STREAMING OVER THE INTERNET

Streaming is the act of placing a heavily compressed digital file on a streaming server thus making it available for public viewing. The file can be embedded into a web page or accessed via a URL with a stand alone media player.

• Streaming files can be video, audio or both
• At present, audio streams best because the smaller file size fits our relatively slow connection speed (56K)
• Still images can be linked to an audio stream and delivered to domestic desktops
• As bandwidth increases streaming capability increases
• Rich media can be successfully streamed across the campus wide network

THE MAIN PLAYERS

• Apple Quicktime - file type - .mov
• Windows Media Player - .wmv
• Realnetworks - .rm

EDTeC hosts streaming files in Quicktime and Windows Media Player format.

To access the streaming example used in this session:

1. Open Quicktime player on your desktop (if you don’t have Quicktime it can be downloaded from www.apple.com/quicktime/download).
2. Under file choose Open URL in new player.
3. Type in the address: rtsp ://edtec-s2/desktopstreamer.mov and click on OK.
   Note: this file has been optimised to play on the UNSW network and is too large to be accessed from a 56k modem.

Other examples of streaming media can be found on the EDTeC website (http://www.edtec.unsw.edu.au). Click on Services and select Video Production and Streaming. Quicktime files are indicated by the small quicktime logo.

Links to a range of supporting websites can also be found on the EDTeC site in the Resources section under Video Production and Streaming. Here you will a variety of information to support your interest and growing knowledge in the field of Video Production and Streaming.

Explore video streaming:

• All you need to know about producing video and audio streams for the internet, with tutorials on using the "big 3" streaming browser plugins - Quicktime, Real and Windows Media Player: http://streamingmediaworld.com
• A great source of tips and best practice all focussed on Apple's Quicktime software: http://www.judyandrobert.com/quicktime/
• The Microsoft approach to streaming and the place to download Windows Media Player: http://microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/default.asp
• Download the free Realplayer plugin: http://realplayer.com
• A presentation created at the University of Melbourne on using Realmedia for delivering video over the web: http://www.economics.unimelb.edu.au/RealServer/ASCILITE/video.html. (This site requires the Realplayer plug-in to be installed)
• A good overview of the emerging streaming media and its potential impact: http://www.media100.com/streaming/interactivestreaming.html