So, unlike those breakthrough codecs everybody talks about (I mean RMHD and ORBX.js), V-Nova Perseus was delivered (but what do you expect from a codec announced on the first of April?) and is available in some Android app. So I’ve looked at it.
The implementation seems bafflingly simple: there’s a base layer, it gets upscaled 2x and an enhancement is applied to the upscaled image. And those enhancements are essentially quantised differences after 2×2 Haar transform plus runs, all coded with context-dependent Huffman codes. If that reminds you of RealVideo—don’t worry, they code those codebook descriptions too so it’s different.
I don’t know if it really works as good as promisedmarketed but it’s an interesting approach and it introduces some variety in the world of codecs that look alike—mostly because they all use the same principles as the standard video codec with some small enhancements or building blocks replaced with functional analogues; yes, I completely forgot about Daala, please remind me about it when they settle with final design—it might be the codec of choice for GNU HURD NG by then too.