Poll: What is the Preferred Format for Aviation Video Download

I havent read the responses from other people but would like to put my 2
cents in anyways. I think that a majority of the population is on "high
speed" now. I would go for high bandwidth with the least intrusion
necessary. By intrusion I mean having to install software. Therfore I
would say .mov and .ra is way out of question. Just go with the standard
high resolution .mpg. If bandwidth is the key factor, go with .wmv. Im
sure the Macintosh guys will have another say, but remember that 90% of the
world uses Microsoft.

--
John Huthmaker
PPL-SEL P-28-161

http://www.cogentnetworking.com
"John T" wrote in message
m...
I share a number of flying videos on my web site in both Windows Media and
Real Video formats. Frankly, I'm tiring of spending the time to render
both high- and low-bandwidth versions of each video in two formats (making
four files for each video), so I'm considering using a single format for
all videos - which brings me to my question:

Given a choice to download the following formats, which would you choose
and why?

MPEG-4
WMV (v9)
Real (v10)

Some issues for consideration include:
Size. MPEG-1/2 files are simply too large compared to Real and WMV. While
storage isn't an issue, bandwidth is (and I run my own server that does
not sit on a backbone).

Quality. WMV and Real offer decent quality at a bitrate of ~250kbps. Of
course, lower bitrates of ~53kbps (to support modem users) drastically cut
down the quality in any format, but WMV and Real offer at least enough
information to pick out a runway while on final. MPEG-4 offers
similar quality for only a slightly larger file (for instance, a sample 1
minute video is about 1.99MB in WMV and 2.02MB in MPEG-4 for similar
bitrates).

Playback. Windows Media Player (WMP) is free and widespread on the most
popular PC operating system. Real Player is free and is bundled with many
name brand computers. There is a fairly wide range of players compatible
with MPEG-4, though, including proprietary players (like Real and
QuickTime [also free]) and "third-party" players.

Compatibility. WMV and Real are proprietary formats, but they are
relatively "open" and encoders are freely available for both formats.
They also have the backing of some of the largest players (business-wise)
in the computer industry. MPEG-4 is a standard published by international
standards bodies, but licensing issues have kept encoders out of the
mainstream for several years. However, that appears to be less of an
issue now with a fairly wide availability (not necessarily distribution)
of encoders and players. While most users are likely running some flavor
of Windows, there is a large number of non-Microsoft users (both in OS and
software in general). MPEG-4 would appear to be the cross-platform format
of choice, but not unless there is a large enough market penetration of
players.

Thanks for your input!

--
John T
http://sage1solutions.com/TknoFlyer
Reduce spam. Use Sender Policy Framework: http://spf.pobox.com
____________________

Dave wrote:
WMV Please! Real is always a prob, tries to take over all kinds of
stuff...

I too, dislike Real Player.

I've been using Real Alternative, a free version of Windows Media Player
Classic modified to to play Real files. It works for me.
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...lternative.htm

A Quicktime Alternative is also available.
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...lternative.htm

For videos I vote for for MPG first, WMV second, and Real never.

- John Ousterhout -

John Huthmaker wrote:
I havent read the responses from other people but would like to put my 2
cents in anyways. I think that a majority of the population is on "high
speed" now. I would go for high bandwidth with the least intrusion
necessary. By intrusion I mean having to install software. Therfore I
would say .mov and .ra is way out of question. Just go with the standard
high resolution .mpg. If bandwidth is the key factor, go with .wmv. Im
sure the Macintosh guys will have another say, but remember that 90% of the
world uses Microsoft.

And this is a good thing how?

I'm another one that is not a Microsoft user. Anyone got WMV for
Unix/Linux? If so, then I'll concede the point.

"Blanche" wrote in message
...
I'm another one that is not a Microsoft user. Anyone got WMV for
Unix/Linux? If so, then I'll concede the point.

What about:
http://www.mplayerhq.com/

I too, dislike Real Player.

Actually, after years of berating (and hating) RealPlayer for being a system
hog, I've found their newest version to be pretty nice. It doesn't seem to
shanghai your operating system as much anymore, and it also opens more
quickly.

And almost anything is better than Quicktime, although their newest version
is better, too.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:kFKCf.760301$xm3.302750@attbi_s21...
Actually, after years of berating (and hating) RealPlayer for being a
system hog, I've found their newest version to be pretty nice. It doesn't
seem to shanghai your operating system as much anymore, and it also opens
more quickly.

It probably opens more quickly because it's booted as soon as you log in.
In other words, it uses up system resources even when you don't need it,
just so it can look faster if and when you do need it.

And almost anything is better than Quicktime, although their newest
version is better, too.

I doubt you'd find many to agree to that statement. I had to go through
some hoops to stop Quicktime from starting up every time I logged on to my
PC (as I would with Real as well). But I still find it worse than Real.
It's definitely a step up from them, at least in my opinion.

Pete

On 2006-01-26, John T wrote:
Given a choice to download the following formats, which would you choose and
why?

MPEG-4

Because it plays on ALL platforms on ALL cpu architectures, and the
video is still likely to be viewable in 25 years time. Closed,
proprietary formats (such as WMV and Real) are simply unacceptable.
(Imagine if TV only worked with one brand of television - that's what
you're getting with WMV or Real).

While we are at it, I did a short experimental video of attaching my
bullet camera to the pilot's step of our glider tow plane yesterday.

http://www.alioth.net/Video/Auster_rear_view.mp4

As always, the (free and open source) VideoLAN Client
(http://www.videolan.org) plays this beautifully, as does QuickTime.

I really can't recommend VideoLAN client more highly - it's simply the
best video player I've used, and plays pretty much any format you throw
at it, and is available for the Mac, Windows, Linux, *BSD, PocketPC etc.

--
Dylan Smith, Port St Mary, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net

On 2006-01-27, John Huthmaker wrote:
high resolution .mpg. If bandwidth is the key factor, go with .wmv. Im
sure the Macintosh guys will have another say, but remember that 90% of the
world uses Microsoft.

MPEG-4 is just as good for bandwidth, and is not restricted to Microsoft
software, and will play on any modern OS and any modern CPU. WMV is a
bit like having a TV that would only work with one TV company's signal.
Closed standards should be avoided for video/web/audio.

--
Dylan Smith, Port St Mary, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net

"Dylan Smith" wrote in message


MPEG-4

Because it plays on ALL platforms on ALL cpu architectures...

I really can't recommend VideoLAN client more highly - it's simply the
best video player I've used, and plays pretty much any format you
throw at it, and is available for the Mac, Windows, Linux, *BSD,
PocketPC etc.

Thanks for your vote.

Just playing the devil's advocate for a moment...

Couldn't your last comment be an argument for WMV or Real, as well? After
all VLC can play those formats and it's available for just about any OS.

--
John T
http://sage1solutions.com/TknoFlyer
Reduce spam. Use Sender Policy Framework: http://spf.pobox.com
____________________

On 2006-01-30, John T wrote:
Couldn't your last comment be an argument for WMV or Real, as well? After
all VLC can play those formats and it's available for just about any OS.

No - VLC can only play WMV on x86 platforms (i.e. PCs). It can't play
WMV on a PowerPC Macintosh or Linux on non-x86 systems, including amd64.

It plays WMV =9 on a Linux system by using the Microsoft codec (which
is available only for x86 processors).

--
Dylan Smith, Port St Mary, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de
Frontier Elite Universe: http://www.alioth.net