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Where
video has to be compressed to send down the web, you need a software
player to watch that compressed video. In the near
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future
these players will be standard everywhere, but some of you might
have to download one (don't worry they're free).
The quality of video you can receive is mainly limited by the
size of the "pipe" that connects you to the Internet.
If you have a small pipe (like an ordinary telephone line) the
video must be highly compressed to allow you to watch it. While
this does limit the picture quality, it does at least work for
everyone.
There are faster connections like cable, ISDN and ultimately
satellite links, but what’s really made the difference
is the rollout of ADSL technology. The Holy Grail of high-speed
Internet connection to the mass market. |
A standard connection can currently achieve
up to 2 megabytes per second and in future 8MB/s. This means download
times are now approximately 40 times faster than the current analog
modems. This makes the Internet very much faster, and allows web sites
to include better graphics, audio and in particular video.
All this through the same existing copper wires connected to millions
of homes. In the UK this is mainly available through BT's "Openworld"
system and is now as little as £20 per month.
So
as you can see, streaming does work, but if you've got an ordinary
telephone connection perhaps the picture isn't as large as you
hoped for. This is not about the quality of the original video
(which was broadcast standard), but as a result of the compression
required to allow us to stream it.
The Broadband Explosion is however upon us in the UK, but in
other parts of the world like the US they have already forgotten
what a dail-up modem ever souded like!
The Painted Dog will provide
expert advice and consultancy making it as easy as possible
to integrate high-quality streaming content with an existing
website.
The Painted Dog
is dedicated to making streaming media simple and takes a professional,
no-nonsense approach to streaming.
The Painted Dog
will provide all the help you need to get your media online.
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