In the past, we have used .wmv files for recorded lectures. This was optimised for the local network of computers and perhaps home PCs. With the increased use of mobile devices to consume class content, I felt it was time to revisit the file formats to see which ones are viewable on the widest variety of platforms and devices.
The ITS specialist (I'm happy to mention her name but I haven't asked permission) kindly rendered a sample lecture recording into a number of formats offered by Camtasia. It's a pretty crap lecture but it was the smallest one I could find:
.swf (ShockWave) 406k
http://db.tt/9tQwsnF
.mp4 (H264 776x582 video, AAC audio) 2.58mb
http://db.tt/BuPvemP
.m4v (H264 320x240 video, AAC audio) 3.63mb
http://db.tt/VtBmmJT
.mp3 (Audio-only) 2.21mb
http://db.tt/s1hP8tS
Please follow the link and comment below what works on different platforms/programs and I will update the table. I apologise in advance that this really was a crap lecture and was chosen because it was short (and small).
The table below shows the relative success of the various formats across a number of platforms and browsers:
Platform/Program | .swf | .mp4 | .m4v | .mp3 |
Windows 7 / Internet Explorer 8 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows 7 / Firefox 4 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Windows 7 / Safari | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Windows 7 / Media Player | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
OS X 10.6.7 / Safari 5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
OS X 10.6.7 / Firefox 4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
iPad 1 / iOS file system Video/Audio player | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
iPad 1 / GoodReader | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
iPad 1 / Quickoffice | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
iPad 1 / 2 Screens | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
iPhone 4 / iOS file system Video/Audio player | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Blackberry Curve *audio only | No | No* | Yes | No |
| iPhone 4 / Safari | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
iPhone 3GS / Safari | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Palm Treo 650 *> 2Mb max download file size | No | No* | No* | No* |
Nokia E71 *audio only | No | No* | Yes | Yes |
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