The new format could be a big move for YouTube, as the video size is over 80MB, which means that they are probably the same H.264 encoded mp4 files available in the iTunes store. Getting premium quality video available on the site is integral for YouTube's success as the company struggles to turn a profit from its vast array of content available online.
The new formats have been available on a few videos for a few months now, and a small hack can upgrade any video taped at a high enough quality. YouTube confirms this is part of their efforts to test out different video formats.
The new format seems like real HD 720p video and looks clean and professional in the widescreen format. As we've noted in our Watch Higher Quality YouTube Videos wiki, it is possible to make YouTube's high quality video the default on the site, but formerly it was only possible to watch at a 480x360 resolution.
Formerly, viewers who wanted to watch 480x260 videos could do so by adding “&fmt=18" to the end of a YouTube video's url. To access the 720p format, the new appendage is “&fmt=22."
If you'd like to see the difference for yourself, here is an HD embed, followed by the standard video quality on YouTube:
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