What is it about this site that makes everyone use proprietary encoding?

Thought this site was about freedom?

Please upload videos in a cross platform format, preferably using open source codecs.

Cross platform - mpg1, mpg4,
Open source - xvid, thedora vp3,

I second that emotion!

Don't rush to use that free software that came with your mac, or pc. Visit www.doom9.org ,or some other site that explains the alternatives, and provides links to download the utilities.

Remember, cameras usually output MPEG2, MPEG4(the new cheap all-in jobbies), DV, or MJPEG. None of these formats are used (usually) to distribute video on the net (FILES TOO LARGE), so the video has to be re-encoded on the computer.

For super-low data rates, there is a problem, since .rm and .wmv are superior, but proprietary. Under these circumstances, .rm is probably the lesser of two evils, but its encoder is not free (I think). HOWEVER, the vast majority of sensible planet earth would prefer the video to be encoded in MPEG4, in a NON-PROPRIETARY container (ie., NOT .mov). Use XVID, and a normal container. THIS HAS THE ADVANTAGE THAT, UNLIKE ALMOST EVERY OTHER SOLUTION, THIS VIDEO FILE CAN BE PLAYED ON ALL PDAs AS WELL, IF THEY ARE RELATIVELY MODERN.

Remember- .mov is bad, because APPLE these days uses standard codecs in non-standard containers to make the files artificially difficult to work with.
.wmv (or MICROSOFT's other proprietary containers/codecs) is bad, because microsoft owns their codecs, and restricts their use.
.rm is baddish, because of encoding issues (may require non-free software), and the problem of playing files on PDA's etc.

XVID (opensource MPEG4) and .mp3 are GOOD,GOOD,GOOD because every device with sufficient processing power will have a player that can show these files. XVID also allows video files to be made VERY small, although the quality may then not match .rm or .wmv (but with low bandwidth video, the quality usually doesn't matter that much). At higher data-rates, XVID matches DVD (MPEG2) quality with files that are a fraction of DVD size.

DEATH TO .MOV, .WMV, AND MICROSOFTS PROPRIETARY CODECS!!!

 http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/mp10/mac.aspx

Also you may be interested from the people who brough you ogg audio.

theodora
 http://www.v2v.cc/~j/ffmpeg2theora/

nice stuff, I think the bbc are working on dirac
 http://dirac.sourceforge.net/

both can of free to encode, and playback by vlc and the like..

open codecs are the way to go..

if I give you piece of paper with a picture on it,
you don't need a special 'reader' to see it, you
just need to open your eye's.

why should be information be any different?