The MPEG-4 format for videos overtakes both the MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 in sheer functionality. While the MPEG-1 is capable of delivering full frame and full motion video, it does not translate well on CD. MPEG-2 sought to fix this problem by making broadcast quality resolution, but took up a lot more space.
The MPEG-4 is better on both frontiers, delivering quality resolution and taking up less data, allowing it to be utilized in a wide variety of devices. This format can be used from simple cell phone cameras to high definition satellite broadcast.
Another thing the MPEG-4 does extremely well is in its compression. Its many elements can be compressed separately, so the video doesn’t get muddled by the audio, and 3D elements, text, and other media types can easily be controlled and adjusted. Through the MPEG-4 format, one can reduce data size dramatically without sacrificing audio and video quality.