)
A color scheme for CU blocks in "Reference Indexes” mode. Now skipped blocks are grey
Renamed elements of CU; L[0][0] to L0[0]; L[1][0] to L1[0]; V to MV (Motion Vector); D to MVD (Motion Vector Difference); P to MVP(Predicted Motion Vector); I to merge_idx (order number in a candidate list)

Fixes:

In time-consuming actions mouse pointer indicates "thinking”
Operating in Firefox and IE (starting from 8). For best performance Google Chrome is recommended
Delivers error message in case of if can’t allocate enough memory. For working with a big resolution streams, 64 bit version is recommended.

09 August 2012 1.1.1208.9

Features:

Compatible with reference software HM 8.0

01 August 2012 1.1.1208.1

Features:

Compatible with reference software HM 7.2

06 July 2012 1.1.1207.6

Features:

Сompatible with reference software HM 7.1rc1
HRD Buffer analyzing
Frames navigation modes: decoding (stream) order; output (display) order; by K-Frames; I-Frames; I,P frames. Layout menu->”Navigation modes” button
Slices bounds. Layout menu->” Slices Boundaries” button
Map of bits for largest coding units. Menu->"Compression details”->”Bits”. The darker LCU is the lesser its size and vice versa.
Reference indexes overlay. Menu->"Compression details”->”Bits”
Additional coding units info: predicted motion vectors, merge candidates, difference of MV and PMV. Tab "CU”: P(x,y) of L0,L1 lists; merge_idx (order number in a candidate list); D(x,y) of L0,L1 lists, correspondingly.
Combined transform partition grid for separate components - Y, Cb,Cr. Menu->”Prediction partitions” button
Shows an opened file, list of recently opened files, copies a file name to a clipboard, opens an input folder. Upper left part of layout

Fixes:

Memory usage optimization
If unfold a header to be at the bottom of a bitstream list, it’s moved upwards to show its data

Changes:

Timeline ruler in frames added
Information panel with tabs became resizable
Timeline and Information panels can be hidden maximizing picture preview
Notices a version of the reference software Zond is compatible with. Upper right part of layout
Motion vectors get depicted more clearly

28 June 2012 1.0.1206.28

Features:

Compatible with reference software HM 7.1rc1

22 May 2012 1.0.1205.22

Changes:

Compatible with reference software HM 7.0rc2

10 May 2012 1.0.1205.10

Changes:

Compatible with reference software HM 6.3

05 May 2012 1.0.1205.05

Features:

Compatible with reference software HM 6.2 r2238
Frame navigation based on frames bars in decoding or display order
Frames size histogram
Color highlighting of different kind of frames (I, B, P).
Marking of reference frames for a current picture
Visual presentation of data from all levels of a video stream and decoding stages
Showing all headers with a content.
Showing Headers sizes and offsets within a stream
Highlighting of a slice and related headers (SPS, PPS, etc.) of a current frame
Showing pixels predicted, reconstructed, after deblocking and adaptive loop filtration
Showing CU data: coordinates, dimension and bit-size
Color highlighting different types of CUs (Inter, Intra)
Showing PU data: a spatial prediction mode of intra PU luma and chroma components
Showing inter PU’s motion vectors, reference lists, reference indexes.
Showing TU data: dimension and offset within CU. Luma and chroma coefficients before de-quantization.
Overlay a frame with a CU, PU or TU grid and motion vectors
Showing bits distribution statistics to be used while encoding of CU, PU and TU data (skip_mb_flag, merge_flag, mvd, cbf_luma, etc.). Displaying results as a pie chart and table