Streaming Video On Your Website Convert Visitors Into Customers

Writen by Ole Arndt

Streaming video is a sequence of "moving images" that are sent in compressed form over the Internet and displayed by the viewer as they arrive. Streaming media is streaming video with sound. With streaming video or streaming media, a Web user does not have to wait to download a large file before seeing the video or hearing the sound. Instead, the media is sent in a continuous stream and is played as it arrives. The user needs a player, which is a special program that uncompresses and sends video data to the display and audio data to speakers. A player can be either an integral part of a browser or downloaded from the software maker's Web site.

Major streaming video and streaming media technologies include RealSystem G2 from RealNetwork, Microsoft Windows Media Technologies (including its NetShow Services and Theater Server), and VDO. Microsoft's approach uses the standard MPEG compression algorithm for video. The other approaches use proprietary algorithms. (The program that does the compression and decompression is sometimes called the codec.) Microsoft's technology offers streaming audio at up to 96 Kbps and streaming video at up to 8 Mbps (for the NetShow Theater Server). However, for most Web users, the streaming video will be limited to the data rates of the connection (for example, up to 128 Kbps with an ISDN connection). Microsoft's streaming media files are in its Advanced Streaming Format (ASF).

Streaming video is usually sent from prerecorded video files, but can be distributed as part of a live broadcast "feed." In a live broadcast, the video signal is converted into a compressed digital signal and transmitted from a special Web server that is able to do multicast, sending the same file to multiple users at the same time.

Streaming media is audio and video that are transmitted on the Internet in a streaming or continuous fashion, using data packets. The most effective reception of streaming media requires some form of broadband technology such as cable modem or DSL. A packet is the unit of data that is routed between an origin and a destination on the Internet or any other packet-switched network. When any file (e-mail message, HTML file, Graphics Interchange Format file, URL - Uniform Recourse Locater request, and so forth) is sent from one place to another on the Internet, the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) layer of TCP/IP divides the file into "chunks" of an efficient size for routing. Each of these packets is separately numbered and includes the Internet address of the destination. The individual packets for a given file may travel different routes through the Internet. When they have all arrived, they are reassembled into the original file (by the TCP layer at the receiving end).

A packet-switching scheme is an efficient way to handle transmissions on a connectionless network such as the Internet. An alternative scheme, circuit-switched, is used for networks allocated for voice connections. In circuit-switching, lines in the network are shared among many users as with packet-switching, but each connection requires the dedication of a particular path for the duration of the connection. "Packet" and "datagram" are similar in meaning. A protocol similar to TCP, the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) uses the term datagram.

MPEG, the Moving Picture Experts Group, develops standards for digital video and digital audio compression. It operates under the auspices of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The MPEG standards are an evolving series, each designed for a different purpose. To use MPEG video files, you need a personal computer with sufficient processor speed, internal memory, and hard disk space to handle and play the typically large MPEG file (which has a file name suffix of .mpg). You also need an MPEG viewer or client software that plays MPEG files. (Note that .mp3 file suffixes indicate MP3 (MPEG-1 audio layer-3) files, not MPEG-3 standard files.) You can download shareware or commercial MPEG players from a number of sites on the Web.

The term codec is an acronym that stands for "compression/decompression." A codec is an algorithm, or specialized computer program, that reduces the number of bytes consumed by large files and programs. In order to minimize the amount of storage space required for a complicated file, such as a video, compression is used. Compression works by eliminating redundancies in data. Compression can be done for any kind of file, including text, programs, images, audio, video, and virtual reality (VR). Compression can reduce the size of a file by a factor of 100 or more in some cases. For example, a 15-megabyte video might be reduced to 150 kilobytes. The uncompressed file would be far too large to download from the Web in a reasonable length of time, but the compressed file could usually be downloaded in a few seconds. For viewing, a decompression algorithm, which "undoes" the compression, would have to be used.

There are numerous standard codec schemes. Some are used mainly to minimize file transfer time, and are employed on the Internet. Others are intended to maximize the data that can be stored in a given amount of disk space, or on a CD-ROM. Codec's are used in many popular Internet products, including QuickTime, Netmeeting, Cu-Seeme, and VDOphone.

Flash, is a popular authoring software developed by Macromedia, and is used to create vector graphics-based animation programs with full-screen navigation interfaces, graphic illustrations, and simple interactivity in an antialiased, resizable file format that is small enough to stream across a normal modem connection. The software is ubiquitous on the Web, both because of its speed (vector-based animations, which can adapt to different display sizes and resolutions, play as they download) and for the smooth way it renders graphics. Flash files, unlike animated but rasterized GIF and JPEG, are compact, efficient, and designed for optimized delivery. Known as a do-it-yourself animation package, Flash 4 gives Web designers the ability to import artwork using whatever bitmap or illustration tool they prefer, and to create animation and special effects, and add sound and interactivity. The content is then saved as file with a .SWF file name extension.

Web users with Intel Pentium or Power Macintosh processors can download Flash Player to view Flash content, which performs across multiple browsers and platforms. Flash is lauded for being one of the Web's most accessible plug-in. According to an independent study cited by Macromedia, over 90 percent of Web users already have Flash Player installed. Macromedia was recently acquired by Adobe in a 3.4 billion dollar deal.

About the Author: Ole Arndt is President of Global Media LLC, in Branchburg NJ.

Correspondence to: oarndt@streamingmediabiz.com

Planning The Perfect Slideshow Production

Writen by Sandra Clukey

Planning is the perfect slideshow takes time and effort. But with the help of a professional slideshow creation company the value of your time and effort will be priceless. Whether you're creating a wedding slideshow, reception slideshow, anniversary slideshow, graduation slideshow, birthday slideshow, Mother's Day or Father's Day Slideshow, Valentine's Day Slideshow, Christmas slideshow, memorial slideshow, or a slide show for any occasion here is a planning checklist you can follow to ensure a priceless slideshow production keepsake.

1. Choose the length of your slideshow production.

__10 minute slideshow

__15 minute slideshow

__20 minute slideshow

__25 minute slideshow

__30 minute slideshow

__40 minute slideshow

____minute slideshow (you fill in the blank)

__It doesn't matter how long

2. Choose your timeframe.

__ Lifespan of main character/s in slideshow.

__Specific timeframe for each year. For example: Piano recitals for the last ten years.

__Is there more than one person's life who is going to be featured in this slideshow?

__Do you want their lives shown __separately __simultaneously

__Is the timeframe very specific such as this years summer vacation?

___________________________________ fill in the blank for what the timeframe is.

__________ - __________ Fill in the blanks with the specific years or timeframes you want covered in your slideshow.

3. Questions to ask before choosing the photographs for your slideshow.

__Is the photograph clear and not blurry? Blurry photographs are hard to correct and the larger the image, the more blurry the photo appears.

__Is the photograph too bright or too dark? Although some corrections can be made here, if the photograph is too bright or too dark, you may loose quality in the photograph.

__Is someone or something blocking the main focus of the photograph? Unwanted objects or big heads in the way of the main focus of the photograph detract from the photo and does not give you the best quality slideshow.

__Is the photograph in focus? What you see is what you get – magnified.

__ Is the photo too grainy? Grainy photos do not scan well.

__Has the photograph been cut up to use in a photograph memory book? Cut up photos look great when done properly for memory albums, but they work poorly for slideshows.

4. __ Organize your photos by year or by timeframe. For example if your slideshow is going to span the lifetime of a person, organize your photos by year. Make separate piles for each year.

5. The pictures are now organized, but I have too many. Which of the best pictures do I choose? If the slideshow is personal and mainly for one person you can have as many pictures as you want and not worry about boring anyone since everyone loves to see photographs of themselves, but if the slideshow is going to be seen by an audience ask yourself these questions:

__ Do I have more than 2 photos of a specific category? Example: 2 photos of little Emily in her favorite Easter dress in 1987 is more than enough.

__Are the pictures similar enough that one can be put aside? You do not want to bore your audience, the more variety in the photographs, the more entertaining the slideshow will be.

__ Do you have 12 photos taken in 1987 and 4 taken in 1988? Try to keep the years as close to even as possible.

__Are there a variety of photographs of others? If you really want to entertain your audience, try to include pictures of them in the slideshow. Everyone loves to see themselves light up on the big screen! It will make them feel a part of your special event and keep their interest peaked to see who will be showing up next. In addition, include credits in the slide show when applicable. Give credit to mothers, fathers, grandparents, brothers, sisters, friends, bridal party, and anyone else to whom credit is due.

If you still have trouble cutting down the amount of photographs, ask for help. A mom choosing pictures of her child tends to think every picture is worth showing – I know because I'm a mom – but if you ask dad for help, or a close friend you'll be amazed at how much they can cut down the amount of photos to go in your slideshow!

6. __After choosing the photos look at them carefully and decide whether or not you want captions with the photograph. Captions can add to the appeal of the picture for the audience to help them understand what is happening in that particular photo. They can also add to the humor or sentimental value of the video. Not every picture should have a caption; for the most part the photos should be able to speak for themselves. Your audience may not enjoy the slideshow as much with too many captions. However, in certain circumstances, such as creating a slideshow for a loved one who is away serving in the military captions can be quite effective.

7.__ Now it's time to choose your music. Hollywood producers will tell you that the right or wrong music can make or break a movie production. Choose the music according to the feeling you want to give your audience. Happy, sentimental, funny, nostalgic…. it's all in the music. Choose music that means something to you or the person you are creating the slideshow for. Check the length of the music to the number of photos you want to use and the type of slideshow you are choosing. Write down your choices of songs, the artist and album below.

1.__________________________________________________________ 2.__________________________________________________________ 3.__________________________________________________________ 4.__________________________________________________________ 5.__________________________________________________________

8. __Choose Video Clips – Adding a couple of short video clips to your slideshow can help break up and enhance your slideshow. Keep your video clips short if possible. 30 seconds – 2 minutes. Once you find the video clips you want to use, copy exactly what you want included onto a separate video tape. Do not send the originals in the mail.

9. __Consider using Voiceovers – This can add a sentimental touch to any slideshow. This can be done using a video camera, or with some digital cameras that take video. Just be sure to tell your slideshow company that you just want to use the voice, not the video.

10. __ View Samples, Choose Your Slideshow Company, and Place Your Order–There are many slideshow companies to choose from, so how do you know which one is right for you? Always view the online samples. To narrow your search look for unique and creative slideshows. Your memories are special and unique and should be treated as such. Stay away from the cookie-cutter picture after picture slideshows. Creativity and uniqueness are key elements to any truly stunning slideshow.

11. __Back up your photos. Make sure you have copies of your photos or the negatives. Slideshow companies are not responsible for what happens to your photos while in the mail. And unless you have a back-up, photos are irreplaceable.

12. __Pack your photos with care. Use proper packaging material. Always place 5x7's or 8x10's between pieces of cardboard. Make sure the photos and other material is packed tightly to avoid moving around inside the box. When packaging your photos place them in Ziploc baggies. This will protect them from any possible water damage and also works great for separating your photos chronologically. You should also place your discs or videos in Ziploc baggies. And always insure your package. Although lost or damaged mail is a rare occurrence, it's always best to be prepared. And always opt for priority mailing services. The less time in the mail – the better.

Your time and effort is now finished. Your slideshow company will take care of you from here. They should be in constant communication with you and you should have a good idea when to expect your slideshow to be finished. Sands of Time Multimedia Creations creates unique and creative slideshows for every occasion. Creative anniversary slideshows, graduation slideshows, birthday slideshows, Mother's Day or Father's Day Slideshows, Valentine's Day Slideshows, Christmas slideshows, memorial slideshows, the list goes on and with Sands of Time Multimedia Creations your satisfaction is guaranteed.

Sandra Clukey, lead slideshow creator for Sands of Time Multimedia Creations, has years of experience and an intense passion for turning still pictures into beautiful, sentimental slideshow video albums for people everywhere! http://sandsoftimemultimediacreations.com/ View some of her samples: http://sandsoftimemultimediacreations.com/index-1.html and experience the difference!

Video Slide Show Productions

Writen by Sandra Clukey

Slide show companies are popping up all over the internet. People are taking their pictures and placing them on CD's, DVD's, or VHS for personal use and for gifts for all occasions. People everywhere are hiring companies to make wedding slide shows for receptions, graduation slide shows, anniversary slide shows, birthday slide shows, memorial service slide shows, vacation slide shows, holiday slide shows, and just about anything you can think of slide shows. But how do you know which slide show company to choose?

It use to be that when we took our photos of our special occasions: weddings, vacations, reunions, birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, family, friends, pets and so on, that we'd get the photos developed and place them in a photo album or a shoe box. A couple of our very favorites would be placed in frames. But, the photo album or shoebox would then sit on a shelf or under a bed or in a closet or somewhere where they'd be neglected and hardly ever looked at. In the meantime the photos themselves are drying out, cracking, and turning yellow. When we do go to look at them they're never as good as we remember because they've aged.

Placing our photos on CD, DVD, or VHS preserves the photos forever. They will never crack, fade, yellow, or get damaged. Future generations can enjoy the same quality in a hundred years as we can today.

Turning your photos into slide shows, video albums, or photo montages makes the photos fun to watch and more people will enjoy viewing them with you. So how do you know if you've found a quality slideshow company? An important rule of thumb to remember is, "If the price seems too good to be true, then it probably is". Creating slide shows is a service related industry; no real slide show creating company can give you quality work without putting quality time into it. The less the price, the less the amount of time going into it. You might as well go buy yourself the cheapest slide show software you can find and do it yourself.

A quality slide show creating company has invested thousands of dollars to be able to produce the highest quality work for the consumer. In addition, they will spend the time needed to clean up your photos and create a quality CD, DVD or VHS that you can be proud of. Although, like in any industry, you'll need to beware of those who overcharge, the bottom line is; the more time a company puts into creating your slideshow, the higher the cost of that slide show.

When comparing prices, don't forget to compare the contents of the package. This will make a tremendous difference in the pricing and the quality of the slideshow you receive. But don't fall for bogus charges such as transition charges. What are slide shows without transitions? So shop around, compare prices, packages, and view some slide show samples.

Viewing slide show samples is very important to choosing your video slide show production company. If you're satisfied with just the simple fade-in, fade-out photo montage style slideshows, then you have a lot to choose from. If you want something fun, exciting, emotional, creative and unique, then there's very little to choose from. The slide show company you choose should value your precious memories so much that it reflects in the slide shows they create. To a true slide show creator, creating quality slide shows is comparative to an artist who is creating yet another masterpiece: each one is unique, creative, evokes emotion, no two are exactly alike, and all are worthy of displaying to everyone you know. At Sands of Time Multimedia Creations, slide shows are works of art. Visit us today and experience the difference!

Sandra Clukey has years of experience and an intense passion for turning still pictures into beautiful, sentimental video albums for people everywhere and is the lead slideshow creator for Sands of Time Multimedia Creations. http://sandsoftimemultimediacreations.com/ A cutomer recently stated, "There's something magical about your slide shows and the way they just bring the memories to life". View some of her samples here and experience the difference! http://sandsoftimemultimediacreations.com/index-1.html

How To Chat Through Macromedia Flash Communication Server And Other Information

Writen by Angel Abdulnor

Businesses and individuals alike are constantly looking to find new ways to communicate for work related and entertainment purposes. Things like How to chat through Macromedia Flash Communication Server are some of the most commonly sought out information by those looking for better communication options over the internet.

The Macromedia Flash Communication Server really does offer users an eclectic assortment of services. Some of the ways how to chat through Macromedia Flash Communication Server include virtual conference rooms, whiteboard applications, multi-player games and live messaging just to name a few. The Macromedia Flash Communication Server is the only system you will find at the moment that can handle numerous different communication and media applications. While those wondering how to chat through Macromedia Flash Communication Server would not actually be using a server it is simply called this because of all of the functions and capabilities that it offers users.

One of the best features users will come across while learning how to chat through a Macromedia Communication Server is it's ability to increase the speed of real time message distribution. By being able to provide scripting, storage, security, and management a Macromedia Flash Communication Server can perform like a traditional application server that is dedicated to it's own applications. However the one thing it cannot do that an application server can is provide connections to external data such as databases. If users wanting to know how to chat through a macromedia flash player wish to do this they need the assist of an additional product.

Even though a Macromedia Flash Communication Server can provide it's users with a great number of combinations of applications it's one downside is it's need to be aided by other Macromedia Flash products. One of most products most relied upon by the Macromedia Flash Communication Server is Macromedia Flash Player 6. The flash player is the primary user interface for those wanting to know how to chat through a Macromedia Flash Communication Server and is needed for just about all applications offered by the communication server.

When an individual learns how to chat through a macromedia flash communication server they really do have the opportunity to create some very rich media and communication applications. Some say users can even create applications without having to utilize a large number of other macromedia flash products. To really utilize a MacroMedia Flash Communication Sever users should have an excellent understanding of all the applications that they are using,be able to experiment with applications that are created and most of all have a lot of patience.

Even with potential system flaws, by deciding to learn how to chat through a macromedia flash player businesses and individuals alike can really make the most of communicating through the internet.

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