HandBrake 0.9.6

What's new in this version:

Encoders:

Video:
- updated libx264 (revision 2146)
- MPEG-2 encoder (from libavcodec)
- advanced options support for libavcodec encoders format: option1=value1:option2=value2 -bf 2 -trellis 2 becomes bf=2:trellis=2

Audio:
- audio gain control (increase/decrease audio volume)
- updated libogg (1.3.0) and libvorbis (aoTuV b6.03)
- new AAC encoder (from libavcodec) (considered experimental) (supported mixdowns: Mono/Stereo/Dolby?, 5.1 will come later) (should be on par with faac in terms of quality, sometimes better)
- FLAC encoder (16-bit, MKV container only)
- Mac OS X: HE-AAC encoding support, via Core Audio
- quality-based variable bitrate encoding support works with: Lame MP3, Vorbis, Core Audio AAC only implemented in CLI and Linux GUI
- AC3 encoder: set Dolby Surround flag in stream parameters when mixdown is Dolby Surround or Pro Logic II

Audio Passthru:
- DTS Passthru to MP4 container (in addition to MKV) (supported by e.g. VLC, MPlayer)
- DTS-HD Passthru (MP4, MKV containers)
- MP3 Passthru (MP4, MKV containers)
- AAC Passthru (MP4, MKV containers) (known issue: Magic Cookie not passed through from MPEG Program/Transport? streams,which will break playback in e.g. QuickTime Player)
- Auto Passthru: one encoder, multiple codecs lets you define allowed codecs (from supported passthru codecs) lets you pick a fallback encoder if passthru is not possible

Muxers:
- start MKV clusters with a video keyframe whenever possible should improve seeking and DLNA streaming
- bug fix: use ISO 639-2 bibliographic form for MKV language codes
- bug fix: fix crash due to division by zero in MP4 muxer
- bug fix: fix muxing of Closed Captions. Improper interleaving broke playback on some players

Decoders:

Video:
- updated libav* libraries from Libav ( http://libav.org/) (v0.7-1696-gcae4f4b, late October 2011) frame-based multithreading for H.264, VP8 10-bit decoding support for H.264, DNxHD Apple ProRes? decoding support
- improved average framerate detection
- duplicate frame detection for improved frame drop decision (CFR/PFR)
- new Same as source, Constant Framerate option for devices that don't support variable framerate automatically picks a constant framerate closest to the detected average framerate
- bug fix: fix problem when resolution changes in the middle of a video stream

Audio:
- Blu-ray: make TrueHD, DTS-HD and E-AC3 Secondary Audio streams available for decoding and/or passthrough
- bug fix: libavcodec-decoded streams can now be decoded multiple times previously, multiple decodes of the same source tracks weren't possible and audio output tracks had to be dropped
- bug fix: fix audio screech at beginning of some audio tracks when decoding AC3
- bug fix: fix DTS decoder audio volume (was too low)
- bug fix: garbled audio when decoding DTS-HD audio from MKV containers
- bug fix: fix support for DTS-HD High Resolution Audio in MPEG Transport streams

Subtitles:
- updated libass (0.10.0)
- improved handling of subtitles with overlapping timestamps
- improved handling of DVD subtitles without Stop Display commands
- SSA subtitles are now passed through to MKV without conversion to SRT/UTF-8
- bug fix: fix rendering problem with SSA subtitles when no font is embedded in the source video

Demuxers:
- improved MPEG Program/Transport? stream support support for MPEG-1 Program streams support for HD-DVD EVOB streams improved handling of Transport streams that have no PCR
- WTV container support (via libavformat)
- bug fix: files with more than 20 tracks (video, audio, subtitles etc.) are now supported
- bug fix: some QuickTime MOV files were misdirected as MPEG Transport streams
- bug fix: fix detection of TrueType? font attachments that don't have the correct MIME type

Filters:
- new, much improved decomb filter (but slower) new settings are default old settings become decomb "Fast"

Presets:
- improved "Normal" preset (much faster, similar file size and quality)
- removed obsolete legacy presets
- added new device presets for Android phones/tablets recent and/or powerful devices recommended

Windows GUI:

Preview window:
- complete redesign
- support for VLC or the system default video player
- dropped built-in QuickTime playback support

Other:
- much improved control over the default audio and subtitle tracks selected (see Options)
- ability to set the minimal title length that will show up during a scan (see Options)
- several other usability improvements
- installer now has a silent option for easier network installs (launch the installer with /S)

Miscellaneous:
- Target Size is gone, and isn't coming back Don't bother complaining on the forums
- CLI: support for x264 presets, tunes and profiles new --x264-preset, --x264-tune and --x264-profile options
- DVD: fix issues with some discs
- DVD: improved main feature detection
- updated libbluray (0.0.1-pre-213-ga869da8, late May 2011)