You assignment in essence is to copy this page on your own site. That means you need to download actual media (from this page) and modify it for yourself on your own site. Kind of like this example. You are free to look at and even copy (as in copy and adapt, not copy) the source code.
The intent here is to learn how to set up the links which allow a website to stream. Not only the everyday links for file but links which are playlists and links which select portions of any media file. These are not terribly hard, once you get on to them but you will not find this information collected this compactly. This will give you the information you need to play through standalone players and to embedded media within your web pages. The media concentrates on QuickTime, RealMedia and Windows Media.
- We start with a regular link (just a simple link) to the media files themselves
- We then use the same kind of link format but this time to metafiles (which in turn call the media files).
- Next we extend the use of metafiles - the links are of the same type but to metafiles with multiple media files listed
- Finally we make use of additional code within pages to embedd media players directly inside the web pages.
Don't forget to make use of "view source" in your browser to learn by example.
The video files can be downloaded here (right click and download)
Main files: QuickTime, RealMedia, Windows Media
Faux advertising files for multi-file playlist as the first file in the list: QuickTime, RealMedia, Windows Media
Web Streaming Assignment Page
421PNon-Streaming Links
Link Directly to the media file itself and download
Variation No-1 - "Simple" Links - a direct link to a media file itself which will download before playing
Streaming Links
Link to a metafile (playlist) which is handed off to a Separate Player
Streaming 1) plays while the file is still downloading and 2) offers player controls such as play, pause, and so forth.
A separate file with a list of the file or files to be played is called either a playlist or a metafile. The list of files contains the file location, as does a link. In this case, the link in the web page does not go to the media file, instead, the link goes to the metafile/playlist which 1) causes the browser to call the appropriate media player which reads the metafile(playlist) and 2) causes the player to connect directly with the media file or files listed in the metafile.
Variation No-2 - Regular "Simple" links to the metafiles (the playlists) with only a single file to play.
QuickTime
RealMedia
Windows Media
Variation No-3 - Regular "Simple" links to the metafiles (the playlists) to play multiple files, one after another.
[not available for] QuickTime
RealMedia - This will show three files in succession using the RealMedia Player
Windows Media - This will show three files in succession using the Windows Media Player
Use metafile (playlist) as the source media link for Embedded Players
Variation No-4 - Embedding media files within a web page
Note: Next to each embedded player is a link which brings up a separate page with an embedded player (to simplify debugging).
Sometimes conflicts occur with more than one media player or player types on a page. between media player (Quicktime versus RealMedia versus Windows Media players or even versus more than one of the same type)QuickTime Embedded player
To play click on the play button. Or, if you are having problems keeping the different player code separate, click here for the same thing in a separate page: QuickTime
RealMedia Embedded player
To view the video click on the play button. Or, if you are having problems keeping the different player code separate, click here for the same thing in a separate page: RealMedia
Windows Media Embedded player
If the video doesn't start by automatically click on the play button. Or, if you are having problems keeping the different player code separate, click here for the same thing in a separate page: Windows Media
Streaming Links - Copy and Paste HTML from YouTube
Variation No-5 - YouTube has become a defacto video repository for the world with millions of videos and more video uploads per day than all the major US television networks output for the last 50 or 60 years. The easiest way to get video on the web and into your own pages without causing extra download traffic from your own website (YouTube takes the load). For this part of the assignment, go to YouTube.com to copy your own link and embed code and then paste it into your own page.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViUfB5MiknI - This "simple" link opens in new window at YouTube
This embedded player is pasted from YouTube into your own page