What’s WMV, WMV video file format description
WMV (Windows Media Video) is a compressed video compression format for several proprietary codecs developed by Microsoft. The original video format, known as WMV, was originally designed for Internet streaming applications.
The video stream is often combined with an audio stream of Windows Media Audio. WMV deals with all types of video content. The advantage of the format it that it allows to compress large video files yet retaining considerably high quality. On-line radio stationss use this format to deliver continuous flow of data.
WMV is similiar to ASF (Advanced Systems Format). In fact, WMV is often packed into ASF and the resulting file can be named .wmv or .asf. WMV can also be put in AVI container.giving the file names of ‘.avi’ and ‘.mkv’ respectively. When a WMV file is encapsulated in an ASF container format, it becomes capable of supporting digital rights management facilities for protecting intellectual property rights.
In order to play a WMV file, a codec is needed. A codec is a software that can easily read a file format and then convert it to video images and audio from the data provided. These codecs, also developed by Microsoft, are easily available and are free. The original codec, also named WMV, was originally designed for low-bitrate Internet streaming applications. The later codecs – WMV Screen and WMV Image – cater for specialized content. The technology used for each of these codecs is different. For example, since Version 7 of WMV, the codecs allow streaming, playing, and downloading of content via the Internet. Another important feature of a WMV codec is that it is close sourced. In other words, it cannot be manipulated or edited.
WMV files may be played on the Microsoft Windows Media Player (they already have the codec required to view WMV video and audio files), which is available for both the Microsoft Windows and Macintosh systems. They may also be played on the two systems through web browsers that have Windows Media Player plug-ins. Nullsoft Winamp for Windows can also open WMV files. Various othe platforms, like Linux, use FFmpeg to implement WMV codecs.
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