Updates codec support list for Windows Phone 7 released, XVID and DIVX supported

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by Surur Davids 

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WP7 supports XVIDFirst-off, sorry of the big server downtime. The damn thing went down when I was posting this story more than 12hours ago and never came back. Thanks for the tips about the story afterwards but I only received them a few minutes ago.

In any case, here we go. Microsoft has released an updated list of supported Windows Phone 7 codecs.

Of note is that MP4 will be supported in Internet Explorer to stream media and that 720p video will be encoded as MP4 is recorded as that resolution by the camera.

Also of great note to people in areas without Zune Marketplace support is that both DIVX and XVID video are supported, just like the Xbox 360, meaning alternative sources of video should work perfectly fine, up to 2000 kb/sec and 800×600 pixels at least without conversion, unlike the iPhone for example/

See the full list after the break.


Decoder Support

Container

Possible Audio Combinations

Max Capabilities

Supported Scenarios

LPCM

WAV

N/A

  • Up to 1,500 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 96 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Using XNA sound effects (PCM only)

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

MS ADPCM

WAV

N/A

  • Up to 64 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 8 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Using XNA sound effects (PCM only)

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

IMA ADPCM

WAV

N/A

  • Up to 64 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 8 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Using XNA sound effects (PCM only)

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

GSM 6.10

WAV

N/A

  • Up to 13 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 8 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Using XNA sound effects (PCM only)

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

G.711

WAV

N/A

  • Up to 64 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 8 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Using XNA sound effects (PCM only)

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

MP3

MP3

N/A

  • Up to 320 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Syncing content from the Zune client to the device MediaLibrary

  • Enumerating media from the MediaLibrary using the XNA Framework

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

WMA Standard v9

ASF (WMA)

N/A

  • Up to 384 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Syncing content from the Zune client to the device MediaLibrary

  • Enumerating media from the MediaLibrary using the XNA Framework

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

AAC-LC (Low Complexity)

Note
This codec is unsupported in Windows® Phone Emulator.

3GP, 3G2, MP4, M4A

N/A

  • Up to 320 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages (MMS does not support M4A)

  • Syncing content from the Zune client to the device MediaLibrary (3GP and 3G2 are unsupported)

  • Enumerating media from the MediaLibrary using the XNA Framework

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

  • Videos captured using the device camera (as an MP4 file) will have their audio stream encoded as this codec type

HE-AAC v1 (AAC+)

Note
This codec is unsupported in Windows Phone Emulator.

3GP, 3G2, MP4, M4A

N/A

  • Up to 64 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages (MMS does not support M4A)

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

HE-AAC v2 (eAAC+)

Note
This codec is unsupported in Windows Phone Emulator.

3GP, 3G2, MP4, M4A

N/A

  • Up to 48 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages (MMS does not support M4A)

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

Adaptive Multi-Rate Narrow Band (AMR-NB)

Note
This codec is unsupported in Windows Phone Emulator.

3GP, 3G2, MP4

N/A

  • Up to 12.2 Kbps

  • Constant bit rate

  • Up to 8 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

WMV (VC-1, WMV9) – Simple Profile

Note
This codec is unsupported in Windows Phone Emulator over 320 x 176 pixels.

ASF (WMV)

  • WMA Standard v9

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 384 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • 800 x 600 pixels at 30 fps

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Syncing content from the Zune client to the device MediaLibrary

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

WMV (VC-1, WMV9) – Main Profile

Note
This codec is unsupported in Windows Phone Emulator over 800 x 488 pixels.

ASF (WMV)

  • WMA Standard v9

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 384 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • 800 x 600 pixels at 30 fps

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Syncing content from the Zune client to the device MediaLibrary

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

WMV (VC-1, WMV9) – Advanced Profile

Note
This codec is unsupported in Windows Phone Emulator.

ASF (WMV)

  • WMA Standard v9

  • WMA 10 Professional

WMA Standard v9

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 384 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • 800 x 600 pixels at 30 fps

WMA 10 Professional

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 768 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 6 channels

  • 800 x 600 pixels at 30 fps

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Syncing content from the Zune client to the device MediaLibrary

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

MPEG-4 Part 2 – Simple Profile

Note
This codec is unsupported in Windows Phone Emulator.

3GP, 3G2, MP4, M4V

AAC-LC

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 27 Mbps peak video bit rate

  • Up to 320 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • 800 x 600 pixels (1280 x 720 pixels for HD capture devices) at 30 fps

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Syncing content from the Zune client to the device MediaLibrary (3GP and 3G2 are unsupported)

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

  • Capturing video using the device camera (as an MP4 file). If the video resolution is 720p, it will be encoded as this codec type

MPEG-4 Part 2 – Advanced Simple Profile

Note
This codec is unsupported in Windows Phone Emulator.

MP4, M4V

AAC-LC

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 27 Mbps peak video bit rate

  • Up to 320 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • 800 x 600 pixels at 30 fps

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Syncing content from the Zune client to the device MediaLibrary

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

  • Capturing video using the device camera (as an MP4 file). If the video resolution is 720p, it will be encoded as this codec type

MPEG-4 Part 10 (MPEG-4 AVC, H.264) Level 3.0 – Baseline Profile

Note
This codec is unsupported in Windows Phone Emulator.

3GP, 3G2, MP4, M4V

  • AAC-LC

  • HE-AAC v1

  • HE-AAC v2

AAC-LC

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 27 Mbps peak video bit rate

  • Up to 320 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • 720 x 480 pixels at 30 fps

  • 720 x 576 pixels at 25 fps

HE-AAC v1

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 27 Mbps peak video bit rate

  • Up to 64 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • 720 x 480 pixels at 30 fps

  • 720 x 576 pixels at 25 fps

HE-AAC v2

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 27 Mbps peak video bit rate

  • Up to 48 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • 720 x 480 pixels at 30 fps

  • 720 x 576 pixels at 25 fps

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Syncing content from the Zune client to the device MediaLibrary (3GP and 3G2 are unsupported)

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

  • Capturing video using the device camera (as an MP4 file). If the video resolution is any supported resolution less than 720p, it will be encoded as this codec type

MPEG-4 Part 10 (MPEG-4 AVC, H.264) Level 3.0 – Main Profile

Note
This codec is unsupported in Windows Phone Emulator.

3GP, 3G2, MP4, M4V

  • AAC-LC

  • HE-AAC v1

  • HE-AAC v2

AAC-LC

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 27 Mbps peak video bit rate

  • Up to 320 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • 720 x 480 pixels at 30 fps

  • 720 x 576 pixels at 25 fps

HE-AAC v1

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 27 Mbps peak video bit rate

  • Up to 64 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • 720 x 480 pixels at 30 fps

  • 720 x 576 pixels at 25 fps

HE-AAC v2

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 27 Mbps peak video bit rate

  • Up to 48 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • 720 x 480 pixels at 30 fps

  • 720 x 576 pixels at 25 fps

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Syncing content from the Zune client to the device MediaLibrary (3GP and 3G2 are unsupported)

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

MPEG-4 Part 10 (MPEG-4 AVC, H.264) Level 3.0 – High Profile

Note
This codec is unsupported in Windows Phone Emulator.

3GP, 3G2, MP4, M4V

  • AAC-LC

  • HE-AAC v1

  • HE-AAC v2

AAC-LC

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 27 Mbps peak video bit rate

  • Up to 320 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • 720 x 480 pixels at 30 fps

  • 720 x 576 pixels at 25 fps

HE-AAC v1

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 27 Mbps peak video bit rate

  • Up to 64 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • 720 x 480 pixels at 30 fps

  • 720 x 576 pixels at 25 fps

HE-AAC v2

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 27 Mbps peak video bit rate

  • Up to 48 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 48 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • 720 x 480 pixels at 30 fps

  • 720 x 576 pixels at 25 fps

  • Receiving files as attachments in Email and MMS messages

  • Playing or streaming media with the MediaElement API

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

H.263

Note
This codec is unsupported in Windows Phone Emulator.

3GP, 3G2

  • AMR-NB

  • Up to 2 Mbps avg video bit rate

  • Up to 12.2 Kbps

  • Constant or variable bit rate

  • Up to 8 kHz

  • 1 or 2 channels

  • 800 x 600 pixels at 30 fps

  • Receiving files as attachments in Email and MMS messages

  • Playing media in the device Media Player

  • Streaming media in Internet Explorer Mobile

JPEG

JPG

N/A

N/A

  • Sending and receiving pictures as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Viewing pictures from email or MMS messages

  • Saving pictures from email or MMS messages to the device (saved to the device as JPG)

  • Syncing content from the Zune client to the device MediaLibrary

  • Capturing pictures using the device camera (saved to the device as JPG)

  • Enumerating media from the MediaLibrary using the XNA Framework

  • Viewing media in Internet Explorer Mobile

  • Use as wallpaper

  • Changing background of Pictures hub

  • Uploading or sharing pictures to social networks

  • Downloading pictures from social networks to the device

PNG

PNG

N/A

N/A

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Viewing pictures from email or MMS messages

  • Saving pictures from email or MMS messages to the device (saved to the device as JPG)

  • Viewing media in Internet Explorer Mobile

GIF (both GIF87a and GIF89a)

GIF

N/A

N/A

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Viewing pictures from email or MMS messages

  • Saving pictures from email or MMS messages to the device (saved to the device as JPG)

  • Viewing media in Internet Explorer Mobile

BMP

BMP

N/A

N/A

  • Receiving files as attachments in email and MMS messages

  • Viewing pictures from email or MMS messages

  • Saving pictures from email or MMS messages to the device (saved to the device as JPG)

  • Viewing media in Internet Explorer Mobile

TIF

TIF

N/A

N/A

  • Receiving files as attachments in email

  • Viewing pictures from email

  • Saving single-page pictures from email to the device (saved to the device as JPG)


Surur Davids

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Smartphone Expert

Surur Davids is the founder of WMPoweruser which later became MSPoweruser.com. He's a smartphone expert with over a decade of experience.

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