Difference Between MP4 and M4V

The storage of digital multimedia is the need of the hour as it requires immense space in the digital setup. The capacity requires extra storage, which adds to the RAM. A compressed file saves the storage and does not alter the file. The MP4 and M4V are popular compression tools utilized for all multimedia formats.

MP4 vs M4V

The main difference between an MP4 and M4V is that MP4, developed by the Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG), is a powerful compression tool, utilizes less bandwidth, and is a popular video format. The M4V developed by Apple Inc. has copy protection through DRM (Digital Rights Management). The M4V files are restricted to Apple devices and open in iTunes at a default browser.

The MP4 is compatible with Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, and most media players. It is a popular option due to its user-friendly copying, saving, transmitting, and playing on most Android or Windows mobile devices. In case of any damage to an MP4 file, it gets effortlessly restored through the video repair software. 

The M4V files get restricted to Apple devices and open in iTunes by default. The QuickTime Player does support the M4V files, and the file extension gets protected, so Apple users prefer the M4V format. The M4V option ensures the files are not copied or edited and has DRM copy protection.

Comparison Table Between MP4 and M4V

What is MP4?

The creation of MP4 files in 2001 was under the ISO/IEC and Motion Picture Experts Group(MPEG) standard, making it an international grade for audio-video coding. The file format of .mp4 is the MPEG-4 video file format. 

The MP4 is the most commonly utilized file format platform to download and watch videos from the net onto your device. Compressed video files get stored in this format. It is adaptable as you can create a backlog of audio and even still images.

The latest version of MPEG-4 ISO/IEC 14496 was in January 2020. An MP4 is a digital multimedia holder, which contains the file in a compressed form. The files get compressed in the MP4 format, and compression reduces the size of the files. The condensed form does not affect the quality of the file, and the original file can get restored when required. This feature enhances the versatility of the MP4.

Opening an MP4 file:

The MP4 is a standard file format for videos. To open a file, you have to double-click on the video. It then opens the file in the browser you are viewing. Both the Android and iPhone support MP4 format, and watching your favorite song or movie is just a button of a click away.

No additional software installation is required to open the MP4 file in Android or iPhone. The Android uses the Windows media player and even iPhone plus using QuickTime.

What is M4V?

The M4V files are similar to MP4 files and developed by Apple. The prime motive to evolve M4v files is to provide additional security for Apple’s FairPlay DRM (Digital Rights Management) while accessing the iTunes Store. The extension of M4V is a MPEG-4 video file or iTunes video file. This protection prevents anyone from viewing or copying files into a product not made by Apple. Hence it provides tamper-proof to an iPhone,iPad, or iPod. 

How Do I Open an M4V File:

Opening a DRM-protected M4V file, authorized iTunes, and AppleID is essential. To open an M4V file without DRM, just double-click on the media club. Since the MP4 and M4V are similar, it opens automatically in Windows Media Player. 

How to Play M4V Files:

The protected M4V files play only through the authorized computer. And it gets to be done through iTunes, which has to get logged into the same computer. The protected DRM M4V files get played on iPhone. iPad or the iPod. If the file is not secured by DRM, the M4V files get played on Windows or Linux. 

Since the M4V and MP4 formats are quite similar, you can change the file extension from .M4V to .MP4 and still open in the media file.

Main Differences Between MP4 and M4V

Conclusion

The MP4 and M4V are files with many similarities, and the essential difference is the copyright protection of M4V. The conversion from M4V to MP4 is a great option. The ViWizard M4V converter is an easy option to download videos from iTunes and convert them into MP4. Many Apple users prefer the M4V format, and the MP4 format is popular for uploading or streaming the internet.

The ease of use to copy, save, or transfer files makes MP4 the best option for compression. In MP4, the programmers have found ways to integrate the format into various formats and applications. M4V gets designed for Apple products, but the increasing popularity is getting recognized by new gadgets and programs.

References

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