This message comes a little late. I had some trouble posting. Jim, I really like your site.
We (at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum) are pretty committed to the Real format but are starting to make the change over to Flash. What changed? MX offers accessibility features that previous versions didn't. And the new codec is very good. We are also staring to offer video content in Windows format as well. I can report that with all of the problems mentioned in this thread about Real, our video files are the most downloaded file type on our Web site. And we receive very few complaints about viewing problems. Live content is possible in Flash with the MX communications server and Flash MX. We plan on rolling out a project that delivers a live "meet the historian" video where Web visitors may ask questions. You may view some of our recent Real-encoded video at an online exhibition called "The Art and Politics of Arthur Szyk." The URL is: http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/szyk/tour/ We will have some live content in Flash available soon. Regards, Larry __________________________ Lawrence Swiader Acting Director, Outreach Technology U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Jim Spadaccini To: [email protected] <[email protected] cc: om> Subject: Re: DM SIG: Streaming Video formats? 10/02/02 03:00 PM Please respond to mcn-l Matt, You don't need to download the entire file. However, Flash MX doesn't stream in the true sense of the other streaming formats (which all utilize the RTSP Real Time Streaming Protocol). Rather it is the ability to "pre-load" and effectiveness of the Sorensen codec--that make it competitive with the other formats. Additionally, title graphics and other content can be presented as vectors which would provide additional download savings. On serious drawback is no ability for live content. So live Webcasting is out. Jim On Wednesday, October 2, 2002, at 11:40 AM, Matt Morgan wrote: > But does Flash or Flash MX stream? Or do you download the whole thing > first? I thought it was all downloaded first, then played. > > If Flash streams, I would easily prefer it over the other formats. > > At 10:54 AM 10/2/2002 -0700, you wrote: >> We currently have three videos on our website using Flash. To view >> them see >> >> http://www.wingluke.org/index.htm >> http://www.wingluke.org/international_district.html# >> http://www.wingluke.org/about_wingluke.html >> >> Robert Fisher >> Collections Manager >> Wing Luke Asian Museum >> 407 7th Ave S >> Seattle WA 98104 >> 206 623-5124 x.117 >> www.wingluke.org >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Jim Spadaccini [mailto:[email protected]] >> Sent: Wednesday, October 02, 2002 10:20 AM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: DM SIG: Streaming Video formats? >> >> >> Anne, >> I think user preference is rather haphazard in the sense that many >> people will just use whatever they happen to have installed. >> >> About a year and half ago I found some information on market >> penetration. At that time... >> RealMedia had a slight edge over Windows Media with QuickTime not too >> far behind. >> >> Each format has advantages and disadvantages. Every PC that ships >> with >> Windows has the media player, Every Mac ships with QuickTime, and >> about >> half of the streaming content on the Web is currently in the Real >> format. As best as I can tell from what information is available is >> that somewhere around 60-70% of users have one of these players >> installed. (So multiple formats as you suggested is a good way to go.) >> >> Anyway, one other option to throw out their is Flash MX. Currently, >> only about 1/3rd of Flash users have this, the latest plug-in. >> However, >> with overall Flash penetration at 95% or so (the most popular plug-in >> out there)--in about 6 months-- more users will have MX than any of >> the >> "big three" formats. >> >> We recently encoded some video in the Flash MX format and I think it >> looks as good as the other streaming formats. There's no server to >> worry about and you can "pre-load" frames using action script. In >> addition, you can do all the things that Flash does, interactivity, >> vector images, etc. >> >> The downside is that until the new version of Cleaner 6 comes out >> there >> is no way to batch process these files. We used Sorensen Squeeze and >> encoded each file one-by-one. >> >> Luckly, the project we used Flash MX for doesn't go live until the >> Spring (as part of the larger site). We're pretty sure by then enough >> visitors will have the ability to view it. >> >> If you'd like to take a look >> http://www.ideum.com/sunearthviewer.html >> >> Jim >> >> >> On Wednesday, October 2, 2002, at 09:11 AM, Anne Botman wrote: >> >> > Thanks for the information, it's all very useful. >> > >> > What about site users? Does anyone know if there is a user >> > preference? I >> > personally dislike using the Real player and avoid it if I have >> another >> > option. As Ted Drake pointed out, it's also hard to find the free >> Real >> > player. >> > >> > Do sites tend to only support one format? I generally prefer to >> offer >> > the >> > user some options when possible. >> > >> > Since we are not running our own servers, I expect that I will be >> > forced to >> > choose a format based on what I can get from a provider. >> > >> > Anne >> > >> > ___________ >> > Anne Botman >> > Senior Web Development Officer >> > Canadian Museum of Nature / Musée canadien de la nature >> > Tel: 613.566.4243 >> > Email: [email protected] >> > Web: http://nature.ca >> > >> > >> > >> > >> >> ---------- >> >> From: John Chadwick >> >> Reply To: [email protected] >> >> Sent: Wednesday, October 2, 2002 11:47 AM >> >> To: [email protected] >> >> Subject: Re: DM SIG: Streaming Video formats? >> >> >> >> I worked on a project that involved Quicktime streaming and >> database >> >> integration. As the project progressed I learned a few lessons: >> >> >> >> Real is robust and makes things easy. However, server software >> costs >> >> can >> >> be >> >> excessive and the quality of the video is not that great. >> >> >> >> Quicktime is very robust and with tools such as Live Stage from >> >> Totally >> >> Hip >> >> Software, can integrate with Filemaker or a SQL database and pass >> XML >> >> commands. Downside of this is the programming time required to do >> >> this. >> >> Plus side is that the streaming software is free and works on Mac, >> >> Windows, >> >> and several flavors of Linux/Unix. >> >> >> >> Windows Media has decent quality and the streaming software is >> free. >> >> If >> >> all >> >> you want to do is serve up streaming video quickly and easily, this >> >> is a >> >> good solution, but it does not have capabilities of Real or >> Quicktime. >> >> >> >> I am sold on Quicktime, although Real and Windows Media have their >> >> merits. >> >> >> >> John Chadwick >> >> >> >> On 10/2/02 8:31 AM, "Anne Botman" <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> >>> Does anyone have advice or stats about streaming video formats in >> >>> terms >> >> of >> >>> user acceptance? >> >>> >> >>> We outsource our Web hosting services and I am wondering which >> video >> >> formats >> >>> to support and develop. We are currently offering some streaming >> >>> video >> >> in >> >>> both Windows Media and QuickTime formats, but not through our >> usual >> >> hosting >> >>> company. Our regular provider offers streaming only in REAL format >> >>> but >> >> not >> >>> Windows Media or QuickTime. >> >>> >> >>> We will be digitizing some video for a new project this year and >> we >> >>> can >> >>> prepare multiple formats, but I would appreciate advice about >> which >> >> formats >> >>> to offer. This will help me set-up the video hosting requirements >> as >> >> well. >> >>> >> >>> Thanks, >> >>> >> >>> Anne >> >>> ___________ >> >>> Anne Botman >> >>> Senior Web Development Officer >> >>> Canadian Museum of Nature / Musée canadien de la nature >> >>> Tel: 613.566.4243 >> >>> Email: [email protected] >> >>> Web: http://nature.ca >> >> >> > >> > --- >> > You are currently subscribed to mcn_mcn-l as: [email protected] >> > To unsubscribe send a blank email to >> > [email protected] >> > >> > >> Jim Spadaccini >> Ideum >> 107 Caledonia Street, Suite H >> Sausalito, CA 94965 USA >> phone:415-289-0191 fax: 415-289-0194 >> http://www.ideum.com - "ideas and media" >> >> >> --- >> You are currently subscribed to mcn_mcn-l as: [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send a blank email to >> [email protected] >> >> >> --- >> You are currently subscribed to mcn_mcn-l as: >> [email protected] >> To unsubscribe send a blank email to >> [email protected] > > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to mcn_mcn-l as: [email protected] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to > [email protected] > > Jim Spadaccini Ideum 107 Caledonia Street, Suite H Sausalito, CA 94965 USA phone:415-289-0191 fax: 415-289-0194 http://www.ideum.com - "ideas and media" --- You are currently subscribed to mcn_mcn-l as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [email protected] --- You are currently subscribed to mcn_mcn-l as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [email protected]
