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WMV File Extension Details and Tips

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As you see, many of the videos and movies that are found online are in .wmv format. Learn WMV File Extension in more detailed explanation about this format and compatibility issues to play, edit, share WMV without hassle.

What is WMV

Short for Windows Media Video, WMV is a type of video compression format developed by Microsoft to be used with several video codecs for Internet streaming of video. This type of file allows for large files to be converted into smaller files while still protecting the quality of the video within the file. This keeps the file size manageable without sacrificing picture clarity.

It was first released in 1999 as WMV, to be a competitor of the RealVideo format used by the RealPlayer application. The .WMV file extension is used by video files that use the WMV video codec. The video quality of the WMV 7 format is comparable with the MPEG-4 ASP format.

The latest version, WMV 9, is gaining popularity as a format for Blu-ray Discs and is comparable with the H.264 format, capable of high definition video playback

How to Play WMV videos

Since WMV is a native format of the Windows Media Player, the Windows Media Player application is capable of playing WMV video files on Windows XP/Vista/7/8. The RealPlayer and VLC Media Player applications are also able to play these files.

However, for Mac users, it's a little bit head-scratching for them to play WMV files on Mac because its compatibility with Mac system is not very satisfying. For example, you can't play WMV with QuickTime or iTunes. In this case, you can try to download VLC, MPlayer for opening and viewing WMV on Mac.

Important Note: WMV is played by Windows Media Player version 8. All the other versions may require the separate installation of the required codecs for the WMV video file to play properly. Plus, we can't make sure these third-party video players can supports all WMV files due to the different video codecs.

Why convert WMV files

Though .wmv is readable by most media players, the files can be converted to other formats if necessary. You can convert .wmv file (especially for Mac users) to any other format like MP4, MOV, M4V, so that you could then play WMV in iTunes, QuickTime; edit WMV in FCP, iMovie, FCE; watch WMV movies on iPad, iPhone, Galaxy Tab; share WMV to video sharing sites and more without any incompatible issues.

Why Choose Brorsoft WMV Converter

To convert WMV files, an excellent WMV converter is needed. Among various video converting tools, Brorsoft WMV Converter (Available for Windows and Mac users) is rating in the first place. This converter can convert WMV to a wide range of formats, like MOV, MP4, AVI, 3GP, FLV and the list goes on. Apart from that, it also provides a large variety of output formats that compatible with iPad, iPhone, iPod, PSP, Xbox, Samsung Galaxy, Final Cut Pro, iMovie, Avid MC, Adobe PP and more. HD and 3D output are also supported.

If you want to edit WMV files, this WMV converter will also fulfill your needs. It is equipped with a video editor. You can trim, crop, rotate, merge or split the video as you like. More video adjusting like change visual effects, adding watermarks and loading subtitles are also supported.

This WMV converter is also built with a media player, which lets you play and watch WMV files without any hassles. In a word, Brorsoft WMV converter is an all-round solution for you to handle your WMV videos.

Related Guides:

How to Convert WMV files for editing in iMovie
How to Convert WMV files for playing in iTunes
How to Convert WMV files for editing in FCP

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