Embeded Video / Streaming Options

jkrepner wrote on 9/25/2006, 11:02 AM
I have someone asking me about streaming video. Typically they just post a video file (13MB) on their site and people download as needed. Some of their clients must not have the preferences set to stream video, so it instead downloads completely before playing. They want it to start sooner and not wait for the finished download. I suggested that they embed the video with it's own player directly on their site.

Is this the correct train of thought? What software will they need?

Thanks in advance.
Jeff

Comments

Steve Mann wrote on 9/25/2006, 12:25 PM
Just putting a video file on the web site is not streaming video. You have to put it on a streaming server which most hosting providers don't offer.

What you're looking for is progressive downloading, which as you have guessed is viewer determined. That is, you are at the mercy of the settings of the browser whether the video plays right away or waits for the download to finish. Some do, some don't.

You can control the viewer in the web page if you embed it. You can find examples of HTML code all over the web. Mediacollege.com has a simple to follow set of examples.
riredale wrote on 9/25/2006, 1:42 PM
You don't need a streaming server if you encode the video into a format that a common player can play. For instance, you can embed a Windows Media player which is set to call the particular wmv file. After a very short delay, the player will begin playing the video as it streams across.

As discussed elsewhere on this board, many people have switched to Flash from wmv, simply because the players are much more user-friendly and universal across all browsers. Again, no need for special treatment at the server; the file just plays as it streams.

There's also the Real format, which I know nothing about. Most people would say the format was doomed years ago by incredibly inept marketing.
jkrepner wrote on 9/28/2006, 8:34 AM
Thanks guys. This gives me (them) a starting point.

Much obliged.

Jeff