What Does “Online Media” Mean?

Many Buzzwords for Online Media

Podcasts Webcasts Streaming video mp3 Vlogs …more

Media Files Can Be VERY Large

People want the same quality online that they experience at home

Better quality requires: more information large files

Online Media is “Compressed”

Data is removed to make the file smaller

Quality can be affected

Online Media uses a “Player”.

Players take a minute or two to install Some are standard

Windows Media QuickTime Flash Apple iTunes

Sometimes custom player software is created

Three Flavors of Online Media

Downloading Streaming Webcasting

Downloading:

Media file is downloaded to a person’s computer

Like a Word document or image file Cannot be played until downloaded

Downloading:

Advantages Can play the media anytime you want. Media files may be sent as attachments with an email

Disadvantages Media files can be very large. Can take a long time to download, even with a broadband Cannot be watched or listened to until it has completely

finished downloading Can limit the impact of using a media file to

communicate something..

Streaming:

Instant gratification for your audience File may or may not be downloaded File is large Example

Streaming:

Advantages File begins to play as soon as enough of it is

downloaded. Experience the media a little bit at a time.

Disadvantages File can pause for a second or two while the download catches

up with the playing.

Webcasting:

Like streaming, but… Media file is never downloaded to the computer

Stored on the website, or a special computer called a media server.

Live or scheduled. Radio station simulcasting their programs on the internet.

Webcasts can use special website software, a standard media player or a custom media player.

Example

Webcasting:

Advantages Audience can see a media program or event

as it happens Webcast can be converted to a downloaded or

streaming file for viewing later.

Disadvantages Depends on a high bandwidth connection

Online Media Examples

Download Streaming WebcastRadio Station XCNN X XiTunes X XYouTube XPodcast Xvlog (video blog) X X

YouTube

Free video sharing site. Converts file to a streaming format Posts it to the YouTube site. File can be public or private. Standard length is 10 minutes Longer/larger files can be uploaded for an

additional fee. Example

Podcasts

Usually audio files (but they can be video files called vodcasts)

Like radio or TV shows Example

Podcasts

Advantage Can “subscribe” to the show and get a notice that a new show

is available Latest show is automatically downloaded to your iPod (using

iTunes) or other mp3 media player. Sometimes the podcast program is streamed from the

creator’s website.

Vlog, or Video Blog

A streamed video file Takes the place of written text on a

blog. Can be subscribed to People can leave comments about it Program may also be made into a

vodcast for downloading