.ra are real player media files, that is - they contain the actual streaming audio data. .ram is a playlist text format, which can have one or multiple lines, on each line is the URL to an audio or video stream Linking to .ram is preferred
...though, in most cases, users get a better deal if they are linked to an embedded player within a browser, rather than a direct link to the audio. I can't speak for the BBC, but certainly when you make the Virgin Radio player appear ( www.virginradio.co.uk/listen on any PC) you'll get now-playing information and a whole host of other information that it's hard to give within a direct link to a stream. And, yes, there's advertising in that player too (the revenue from which partly goes to the music rights holders). For this reason, and that of branding, it's better to link to the official player (and the code to do so is at www.virginradio.co.uk/thestation/linktous ). For a direct link to most media players within the UK, try http://www.mediauk.com/content/player.muk which contains almost all live streams. -- http://james.cridland.net/contacting_me/ - Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, please visit http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. Unofficial list archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
