Windows Media Video, or
WMV, is Microsoft’s family of video codecs including WMV 7, WMV 8, and WMV 9. It can handle anything from low resolution video for dial-up Internet users to HDTV. The latest generation of WMV, based on the WMV 9 codec, has been standardized and approved as a new and more open codec known as VC-1. While all versions of WMV support variable bit rate, average bit rate, and constant bit rate, WMV 9 introduced several important features including native support for interlaced video, non-square pixels, and frame interpolation.
MPEG video generally refers to a set of standards and methods for compressing audio and video data. The most important and widely used standards include MPEG-2, an older format currently used by over-the-air digital television providers (digital cable, satellite) and MPEG-4, which includes additional features for digital rights management and support of higher-efficiency standards used by streaming media, HD DVD and Blu-Ray. MPEG-4 supports interactivity and has the ability to crunch massive video files into pieces small enough to send over mobile networks. Within MPEG-4 standards are two very popular formats utilized for broadband video delivery: H.264 and MP4.