Getting to Know FLV and MPEG

FLV and MPEG Videos

FLV and MPEG are popular video compression formats. Their development has driven the proliferation and circulation of digital video. Moreover, their open source technology facilitates the creation of innovative software and hardware. But although both formats are openly accessible, they are implemented differently.

Characteristics

Commonly known by its file extension, FLV is a flash-compatible video file for the web. FLV files are made out of the Flash Video Exporter plug-in in the Adobe Flash program. But, even though FLV is unquestionably an Adobe format, the file could be generated by any video publishing software which has FLV support.

While MPEG on the other hand, is a set of compression standards which can be utilized to digitally encode media. Each standard is specialized to distribute video on the different mediums. Both FLV and MPEG formats are multimedia containers that will bundle multiple streams of knowledge (audio, video and text) into a file.

Source

FLV was introduced by Macromedia in 2005, shortly before the software house was acquired by Adobe Systems. The innovative video compression format was engineered from the Sorensen Spark implementation in the H.263 codec.

All MPEG compression standards are authored and maintained through the Motion Pictures Experts Group (MPEG). The world organisation is aligned with the World organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Active since 1988, the group has released the MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 compression standards.

Knowledge

FLV and MPEG compression standards are open formats. As the formats are monitored with a standards organization, their technical specifications are published and freely open to anyone who wants to implement them. There won’t be any usage limitations, licensing fees or rights protection related to FLV or MPEG formats.

Uses

Continuing development of the FLV format is credited with driving the achievements online video sharing services, namely YouTube, GoogleVideo, MySpace and Dailymotion. Flash technology managed its way for easy access on the market. Customers can use the Web video without the need for more software or Extensions to install. A free of charge plug-in is everything that is essential to an Internet browser to stream a Flash video.

Each MPEG compression standard is optimized for the different purpose. MPEG-1 was developed in 1992 being a publishing profile for video CD. Couple of years later, MPEG-2 was introduced as a format for DVD authoring and digital broadcasts. MPEG-4 was issued in 1998 also it continues to be the gold standard for digitally downloaded video. Praised because of its data efficiency, MPEG-4 formatted video (MP4) can deliver high-quality media on relatively low bandwidth.

Compatibility

As with all digitally encoded video, FLV and MPEG files are suitable for many different plug-ins and media players. Any Web browser that’s furnished with the Adobe Flash plug-in can stream Flash videos.

MPEG formatted files are compatible with Apple’s iTunes, besides various CyberLink and Roxio programs. An MPEG-1 formatted disc might be read by video CD players, and an MPEG-2 formatted disc can be utilized in DVD players.

Because of its popularity as a container for digital video downloads, most desktop video applications are equipped with playback for MP4 video files. Apple’s QuickTime (with Perian component), Microsoft’s Windows Media Player and VideoLAN’s VLC are all major programs that can read FLV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 files.

The Bottomline

These two formats have been around on the internet for a long time, they have been used to code the internet for video formats, as well as PC users itself. We can differentiate the two by putting them into categories. FLV is in the category for usage on the web following them are OGG, Theora, and VOB. MPEG, MPEG1-4 are video formats that had been used and improved for usage on Desktops.