Tips for creating an idiot-proof, cross-platform e-business card?

jlafferty wrote on 4/5/2005, 12:26 PM
Hey...

I've offered to help someone out with an upcoming event -- the target audience is older creative types, so consider that two counts against this being a technically literate crowd :D

I'm lookng to create a small CDR that has about 30secs-1minute of video with audio, at a decent res. I'm trying to keep watching this as idiot proof as possible, with at most a link to whatever installer is needed to play the media included on the disc.

I'd considered a straight VCD, but this needs to have some links to the artist's site, email and perhaps some bio info. For this reaon, I'm thinking either straight HTML docs with embedded Flash or QT, or just all Flash with embedded Flash video. The Flash player installers have a very small footprint, so it's easy to include them for both PC and Mac.

Does anyone here have a better idea, or expreiences doing this sort of thing and would like to weigh in with experience?

Thanks,

- jim

Comments

BillyBoy wrote on 4/5/2005, 12:34 PM
Well sorry sonny, but I'm one of those 'older creative types' that's probably forgot more than today's crop of creative types know, so I guess you're not interested in my "technically illeratre" suggestions, so I'll keep them to myself. Have a nice day.
BrianStanding wrote on 4/5/2005, 1:24 PM
Well for some advice, that might actually be helpful....

MPEG is by far the most universal video format. Pretty much anything can play that, without having to download a lot of plug-ins.

I would suggest a simple HTML file with links to MPEG-1 video.
jlafferty wrote on 4/5/2005, 1:36 PM
OK. Do you know if the self-contained Flash files play without the need of a plugin? I assume they do... but I've made bad assumptions in the past. You can export both a .exe and .hqx from the Publish dialogue in Flash -- I figure these might be best, with a simple HTML front-end with links that click-through to them.

Billy -- I won't be seeing your responses, you're on my ignore list.

- jim
BrianStanding wrote on 4/5/2005, 1:47 PM
Sorry, what I know about Flash would fit inside a thimble.

I do know I've never been able to view a Flash-based website without first downloading some kind of plug-in. FWIW. I'm sure there are others around who could answer. What about animated GIFs? Almost any vanilla browser can read them. I don't think Vegas can produce them, but I know at least older versions of Premiere can.
RafalK wrote on 4/5/2005, 1:47 PM
I was just going to mention that you should look at the Flash projector file.
Chienworks wrote on 4/5/2005, 1:59 PM
Animated GIFs can be much larger than MPEG or other video codecs. They're also limited to a 256 color palatte which can produce some rather shocking banding effects at the worst possible times. GIF files don't include audio.

Most any generic media player can handle MPEG without downloading anything. Most every computer has at least some sort of generic media player installed. There are several media players you can include on the disc that don't even require installation (which is a very good thing!) and will simply run straight from the CD. On the other hand, Flash videos require the flash player, which must be installed in order to run.

I've created a few presentation CDs that autoload an HTML file which then embeds the video. Clicking links on the HTML page can choose different MPEG files to play so you can effectively create chapters.

Another benefit of MPEG is that many newer and most lower-end DVD players will play the video file on the disc too! Pop the disc in a DVD player and a directory of files will show up on the television. Give the MPEG file a very obvious name, maybe beginning with the letter "A" so it's near the top of the list and most people will figure out how to click on it to play it.