There are dozens of video formats. Some are proprietary and developed solely for the use on a specific site like .mtv (Music Television), some are for specific platforms like .3gp (cell phones), some are used in the development of other file formats such as .wmmp (Windows Movie Maker Project), prior to it being renderred into its final version for publication. Some of the most common file formats for web publication include .wmv (windows media video), .avi (audio video interleave), .mp3/mp4 (Moving Picture Expert Group, and the most common portable file format), .mov (Apple’s Quick Time Format), .rm or .ram (RealVideo), .swv or .flv (Shockwave Flash), and now the new .m4v (Apple iPod, iTunes).
Video File Formats:
.3g2 .3gp .3gp2 .3gpp .3mm .60d .aep .ajp .amv .amx .arf .asf .asx .avb .avi .avs .avs .axm .bik
.bin .bix .box .bsf .byu .camrec .cvc .d2v .d3v .dat .dav .dce .dif .dir .divx .dmb .dpg .dsy
.dv .dvrms .dvx .dxr .evo .eye .f4v .fbr .fbz .fcp .flc .flh .fli .flv .flx .gl .grasp .gvi .gvp .hkm
.ifo .imovieproj .imovieproject .ivf .ivr .ivs .izz .izzy .lsf .lsx .m1pg .m1v .m21 .m21 .m2a .m2t
.m2ts .m2v .m4e .m4u .m4v .meta .mgv .mj2 .mjp .mjpg .mkv .mnv .mod .modd .moov .mov
.movie .mp21 .mp21 .mp2v .mp4 .mp4v .mpe .mpeg .mpg .mpg2 .mpv2 .mqv .msdvd .msh
.mswmm .mts .mtv .mvb .mvc .mvd .nsv .nvc .ogm .ogv .par .pds .piv .playlist .pmf .prel .pro
.prproj .pva .pxv .qt .qtch .qtl .qtz .rcproject .rdb .rec .rm .rmvb .roq .rp .rts .rts .rum .rv
.sbk .sbt .scm .scm .scn .sfvidcap .smi .smil .smk .smv .spl .srt .ssm .str .stx .svi .swf .swi
.swt .tda3mt .tivo .tod .tp .tpr .trp .ts .vc1 .vdo .veg .vem .vf .vfw .vgz .vid .viewlet .viv
.vivo .vlab .vob .vp6 .vp7 .vro .w32 .wcp .wm .wmd .wmmp .wmv .wmx .wvx .xvid .yuv .zm1
.zm2 .zm3 .zmv
The most important aspects to choosing a video format to play is compatibility, quality, file size, and the software required to create, edit and publish your videos. Out of all the requirements, Flash is probably the most robust. Adobe Flash offers excellent editing software, whether you are looking to generate a website that is completely Flash based, if you are creating animated headers and logos, or if you are creating video. It is compatable with most computers and offers a quick and easy player plugin for viewing, and has the best compression ratio while keeping the video quality. YouTube and Google Video both convert imported images into the Flash format.
As a developer, you can choose a wide variety of player skins, player options, backgrounds, and sizes for displaying your video. As for publication and recognition, if you are just trying to post simple, quick informative videos, YouTube is the way to go. YouTube excepts .wmv, .3gp, .avi, .mov, .mp4, .mpg, .flv, and .mkv files. The list is growing. Hosting your video on youtube also has the added benefit of getting your videos to a larger audience. Now your video is available on your website and is also searchable by millions on youtube as well. It also means that you do not have to worry about storage on your server. All you need is an embedded link to your youtube video, and within your video description you can place tags and links to your site giving this video option an added SEO benefit. It also allows for HD and widescreen now!
So for large or customized graphics, locally hosted Flash video and graphics. For small, quick and informative video placement with the added benefits of a larger audience and SEO backlink, Youtube is a great resource.
