encoding video for universal web viewing and web video display help

[jelloshotsrule]

my question is two fold, but i'll give you basic background of the goal.

a page with text descriptions of video clips, and then when the link for each is clicked, a window pops up at the size of the movie, and plays the video as it's downloaded (ie fast start)... so, the questions:

1. what is the best, most universal way for people to see video? i mean, obviously h264 or mpeg 4 or divx are all good for quality vs filesize, but i just hate the idea of someone not being able to view a particular film cause they are computer illiterate and didn't download 3ivx for mac or whatever. i'm open to the idea of putting up 2 options (either big/small file, or mp4/divx) but i'd still like to make it as simple as possible and wondered what web peoples' takes on this was.

2. what would be some sample code to make a link do that, ie, open up the movie in a window of x by y size and load up the appropriate media player, etc..?


sorry if this is unclear, i'm not really a web person, more of the video side, but i'm looking to make it easier for my friend to put up videos so whatever i can do/learn would be helpful.

thanks!

 

[Rower_CPU]

I'd suggest going with a QuickTime 6 (probably sorenson codec) file - QT embeds in a web page a lot better than WMV. QT6 is also widespread enough that folks should have it.

Check out Apple's trailer pages for the embedding code. For the new window script, check out the following: http://www.pageresource.com/jscript/j_a_02.htm

 

[apple2991]

I have noticed an increasing trend toward Flash video.

 

[evil_santa]

You could put up a QT file and a link to Windows Media file. I send a lot of movie files to my clients, & have found that not every one has QT installed, especially in a corporate environment. You could try mp4 as WMplayer should play this.

Where I work we have to get IT to install QT & have to Justify why we need it, and I work in TV!

 

[jelloshotsrule]

I have noticed an increasing trend toward Flash video.

pardon my ignorance, but what exactly is this? just a way to encode video that then plays as though it's a flash file?

i assume i'd need flash to create this file?


thanks for the tips all.

santa (and all) - would the regular qt encoded mp4 play in the new win media player? not having a pc it's hard to test all this.

 

[jelloshotsrule]

quick query from an ignorant web dude

so when i'm setting up a line of text to open up a new window with the proper size constraints.... how exactly do i attach it to the text? is it considered a link? i'm talking specifically about doing this:

window.open("http://www.yahoo.com","","width=400,height=400") //window with dimensions 400x400

i'm using dreamweaver just fyi..

 

[MacFan25863]

What about AVI? Anyone one Windows can view it with WMP. I know its a sucky format, but the vast majority of your viewers will be able to see it.

 

[jelloshotsrule]

What about AVI? Anyone one Windows can view it with WMP. I know its a sucky format, but the vast majority of your viewers will be able to see it.

hmm, well the option of having a qt version and wmv version might be better than having avi... what codec would you use though, cinepak i guess?

i'm leaning towards the qt version opening in a window and wmv as a file d/l. not sure how much options to present as far as quality/file size though.. trying to keep it simple and it's for a site that people will probably be willing to download qt to view or something (ie, you'd have to be interested in the site to even bother viewing, so to download qt isn't that big a deal)... thanks

 

[rendezvouscp]

Who's your audience? I'm about to go h.264 next month for my website, just because I know I can get people to install the latest version of QT7 in order to view the movies available. You can also check the movies page of the Media section on my website for code, or look at this article from A List Apart for the accessible way to make pop-ups.

Actually, let me just make it easy on you. I suggest doing it ALA's way, but here's the inefficient way I currently use pop-ups on my website.

The html code (400 is window width, 310 is window height):
<a href="javascript:;" onclick="openBrWindow('html_file.html','','400','310','no')">Text!</a>

The JS script that is linked on that page in the head:
http://homepage.mac.com/rendezvouscp/Elements/media.js

Hope it helps.
-Chase