Making Your Browser Sing and Dance: Using Multimedia on the Web
While most of the web pages you visit consist of text and still pictures, a large number of sites use video, sound and animation to make their pages more interesting and interactive. Most of these multimedia pieces, however, cannot be handled by the browser alone and require additional "helper" software called plug-ins.
A plug-in is a small program which "plugs into" a larger application and expands its features. There are dozens of plug-ins and support programs for Netscape Communicator and Internet Explorer but there is no reason to install all or even most of them. Five plug-ins/programs, QuickTime, RealMedia, Shockwave/Flash, Windows Media Player and Acrobat Reader, will probably cover all your multimedia needs - until new technologies comes along, of course.
If the web site you are viewing needs a particular plug-in, you will usually find out the first time you visit. Very often, the code in the page or the browser itself will check to see if you have the correct type and version of the software. If not, you will see a message (not always a clear one) which will refer you to another web site to learn more about the plug-in and download it.
This page will cover the five plug-ins that are the most widely supported. But before we go into the details, here are some general suggestions for getting the best web multimedia experience:
- Have your computer plugged into a fast connection. A DSL or cable modem line will give you a much better experience than the fastest dial-up modem. A high speed direct connection to your school (usually called a T1 line) is about as good as you can get (without breaking the bank).
- Use a computer with at least 256 mb of RAM memory. As with most multimedia software, the more memory you have the better your experience.
- Use the most up to date browser your computer can handle. On a Macintosh, that means Safari or Firefox, if you are using OS X, or Internet Explorer 5 or Netscape 7 if you have OS 9. With Windows XP you should use the most current version of Firefox (recommended) or Internet Explorer. With earlier versions of Windows, use the best version of Netscape or Internet Explorer your computer can handle.
Note: Avoid using version 6 of Netscape
- And finally, keep the plugins up to date. New versions come out on a regular basis so you may find that a site says you don't have a particular plug-in when you know you do. It probably means you need to upgrade to the latest version.
Note: The older your operating system (and the older your computer), the less likely that your browser will be able to keep up with the latest versions of the plug-ins.
With that foundation, now it's time to find get your browser ready to look at the good stuff. Click on each link below for information about the plug-in, where to get it and how to install it.
QuickTime
The video you find on many web sites, including movie trailers, is stored in QuickTime (QT) format. With earlier version of QT you had to wait for the full movie to download to your computer before it would begin playing. More recent QT movies are set up to "stream" which means they will begin playing before the entire movie has downloaded. QT files don't have to be videos since some sites use the format to deliver music and spoken word programs. And QT can also be used to display "virtual reality" movies (called QuickTime VR) which allow you to see a 360 degree panorama or to rotate an object.
QuickTime also has a "pro" option which costs $29.95. Unless you are planning to create and edit QuickTime movies, you don't need to pay a penny to use the software to view QT files.
Current version: 7.1
Comes with: QuickTime is standard on all Macintosh computers and includes plugins for Firefox and Safari. Installing QuickTime in Windows will add the plug-in to all currently installed browsers.
Where to get it: QuickTime download page.
Installing: After the download, double-click on the installer and follow the prompts. Except in rare cases, accept the default settings. You may have to restart the computer after installation. Note that the current version of QuickTime for Windows also installs the free iTunes software.
For additional information on QuickTime visit Apple's Quicktime home page.
Shockwave/Flash
Shockwave and Flash are actually two parts of the same technology which allow web designers to produce high quality animation and deliver it relatively quickly to web pages. Flash files are most often used for fancy animation while Shockwave files also allow for a great deal of interactivity. When visiting a site you don't really need to know which technology is being used - that's the plug-in's job.
Current versions: Shockwave 8.5.325, Flash 8
Comes with: current versions of Firefox, Safari, Netscape Communicator, Internet Explorer
Where to get it: Macromedia's download page (download only the Shockwave installer)
Install: After downloading the file (the Shockwave installer will install both plug-ins), doubleclick the installer and follow the prompts. At each step, accept the defaults. The files that were installed are only part of the ones needed. After installation, the program will start your browser and connect to the Shockwave web site to download the remaining components and complete the installation. This takes about 10 minutes on a 56K modem. You may have to restart the computer after installation.
For additional information on Shockwave and Flash visit Shockwave.com.
Real Media Player
Real Player started life as Real Audio but the technology has evolved so that it could play video and animation as well as sound. Today on the web you will find many web sites which offer programs of "streaming" of sound and/or video. Real Player allows you to watch extended programs (including live broadcasts) without transfering a huge file to your hard drive. QuickTime now has similar streaming features but the RealMedia format is far more widely used for this purpose.
RealMedia also sells a player with more features for around $30. If you download that version, it will ask you to register and pay online. However, with the basic players you will be able to view programs at almost any site using the RealMedia format.
Current version: 8.6.0
Comes with: Netscape Communicator
Where to get it: RealMedia Player site - towards the bottom of the page, click on link for RealPlayer 8 Basic
Installing: After the download, double-click on the installer and follow the prompts. Except in rare cases, accept the default settings. After installation, the program will start your browser and connect to the RealMedia web site to "complete" the installation. The only purpose here is to get you to register the software; you can safely cancel this operation. You may have to restart the computer after installation.
For additional information on RealMedia and the Real Player visit the Real Networks home page.
Windows Media Player
Windows Media Player is Microsoft's all purpose audio and video player. It works very much like Real Player in that it plays both streaming media and stand-alone files.
Current version: 10 (Windows), 9 (Mac)
Comes with: Internet Explorer (Windows)
Where to get it: Windows Media site
Installing: After the download, double-click on the installer and follow the prompts. Except in rare cases, accept the default settings. If you are using the most current version of Windows XP, Media Player is updated automatically with the rest of the OS.
Note that the Mac version of Media Player is not available for the new Intel-based computers. Microsoft is recommending use of a plug in for QuickTime from xxx company to play audio and video in Media Player format.
For additional information on Media Player for Windows visit the Microsoft Media Player site. For information on Media Player for the Macintosh, visit the Microsoft Mac site.
Acrobat Reader
Acrobat Reader is not really a multimedia player (although it can carry sound and video files) but the PDF format used by the Reader is so common on the web that I've included it here anyway. Documents are stored in the PDF format so that when you open them they will have the same appearance as the original without needing the software used to create them. In addition, PDF files are usually much smaller than the original allowing them to be sent to web pages much faster.
Current version: 7
Comes with: Almost every computer sold and on the same CD with many different commercial programs.
Where to get it: Adobe Acrobat Reader download page
Install: After downloading the file, doubleclick the installer and follow the prompts. At each step, accept the defaults. You may have to restart the computer after installation.
For additional information on Acrobat Reader and PDF visit the Acrobat Reader main page
