OT: Best format for "download this (BIG) file"

alltheseworlds wrote on 11/27/2008, 2:39 PM

I've done a nice web-only FLV for a client, runs about 5 minutes. They're very happy.

But now they also want a loooong version with all their extra material which will run to 30 minutes. They want the long version to be offered online as: "Download the full version, click here".

I've made an mpeg version that's 900Mb. Obviously too big. Then I made an FLV version that looks just as good at 150Mb. But an FLV isn't going to be much use as a raw download. The potential audience just aren't going to be able to handle downloading a desktop FLV player as well.

So what's the best solution here ? Any opinions ?

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 11/27/2008, 7:17 PM

.mp4 is gaining popularity as an upload / download format, but it doesn't play natively in Windows Media Player.

.wmv has been around for a while, but doesn't play natively in Quicktime.

Until these two naughty stepchildren learn to play nicely together, I would recommend putting your download version in both formats, and let the user choose. Probably 98% of systems have one of those players installed.

I would forget RealPlayer formats entirely, they're not used as much these days.

video777 wrote on 11/28/2008, 9:31 AM

Excellent advice; especially the part about avoiding RealPlayer (which is more like Spyware).