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As we all know, there are many video formats, like AVI, WMV, MP4, MOV, MPEG, ASF, 3GP, etc. Here we go, to know more about those video file formats.

 

• AVI

AVI, Audio Video Interleaved, is developed by Microsoft in 1992. AVI has many obvious advantages like high image quality, good image & audio synchronization performance. This file format can be applied in multi-platforms as well.

 

But the disadvantages of AVI are also explicit, large volume, without a unified compression standard, and the most common nuisance is that the higher-version Windows Media Player simply can’t play AVI videos which are encoded with earlier codes. Sometimes you just find with the latest media player, the AVI file does not work or anyway it works, there is only audio effect without image. Probable solution to this problem is to download a specific codec from the Internet and install it.

 

• MP4
MP4 is short for Moving Picture Expert Group-4. First published in 1998, MPEG-4 or MP4 was designed to encompass all the features that were part of earlier releases of MPEG files, and add a few more that would prove helpful with the advancing online technology of the day.

 

MP4 is a reliable application that requires a relatively low amount of bandwidth. This was especially true as technology made it possible to create more powerful desktop and laptop systems that had a larger hard drive and could command more power. The enhancement of the speed of various types of Internet connections also helped to make MP4 more accessible to a greater audience. Meanwhile, MP4 has good performance in portable devices like iPod, iPhone, PSP, etc.

 

• MOV
MOV, a file extension, which is used by the QuickTime-wrapped files. QuickTime Content (.mov, .qt), developed by Apple Computer, is used to store both movies and sounds. It is a container format and can contain video, animation, graphics, 3D and virtual reality (VR) content or text (for subtitles, for example). This flexible format isn't limited to Macintosh operating systems. It's also commonly used in Windows systems, and other types of computing platforms.

 

Though MOV files are quite often found in the web, to play them on Windows computers may call for installing an extra component or converting to other formats.
The advantage of MOV files is the ability to contain abstract data references for the media data. That means they can be easily edited - no need to rewrite all media data after editing.

 

• WMV
Windows Media Video, known as “WMV” for short, is a file format with separated encoding manner developed by Microsoft. It can also be a file compression format which is applied for online video real-time viewing and sharing. There are many advantages for this file format. For instance, it supports local and online video play back; extensional and flexible media type; accessory downloading; multi-language; stream in priority, etc.

 

• ASF
ASF is another file format developed by Microsoft. Microsoft originally made this file format in order for competing with Real Player which is a product from Real Networks Company. People can simply use Windows Media Player to play ASF video back. ASF is based on MPEG-4 computing method, the related image quality is good and the compression degree is nice as well. This implies ASF files can be easily streamed or uploaded to the Internet. But since high file compression will result in problems like frame loss, sometimes you will find to a same video, ASF type may have poorer image quality comparing with the one in VCD type.

 

• RM
RM stands for Real Media. Developed by Real Networks Company, it is one of the most popular formats for streaming content on the Internet; RealMedia includes the RealAudio codec for sound clips and RealVideo codec for movies. RealAudio and RealVideo files are often given the common RealMedia ".RM" file extension. RM files can be heavily compressed so they can even stream over dial-up Internet connections.

 

Comparing with ASF format, RM presents a neat display effect while the image of ASF video seems more clearly. So basically, you can’t say which is good or which is bad, it depends on users’ specific demand and preference.

 

• RMVB
RealMedia Variable Bitrate (RMVB) is a variable bitrate extension of the RealMedia multimedia container format developed by Real Networks Company. This file format goes over the “Average Compression Sampling Model” of RM format. It ensures the static image quality and then greatly ensures the moving image quality. This saves much bandwidth, making a balance between fat video file and video image. For instance, to a same video file, if the file is based on DVDrip and the size is 700MB, it may be only 400MB around when the file is RMVB based. And the image quality is almost the same. Also, users don’t need to install other plug-ins to make movie captions or subtitles because RMVB has integrated the related function.

 

• 3GP
3GP is a multimedia container format used by mobile phones. It is a simplified version of the MP4 format and was designed to make file sizes smaller so mobile phones could support video.

 

3GPP, 3GPP2 are the new worldwide standard for the creation, delivery and playback of multimedia over 3rd generation, high-speed wireless networks. Defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project and 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 respectively, these standards seek to provide uniform delivery of rich multimedia over newly evolved, broadband mobile networks (3rd generation networks) to the latest multimedia-enabled wireless devices. Tailored to the unique requirements of mobile devices, 3GPP and 3GPP2 take advantage of MPEG-4, the standard for delivery of video and audio over the Internet.

 

Summery
AVI, WMV, ASF, RM and RMVB are the popular video formats on the Internet. Except for enjoying them on your computer, you can:
1. Insert these types of files to PPT in order for demonstrating.

2. Import the related files to Windows Movie Maker, Adobe premier as for editing on them.

3. Upload the files to the web but please notice whether the corresponding page supports or not.

 

MOV format is newly developed and experts give high appraisal on it. Maybe in the future it can be a major video format, but currently, if you want to play MOV videos back, you need to install plug-ins or QuickTime media player. The use of this file format is limited now though files with this format have very good image and audio quality.

 

MP4 & 3GP are the two major video formats applicable to portable devices like iPod, iPhone, normal mobile phone, PSP, Zune, etc.

 

Unfortunately, there is no all-functional media player or software which can play video files in all different formats. For example, if you would like to enjoy “Harry Potter III” and the video is in MOV format, you may need to install a plug-in or software which can convert the file format to AVI, RM, RMVB, WMV, etc. Only then, you can enjoy it. Or if you want to burn some files in RMVB format to a DVD ROM, you may also use a Video converter to finish that. For those portable devices use, a good file converter is so essential that lacking of it, your desire will be definitely off away!

 

Moyea Video Converter, a nice file converting tool, will bring you the fantastic experience on enjoying all the video resources. Believe it or not, just have a free try now! Click to download.