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Video Formats for non-Windows Users?

Posted by Cliff on from the multi-platform-media dept.

ccdotnet asks: "I look after a small web site for a rising sports star. We have a small number of short videos in .WMV (9) format available for download. These .WMV files are typically 3-5 MB in size (we do a "low res" and a "hi res" version). Each video is typically 1-2 minutes and 320x240. The site gets maybe 100 visitors per day. Our outbound hosting bandwidth is _very_ limited, so although we are keen to cater for non-Windows users (around 7% of our visitors), I've struggled to find a suitable video format which doesn't blow the size of the file right out. Ideally I would like to keep these files at a similar size but at the same time want to maintain a reasonable video quality. Are users of other platforms just out of luck? What non-Windows/Mac video formats can people recommend so that I can deliver this content to people who can't play .WMV for one reason or another?" A few years ago, playing .WMV files might have been problematic for users who didn't use either a Macintosh or a Windows-based operating system. Now, with MPlayer and its derivatives making strides, it's not as much of an issue. Of course, there are still .WMV files that don't play well in Mplayer, but what suggestions would you have for creating Mplayer-safe .WMVs as well as other, more cross-platform friendly formats?

7 of 749 comments (clear)

  1. Real great story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I look after a small web site for a rising sports star.
    Did anyone else read it as
    I look after a small web site for a rising pr0n star.

    This could have been a real great story!!

  2. I recommend.... by GillBates0 · · Score: 4, Funny
    ASCII animation.

    If these guys can do it, so can you!

    --
    An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
  3. Might need some more info... by DeckardJK · · Score: 2, Funny

    The site gets maybe 100 visitors per day.
    So ahhh... what was that url again? We might need to see the videos to give you a better recommendation. And by "we" I mean ALL of us. ;)

  4. Re:Quicktime is cross-platform by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You set the clock back when you're done, you mind-shattering dumbass.

    Jesus.

    (And in case you still don't get it: you set the clock temporarily to, say, 2008. Launch QuickTime Player. Dismiss its nag screen. Quit QuickTime Player. Set your clock back to the correct time.)

    Fuck. *shakes head*

  5. Re:Xvid by fr2asbury · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wait . . . you got Gentoo out of a box? ;-)

  6. 100 vistors? by mattthateeguy · · Score: 2, Funny

    You just posted on slastdot, you are going to have a hell lot more then 100 vistors a day for a while.

  7. Re:Xvid by runnin247 · · Score: 3, Funny
    Wait . . . you got Gentoo out of a box? ;-)

    Check the label, 'some assembly required'