Video Formats
by Ben Huchison & Mary J. Clark
Web browsers today support a number of multimedia formats. Here is a brief overview of the most common.
MPEG
The cross-platform MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group) format is the most popular format on the Internet. (MP3 files are the sound portion of the MPEG video format.)
MPEG files have the extension .mpg (or .mpeg), or some version thereof, such as .mp4.
Often, users download MPEG files to watch later with QuickTime or Windows Media Player.
(The reference web site for MPEG is http://www.mpeg.org/.)
QuickTime MOVie
Apple developed QuickTime for streaming content. In addition to running on a Macintosh, QuickTime movies can run on a Windows computer that has an extra, free component installed. Advanced features in QuickTime help producers present interactive video, virtual reality settings, and more.
Videos stored in the QuickTime format have the extension .mov (or sometimes .qt).
(You can download a free QuickTime player from http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/.)
RealVideo
RealNetworks developed the RealVideo format for the Internet. This format allows streaming video with low bandwidths.
Videos stored in the RealVideo format have the extension .rm (or .ram).
(You can download a RealPlayer from http://www.real.com/ or http://www.realplayer.com.)
Adobe Flash and Shockwave
Adobe Flash (FLV) video plays directly in a page through the Adobe Flash Player without requiring any plug-ins. The Flash player delivers fast-loading front-end web applications and short animations, among other things. (There are lots of Flash videos on YouTube.)
For detailed information, and to get an Adobe Flash Player, please visit http://www.adobe.com/support/flashplayer/downloads.html.
Macromedia developed the Shockwave format (before Macromedia was purchased by Adobe in 2005). Shockwave videos have the extension .swf. The Shockwave Player displays such content as interactive multimedia product demos and multi-user games.
(You can download a Shockwave player from Adobe at http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/.)
AVI
Microsoft developed the Audio Video Interleave (AVI) format. AVI format is supported by all Windows computers and most popular Web browsers. Videos stored in AVI format have the extension .avi. AVI files do not stream. You have to download an entire file before you can watch it.
Your computer may be able to play many AVI files with a player you already have installed.
But AVI is a container video format. It specifies how video and audio streams should be stored within the file, but it does not specify how they should be encoded. You may need to find the proper codec (coder/decorder) to play any particular AVI file.
Windows Media Format
Microsoft also developed the Windows Media format. Videos stored in Windows Media format have the extension .wmv and run streaming content.
(You can download a Windows Media player from Microsoft at the following location:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/9series/default.aspx.)
Silverlight
Microsoft's newest foray into video content is Silverlight. Silverlight supports rich Internet applications which provide more interactivity than normal Internet videos. Similar to Flash in how it works, Silverlight can play Windows Media content on both PC and Macintosh computers. It is currently being used by such companies as Netflix to provide streaming movies as well as NBC to stream video of the 2008 Olympic games.
(You can download Silverlight from Microsoft at the following location: http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/resources/install.aspx.)
Need help? Call the UCit Help Desk at 556-4367.
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