Playlist for varying filetypes

[WebJoel]

Is there such a thing as a playlist for playing video files that allows various filetypes be used? I have a client that would like to include several videos that they made themselves, one for instance is *m4v format and another is *mov. The problem I am having is that the ones I have examined so far, don't seem to want to support more than one type of video extension. I read that "*m4v" can be manually renamed as "*mp4" but I am not sure if it is really this simple (or, possible?) to do and have it still work.

I would prefer a free/open source option or source, as this is a small production as this point. We just want something so users can 'play' selected videos in a pane directly upon our site.

Thanks!

[Eye for Video]

Well speaking from a background mainly in Flash and .wmv, the problem is not that the coding for one playlist or another will not work....an array is an array... the problem is choosing a media player that will handle the various formats. Normally all the video is converted to one format....problem solved.
But let's say that's just not the case here. A QuickTime player should play both .mov and the mp4, but depending on the codec used to create the mp4, one QuickTime Player may play it while another, lacking the codec, will not.
And if this media player is intended for Internet use, browser compatibility is going to be the number one issue. So maybe you embed a QuickTime player to play those videos, good luck finding a wide audiance with browsers having the QuickTime plugins and the correct codec for those special videos. Currently I think QuickTime browser penetration is less than 50%.
Currently the video format with the widest audience by far is the Flash, .flv video format. Why, because of cross browser compatibility. Remember that sticking a video player on a Web page is not like playing that same video on your local machine. There are a number of fine media players that can play multiple file types (given the proper codec). But when was the last time you saw a Divx player embedded in a Web page. It's the browser plugins on the viewers machine which will determine if they can view the video or not.
My advice, convert the videos to one format, for the sake of viewers ease of access and wider target audience. Lot’s of file conversion software out there for free or nearly so.
Best wishes,
EfV

[WebJoel]

Yes, this is along the lines of my thinking. Perhaps for now I'll just have to insert the video file as a viewable link and forgo the 'playlist/player' concept until it become more necessary...