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Comparing Media Tools: HTTP vs Streaming...
http://www.arhu.umd.edu/technology/workshops/mmpublishing/mediatools.html
mmhome.html

Quicktime
Enables your computer to handle media in many different file formats.
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/authoring/fileformats.html

Streaming
Streaming involves sending a file (movie or audio) from a server to a client over a network such as the Internet. The server breaks the
data into packets that can be sent over the network. At the receiving end, the packets are reassembled by the client and
the file is played as it comes in. A series of related packets is called a stream.

Streaming is different from simple file transfer, in that the client plays the movie or audio file as it comes in over the network, rather
than waiting for the entire movie to download before it can be played. In fact, a streaming client may never actually
download a streaming movie; it may simply play the movie's packets as they come in, then discard them.

Movies can be streamed using a variety of protocols, including:

HTTP (Hyper Text Transport Protocol)- considered progressive download- not true streaming
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
HTTP and FTP are file transfer protocols.

RTP (Realtime Transport Protocol).
RTP is used for real time streaming. The movie packets are sent in real time, so that a one-minute movie is sent overthe network in one minute. The packets are time-stamped, so they can be displayed in time-synchronized order. Because packets are sent in real time, RTP streaming works with live content in addition to previously-recorded movies. It can even carry a mixture of the two.
 

Streaming vs. HTTP from Apple
http://developer.apple.com/techpubs/quicktime/qtdevdocs/REF/Streaming.5.htm#pgfId=17501

Streaming examples from Apple
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/showcase/education/index.html

Quicktime Streaming Example
http://www.wgbh.org/wgbh/radio/listen.html

RealMedia
Streaming for on-demand clips or live broadcast (audio and video)

ability to listen to quality sound in real time as it downloads

offers capability to change and display images under control of the soundtrack (enables you to assemble mm presentations using the sound track astiming device for showing appropriate image.)

requirements: encoder application to compress and convert audio files to.RA- free and RealAudio server software to stream from your web site- cost

 

 

Examples from RealPlayer
http://www.real.com/realguide/index.html

KMTT from Seattle, http://www.kmtt.com/
WRNR from Annapolis, http://www.wrnr.com/

Using Shockwave Audio

Macromedia Shockzone
http://www.macromedia.com/shockzone/

• Can deliver CD-quality audio over a 14.4 connection
• Does not require specialized server software
• It can stream live audio but it is intended for prerecorded and compressed audio files
• Create Shockwave audio files on SoundForge (for PC) or Sound Edit 16 (for the Mac)
• To play Shockwave audio files you need
• A player created in Director or generic Shockwave player created in Director

Shockwave plug-in installed in browser

 

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