Pixlet is avideo codec created byApple and based onwavelets, designed to enable viewing of full-resolution,HD movies in real time at lowDV data rates.[citation needed] According to Apple's claims, it allows for a 20–25:1compression ratio. Similar to DV, it does not useinterframe compression, making it suitable for previewing in production and special effects studios. It is designed to be an editing codec; however, low bitrates make it poorly suited to broadcast use.
The namePixlet is a contraction of 'Pixar wavelet'.[1] When it was introduced bySteve Jobs atWorldwide Developers Conference 2003, it was said that the codec was developed at the request of animation companyPixar.
APower Macintosh with at least a 1GHzPowerPC G4 processor is required for real-time playback of half-resolution high-definition video (960x540).
Pixlet, while part of the cross-platformQuickTime, is only available onMacs runningMac OS X v10.3 or later. QuickTime X cannot decode Pixlet files.
FFmpeg version 3.3 and later can decode Pixlet files.[2] On March 21, 2019, Apple announced that Pixlet is among the codecs that will no longer be supported in its own software after thesuccessor tomacOS Mojave is released, due to the transition to 64-bit-only software. In the same announcement, Apple noted that third-party developers could maintain support by building support directly into their apps.[3]