Methods and apparatuses are provided relating to the encoding of data, such as, e.g., images, video, etc. For example, certain methods include processing at least a portion of data using a plurality of different quantization functions to produce a plurality of corresponding quantized portions of data, and selectively outputting one of the quantized portions of data based on at least one threshold value. The method may also include dividing initial data into a plurality of portions and classifying the portion of data based on at least one classification characteristic. Here, for example, there may be a threshold value that is associated with the classification characteristic. Additional syntax may be adopted to enable considerably higher compression efficiency by allowing several alternative motion prediction cases. A high efficiency time stamp independent Direct Mode is also provided which considers spatial motion vector prediction as well with stationary temporal predictors.