1. An apparatus, comprising: an encoder for encoding picture data for at least a block, wherein said encoder selectively applies a probability update process to at least one of a symbol and/or a syntax, which is not coded in SKIP or Direct mode, but associated with the block, based on a number of the symbols and/or syntaxes relating to at least the block that are already encoded, and on a probability state of spatial-temporal neighboring blocks for the same symbol, the convergence speed of a corresponding probability estimate, the position of the current block/macroblock within a slice, and the number of times a particular symbol has been encoded for a specific syntax element, wherein said probability estimate is updated for coding mode, motion and coefficient syntax not coded in SKIP mode, or mode and motion syntax not coded in Direct mode, so that additional coded symbols and/or syntax corresponding to these syntaxes use updated probability.