streaming/progressive download

[bpk]

Hello,
I need answers to these questions for research purposes for building a webpage.

1. Can streaming software be installed on a normal web server and videos streamed on a local host?
2. Can streaming be provided over HTTP?
3. Does streaming software handle everything required to stream videos or do we have to do something as well?
4. If videos are to be provided using progressive download, can it be delivered using flash? If yes, how? Does it need to be converted first?
5. What does youtube use? I'm assuming progressive download, but how are videos converted to flash as soon as users upload them?
6. If progressive download stores videos locally, where exactly does it store them? Can users actually find them?

I hope i'd be able to receive answers to my questions.
Thank you.

[PeejAvery]

1. Can streaming software be installed on a normal web server and videos streamed on a local host?
Yes.

2. Can streaming be provided over HTTP?
Yes.

3. Does streaming software handle everything required to stream videos or do we have to do something as well?
Depends on the software.

4. If videos are to be provided using progressive download, can it be delivered using flash? If yes, how? Does it need to be converted first?
Well, the videos aren't usually converted to flash but played in a flash player. Converting videos to an actual flv or swf is not common.

5. What does youtube use? I'm assuming progressive download, but how are videos converted to flash as soon as users upload them?
Most videos are not converted but read by a flash plugin.

6. If progressive download stores videos locally, where exactly does it store them? Can users actually find them?
Progressive downloads are kept in cache on the system that only the media player can interpret. Your chances of someone being able to save the video is very slim.

[SuperKoko]

6. If progressive download stores videos locally, where exactly does it store them? Can users actually find them?

I don't go to youtube often, but once I went to youtube.
After the file is entirely downloaded, you can find it in the browser cache directory (e.g. Opera\profile\cache4), as a .swf file.
Then, some video players have codecs for it.
For example, mplayer played it fine. Actually, I was impressed by the smooth playing of mplayer compared to the slow playing and small window offered by the flash player plugin.

[bpk]

Yes.


Yes.


Depends on the software.


Well, the videos aren't usually converted to flash but played in a flash player. Converting videos to an actual flv or swf is not common.


Most videos are not converted but read by a flash plugin.


Progressive downloads are kept in cache on the system that only the media player can interpret. Your chances of someone being able to save the video is very slim.
you said it can be installed on a regular web server, but would it be appropriate for it to be used on a web server which needs to store a website? or should there be a dedicated server just for streaming alone?

[PeejAvery]

you said it can be installed on a regular web server, but would it be appropriate for it to be used on a web server which needs to store a website? or should there be a dedicated server just for streaming alone?
That also depends, but it depends on your bandwidth and visitors you expect on your site.

[bpk]

That also depends, but it depends on your bandwidth and visitors you expect on your site.
will it be costly to set up a streaming server?

[PeejAvery]

Man, you like "depends" questions. :D

Linux Server = free
Apache = free
Streaming software = depends on the software package you buy.

[bpk]

Man, you like "depends" questions. :D

Linux Server = free
Apache = free
Streaming software = depends on the software package you buy.
lol sorry.
if you were to choose between streaming and progressive. which would you choose?

[PeejAvery]

Progressive. If the bandwidth on the client side is low, streaming can really be a pain. If you are worried about tight security, go streaming.

[bpk]

Progressive. If the bandwidth on the client side is low, streaming can really be a pain. If you are worried about tight security, go streaming.
it's not really possible for people to save videos watched using progressive download right?
i mean yeah you can, but how hard is it?

[PeejAvery]

Haha. Once again, that depends on the software you use to encode the video file and also what software it is opened with. Quicktime caches their progressive downloads and were able to be renames to .mov file. This has changed and can't be done anymore. Use a flash player and you should not be as at risk.

[bpk]

Haha. Once again, that depends on the software you use to encode the video file and also what software it is opened with. Quicktime caches their progressive downloads and were able to be renames to .mov file. This has changed and can't be done anymore. Use a flash player and you should not be as at risk.
alright.
thank you so much for all of your replies.
appreciate it.

[PeejAvery]

Glad I could be of help. Good luck with the rest! :thumb:

[bpk]

just another quick question.
how exactly do you use flash to play your files on a webpage?

[PeejAvery]

Well, you can either purchase or write a Flash player. In essence it acts like an online iTunes or Media Player.

[bpk]

what about using quicktime?

[PeejAvery]

You just need streaming software that supports Quicktime formats.

[bpk]

You just need streaming software that supports Quicktime formats.
is it possible to use quicktime for progressive downloads?

[PeejAvery]

Yes. You really should invest some time in Google. They have a marvelous search engine for all your questions.