Meta will be reducing Instagram's basic video computing time as they develop a new method without updating the hardware. Through this, the quality of the video will be improved and it will free up space at the same time.
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This illustration picture shows Instagram's new video feature "Reels" on a smartphone in front of a screen showing an Instagram logo, on August 6, 2020 in Los Angeles. - Instagram on August 5 added a new short-form video feature to the image-focused platform in a direct challenge to TikTok. "Reels" lets users record videos of up to 15 seconds and provides tools for editing, audio and effects, according to the Facebook-owned company.
This illustration picture shows Instagram's new video feature "Reels" on a smartphone in front of a screen showing an Instagram logo, on August 6, 2020 in Los Angeles. - Instagram on August 5 added a new short-form video feature to the image-focused platform in a direct challenge to TikTok. "Reels" lets users record videos of up to 15 seconds and provides tools for editing, audio and effects, according to the Facebook-owned company.
Reduced File Size and Improved Quality
In an update through Meta's Engineering Facebook website, the company announces that engineers from Instagram just recently developed a way to process videos that decreases basic video encodings by 94%.
The multiple encoded versions of uploaded videos that different characteristics can be repurposed. The compute resources will be reduced by repurposing one type of video encoding. Through the resources, developers have the opportunity to produce additional and advanced encodings that can allow people to watch videos in high definition.
With 2 billion monthly active users on their platform, Meta stated that this update is just the beginning. They added, "There is still more engineering innovation needed, as Instagram's growing user base will continue to place increasing demand on our fleet of servers. Stay tuned."
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Finding Out
Based on a report from Interesting Engineering, Instagram was spending 80% of its resources as they process minimum functionality encodings with two types of video encoding; (1) minimum functionality encodings that are much lower-efficiency compression and already decoded by old devices, and (2) advanced encodings that provides great clarity and more detailed picture as uses much newer compression devices for a clear playback.
By doing the advanced encodings, the total watch time only took up 15% and it was later found out that this could prevent the developers from offering advanced video encoding all the time if the viewer's spend was more into minimum functionality.
The engineers also noticed that there are redundant workloads that were similar for the two encodings. These are the basic adaptive bit rate and the progressive encoding.
By repackaging them into a compatible ABR file structure, they can now replace basic ABR with progressive encoding video frames. Through this process, it will decrease the unnecessary encodings and will be returning its functionality of 0.36 seconds for a video of the same size as the 23-second video which computes a 94% reduction.
As per the company's Tech website, this development matters not only for its users but also for the company. Meta stated, "In our constant quest for efficiency, making better use of the machines that deliver our service was a top priority. Moving forward, this optimization will allow Instagram's infrastructure to scale to meet the needs of our more than 2 billion monthly active users."
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Written by Inno Flores
