Developer and Platform Group, Microsoft Asia Pacific.
Adaptive Streaming
Adaptive streaming is a process that adjusts the quality of a video delivered to a web page based on changing network conditions to ensure the best possible viewer experience. Adaptive streaming is made possible by changes introduced in Microsoft Silverlight 2.
Internet connection speeds vary widely, and the speed of each type of connection also varies depending on a wide variety of conditions. For example, if a user connects to an ISP at 56 Kbps, that does not mean that 56 Kbps of bandwidth is available at all times. Bandwidth can vary, meaning that a 56-Kbps connection may decrease or increase based on current network conditions, causing video quality to fluctuate as well. Adaptive streaming adjusts the bit rate of the video to adapt to changing network conditions.
Adaptive streaming simplifies content creation and management, making streaming video easy to deploy, and does not require any coding. For viewers who use Microsoft Windows Media Player rather than Silverlight 2, Windows Media Multiple Bit Rate encoding is available.
To use adaptive streaming, you need Microsoft Expression Encoder 2 with Service Pack 1, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0, the IIS Smooth Streaming module, and Silverlight 2.
Internet connection speeds vary widely, and the speed of each type of connection also varies depending on a wide variety of conditions. For example, if a user connects to an ISP at 56 Kbps, that does not mean that 56 Kbps of bandwidth is available at all times. Bandwidth can vary, meaning that a 56-Kbps connection may decrease or increase based on current network conditions, causing video quality to fluctuate as well. Adaptive streaming adjusts the bit rate of the video to adapt to changing network conditions.
Adaptive streaming simplifies content creation and management, making streaming video easy to deploy, and does not require any coding. For viewers who use Microsoft Windows Media Player rather than Silverlight 2, Windows Media Multiple Bit Rate encoding is available.
To use adaptive streaming, you need Microsoft Expression Encoder 2 with Service Pack 1, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0, the IIS Smooth Streaming module, and Silverlight 2.
Streaming Media
Streaming media is a typetypetype of technology that allows computer users to view or hear files as they are transfered. This is in contrast to first downloading files to the computer, which typically requires users to wait until the entire object is finished downloading. The ability to stream files is usually found on websites, allowing viewers to experience the files in real time. The most common types of streamingstreamingstreaming media typically include audio, video, or a synchronized mix of the two.
Video streamingis often found on the Internet, but it does not always include sound. An example of a basic video file that does not need audio is a stream of photographs. Many amateurs on the Internet can craft this type of streamingmedia, but it is usually not very good quality. This is partially because existing video that was originally made to be shown on videotape does not often transfer well to the Internet. Instead, most quality video streams are specifically made for this medium.
One of the most useful and favorite types of streamingmedia includes audio and video that are synchronized with each other. This ensures that the image on the screen and the audio from the speakers match up, making the viewing experience appear high-quality. Many television shows that are available online use this technology. Just like with video or audio streams, synchronized videos can be developed by amateurs online who have the time to learn the programs required.
The quality of the files typically depends on the speed of the user's Internet connection. Most computers can play audio files quite easily, but video streams typically take up more bandwidth. This means that they can take longer to stream continuously, resulting in several pauses as the transfer rate tries to catch up. Even on slower connections, though, streamingmedia usually still offers a faster alternative to downloading. This results in the ability for the public to have access to files faster than when they are forced to download objects, in general.
One of the most useful and favorite types of streamingmedia includes audio and video that are synchronized with each other. This ensures that the image on the screen and the audio from the speakers match up, making the viewing experience appear high-quality. Many television shows that are available online use this technology. Just like with video or audio streams, synchronized videos can be developed by amateurs online who have the time to learn the programs required.
The quality of the files typically depends on the speed of the user's Internet connection. Most computers can play audio files quite easily, but video streams typically take up more bandwidth. This means that they can take longer to stream continuously, resulting in several pauses as the transfer rate tries to catch up. Even on slower connections, though, streamingmedia usually still offers a faster alternative to downloading. This results in the ability for the public to have access to files faster than when they are forced to download objects, in general.
Flash® Video Streaming
Flash® video streaming is a type of online video streaming technology that uses Adobe® Flash Player™ to deliver media over the Internet. Flash® has become one of the most popular video streaming formats in use today. Much of this popularity stems from its relatively high quality for given bandwidth, as well as a user's ability to receive Flash® video streaming in a variety of ways, either through third-party video players or a number of web browser plug-ins.
In its current state, Flash® video streaming works by encoding a video into a particular bitstream format and placing it into what is known as a container file. In the case of Flash®, these containers are known as FLV files. Once hosted and made available for consumption on the Internet, these files can be accessed by an end-user who has a Flash Player™ installed. A Flash Player™ can be a standalone client program, or a plug-in for any of the major web browsers. Most new smartphones and other Internet-ready mobile devices are now also capable of streaming Flash®.
Whatever setup a user has, the Flash Player™ typically buffers a small part of the video, and begins playing what is available while simultaneously downloading and decoding the remainder. Depending on the method used to generate the Flash® video, it is possible to stream some Flash® broadcasts live, in addition to those available on-demand. The latest version of the technology allows users to browse to any point of a given video while it is still buffering, and begin playback at that point.
Despite its ubiquity in 2010, the end may yet be in sight for Flash® video streaming. The next major version of HyperText Markup Language, known as HTML5, is intended to significantly reduce the need for plug-in-based technologies such as Java®, Siverlight®, and Flash®. HTML5 is capable of displaying streaming audio, video, and interactive media directly within a browser page. HTML5 is expected to be ready for mass consumption beginning in late 2010, but the major browsers, including Microsoft Internet Explorer®, Mozilla Firefox®, and Apple Safari® are anticipated to begin supporting many of its elements, including embedded video, within their next few versions.
to be continued..
so lucky, I picked up the book as a gift.. 'get lost' during your session.. my apologise ^_^
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc294669.aspx
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