...Windows Media Architecture & Compressions

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Contents 1 Overview 2 Guidelines 3 Resources

[edit] Overview

Windows Media is the current generation of digital media delivery from Microsoft, replacing the original AVI non-streaming movie architecture. As Microsoft's cross-platform (sort of), multimedia software architecture, Windows Media is used to publish video and audio over the Internet from a proprietary RTSP "true streaming" NT server. Progressive download is also possible in order to save a file to your own computer's hard drive for subsequent playback. Windows Media displays and plays digital media through an application called the Windows Media Player.

Reference this web page for an overview of the Windows Media Architecture(authored by Media Solutions, University of Utah)

As well, a history and format overview is available in the article Windows Media from the Wikipedia.

Of course, Microsoft maintains its own home page about all things related to Windows Media.

As of April 2007, Microsoft has announced its Silverlight solution for delivery of rich media experiences and interactive applications over the web, with a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in. A suite of development and delivery tools is in the pipeline. For more information, use this URL link... http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/default01.aspx.

[edit] Guidelines

On a general, industry-wide level, Akamai has generated a whitepaper technical guide to "Best Practices in Digital Media Delivery" http://www.akamai.com/html/perspectives/whitepapers_content.html. No endorsements of Akamai products and services are to be inferred; however, the guide summarizes nicely the major media architectures and includes references to additional resources.

[edit] Resources

Windows Media Article from the Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media

Overview of the Windows Media Architecture, authored by Media Solutions, University of Utah

http://stream.uen.org/medsol/digvid/html/2B_mediaarchwinmedia1.html

Overview and History of Windows Media

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media

VC-1 Encoding Profiles from the Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VC1

Microsoft's Home Page for All Things Dealing with Windows Media

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/default.mspx

"Q&A with Microsoft's Ben Waggoner" on Windows Media, by Jan Ozer, Streaming Media, June 20, 2007

http://www.streamingmedia.com/article.asp?id=9625

Microsoft Silverlight media player

http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/default01.aspx

Showcase of Windows Media

http://www.windowsmedia.com/mg/home.asp?

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/musicandvideo/hdvideo/contentshowcase.aspx (HD Content)(Requires Windows OS)

General Information from Microsoft

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/default.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/demos.asp

"Testing the New Windows Media Encoding Profiles," by Jan Ozer, Streaming Media, July 27, 2007

http://www.streamingmedia.com/article.asp?id=9659

Akamai Whitepaper-- "Best Practices in Digital Media Delivery"

http://www.akamai.com/html/perspectives/whitepapers_content.html

NAB 2007- Major Announcements from Microsoft and Adobe Shake Up the World of Online Video

http://www.streamingmedia.com/article.asp?id=9549&page=1&c=31

Comparison of Media Architectures (using a 1-minute movie)(QuickTime, Real, WindowsMedia, MPEG-4, MPEG-1, MPEG-2)

Encoded and posted by Media Solutions, University of Utah

http://stream.uen.org/medsol/digvid/html/sampler_compare_archs.html

Comparison of Progressive Download & Streaming Movides, organized by production values found in source materials

Encoded and posted by Media Solutions, University of Utah

http://stream.uen.org/medsol/digvid/html/sampler_linear_movies.html

Streaming Media Format and Encoding Matrix (Windows Media, Real, QuickTime, Flash Video at various bandwidths)

Encoded and posted by MultiMediaPros, Inc.

http://www.multimediapros.com/encoding.asp (scroll to matrix at bottom of page)

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