VIDEO HELP


ABOUT

All video content is made available as a "stream". Streaming video lets you watch the file on your computer over the
Internet. Unlike most Internet software, like your web browser, a streaming file doesn't have to complete downloading
before you can view to it. This means that soon after you click a link to hear a piece of streaming video, it starts
playing. How soon it starts playing, the quality of the sound, and whether or not it plays smoothly all depend on your
computer and network connection.

Nearly any computer that has a graphical user interface and can connect to the Internet can play streaming video
files, but your streaming media experience will be greatly enhanced by:

» A Reliable, Preferably Fast, Internet Connection

Video clips are optimally streamed using a broadband connection (128K or higher), though the minimum necessary to
stream video is a 28k modem connection. Your best experience will be had with a broadband internet connection
(cable or DSL). Please note, when you stream video at the minimum connection or if you stream it at a speed that your
connection cannot sustain the stream is more likely to skip. Your choice of Internet Service Provider (ISP) also affects
how well streaming media will play on your computer. If your player continually has to pause while playing streaming
media, try a different ISP, if you can, and see if there is a noticeable difference in media performance.

» A Fast Computer

No matter how fast your Internet connection, a fast computer will always improve the way streaming video looks.
Streaming video is very compressed, and requires quite a bit of computing power to decompress. Slow computers will
not be able to decompress the file fast enough, and will often drop parts of the sound/image or pause to compensate.
If you are using a PC, you should have at least a Pentium Pro or Celeron processor. If you are using a Mac your
computer should have at least a PowerPC 604 or G3 processor. No matter what type of computer you have, make
sure you have enough memory for all the applications you are running. A minimum for most computers and media
players is 64mb.

» The Right Software

We try to post all files in two different streaming formats: Flash and Windows Media. We hope that by providing this
range of formats, you will already have a player for at least one of these formats intalled and working on your
computer. If you have a recent version of Windows (Windows98, 2000, or XP), you probably already have Windows
Media Player installed. We recommend that you upgrade the player on your computer to the most recent version (click
here) for the best results.

The software used to compress and decompress streaming files (technically, the codec) is always being improved. If
you are using Windows Media Player or Flash, make sure you are using a fairly recent version. To install or upgrade
your media player, see the links we have provided below.

» A Little Patience

Configuring a computer to view streaming files can take a little time, and sometimes a little trial and error is necessary.
Furthermore, software like Flash can be a little invasive and pushy, and takes a few minutes to setup. If you set up
your computer to play streaming media when you're not in a rush and have a little time to mess with it, your overall
experience will be much better.

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Download a Player


» Download a free Windows Media player:

Windows Media Player for Windows and Mac OS

>> Download the latest version of Adobe Flash Macromedia (Flash)
You need this in order to watch video from YouTube, MySpace, Grouper, iFilm and most other third party video sites.

Click Here


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Trouble with Video


» Help with Flash: Click Here
» Help with Windows Media Player: Click Here

» I get the message, "Windows Media Player cannot find the specified file. Be sure the path is typed correctly. If it is,
the file does not exist in the specified location, or the computer where the file is stored is offline." Help!

You can read Microsoft's recommendations for what to do here. Something else that seems to work for some folks is to
open Windows Media Player first; then go to File > Open URL in Windows Media Player and enter the URL (web
address) of the recording. You can obtain the URL by holding the mouse over the Windows Media link on our web
page, pressing the right mouse button, and then selecting "Copy Shortcut". Then you can paste the web address
(using Control-V) where Window Media Player is asking for it.

» My streaming video is skipping, freezing, or pausing. What can I do?

First, check your Internet connection. Video clips are optimally streamed at a 56k modem connection or higher, though
the minimum necessary to stream video is a 28k modem connection. Please note, that when you stream video at the
minimum connection the stream is more likely to skip. If you have a limited connection speed when you are streaming
media do not try to load webpages, download e-mail, or otherwise use your bandwidth. The stream will take all of your
bandwidth and will skip or freeze if you try to use your bandwidth for other tasks.

If you find that you are having trouble with a particular stream format, please try one of the other formats.

» I'm sure that I have my player software installed correctly and I still can't see/hear anything.

Streaming requires that the Internet connection between our computer and yours be free of "traffic jams." The Internet
isn't a direct pipeline from our computer to yours. Our streamed content passes through many other computers along
the way, and these computers are outside our (and your) control. If any of them is carrying too much other traffic, our
streamed content may be slowed down. If you are viewing to our content, and it suddenly stops for a few seconds,
then returns, this is probably why. If the problem is bad enough, you may even lose the signal completely, and get an
error message. If that happens, go back to the web page you started from, and press the link again.

» I've looked through all this material and I still can't figure out what is up!

If you are still having troubles with any video or audio files on www.sharianton.com, please email:
support@eclectics.com. Please include the web address of the page with the link, along with an exact description of
the file (WindowsMedia, or Flash; and what speed Internet connection).

Shari's video was produced by COS Productions. To watch additional COS videos, visit:

MySpace
Grouper
YouTube
iFilm



Thanks to COS Productions for the use of this video help page.

Book Trailer ® is a US Registered Trademark to Circle of Seven Productions. It's use or any variation of the term
" Book Trailer" is prohibited without express consent of Circle of Seven Productions. All Circle of Seven Productions
clients, or third party users of client videos, have permission to use the term in relation to a COS product.