I completely agree with JD. I'll give credit where its due on Flash video. The codec used is amazing in it's quality and streaming capabilities.
I'd consider Flash and Quicktime on an even playing field, but the Flash plugin is a few pounds lighter, offers more interaction and video player flexibility (skinning, user interaction). Sincerely, Kevin -----Original Message----- From: John Dowdell [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 12:31 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: OT Checking for video plugins Stuart Kidd wrote: > Does anyone know of any client side code that checks for a certain video > plugin? Like: > If user has RealPlayer > do > If user has Windows Media > do > If user has Quicktime > do > Else Maybe "if user has Macromedia Flash Player v6.0 or greater"...? ;-) It's possible to poll most browsers to find what they have (check the plugins array, or try to create an ActiveX instance in IE/Win and VBScript -- websearch term "video detection javascript" pulls up many handlings), but you'd also have to check versioning if using recent codecs. I've seen a few sites which attempt this, like live365.com, but for me it has been 50/50 whether the script has recognized what my browser can do, and if the script doesn't work correctly, then the user can be locked out of content they can actually play. That's why most sites seem to present a button array for people to choose one of the architectures (albeit without information on plugin version and content requirements), as well as bandwidth buttons. Over the last year, many sites have moved to video through the Macromedia Flash Player to simultaneously reach a wider audience, simplify scripting development, and provide an overall better experience to site visitors. Sounds self-interested, I know, but it's true.... ;-) jd -- John Dowdell . Macromedia Developer Support . San Francisco CA USA Weblog: http://www.macromedia.com/go/blog_jd Aggregator: http://www.macromedia.com/go/weblogs Technotes: http://www.macromedia.com/support/ Spam killed my private email -- public record is best, thanks. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:207809 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
