HOW TO ADD VIDEO AND SOUND TO YOUR WEB

HOW TO ADD VIDEO AND SOUND TO YOUR WEB

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Just as images and text can be included in an HTML web page, so can audio and video, though with a bit of a twist. At this point, it's next to impossible to automatically display video or audio of any reasonable quality on your web page so anyone can see it. Rather, the reader will have to click on a link to download whatever video or audio clips you have available, and they will have to have a helper software application that can play the clip.

A helper is a program that works together with your browser. When the browser detects that a certain type of file is being downloaded, it checks an internal list of helper applications and loads the proper helper for the downloading file. It determines which helper to load via the extension at the end of the filename (.GIF for GIF89A, .JPG for JPEG, etc.). If the reader does not have the proper helper application on their system, they won't be able to view the file they're downloading.

Fortunately, there are a few programs that are, more or less, one-stop shops for audio and video clip viewing on PC-compatibles. For sound files, I recommend using Goldwave, a shareware program that can load a wide variety of the sound files you'll encounter. It also has an array of features for modifying the sound files, if you're interested in that. You can download Goldwave at http://web.cs.mun.ca/~chris3/goldwave.

For video files, you should try Nettoob, a full-featured shareware video display program. Nettoob can be downloaded from http://www.duplexx.com/.

If you are going to include any sound or video files on a web page, you should, as a convenience to your readers, include links on the same page to the above programs.

Here's an example:

Need program to display video? Download Nettoob now!

You can also include the exact "address" of the program in the link, so the user can download it without having to leave your website. If you do this, though, you must be vigilant about making sure the link remains correct (if the makers of Nettoob, for instance, move the program to a new directory, your link won't work anymore, you'll have to update it).

File Formats

As with image files, sound and video files have their own formats. These formats are not cross-platform (able to be used on both Macintosh AND PC-compatibles), however. Audio files are most commonly saved as .WAV (Windows), .AU (Sun Audio), .AIFF (Macintosh), or .RA (RealAudio) files, while video files are most commonly saved as .AVI (Windows), .MOV (Macintosh Quicktime), or .MPG (MPEG compressed video) files. Each of these formats has its own strengths and weaknesses, but there are some basic rules to follow.

For instance, if you are using the two programs mentioned earlier, you will be able to enjoy any of these formats with no problem. However, many people will not be using those programs. Most Windows users, for example, will already be able to view .AVI video files, and will, naturally, prefer them to .MOV or .MPG files. The easy solution is to provide multiple formats for each file.

The problems with this solution are: a) audio and video files take up a lot of storage space, which could result in higher fees from your Internet Service Provider; and b) if you are using "stock" audio/video (from a CD-ROM of public domain files, for instance), you'll have to have the software and the knowledge to convert the files into the formats you'll need.

This is the current state of the World Wide Web and personal computers in general, so, unfortunately, the only solution right now is just to deal with it on a case by case basis. My best suggestion is, if you can't convert files, or don't wish to use up storage space with duplicate versions of the same file, just post what you have. Let the reader work it out on their end. It's not the most "user-friendly" solution, but if the reader wants to see or hear what you're posting, they'll make the effort to get the proper software.

WHERE TO FIND VIDEO AND SOUND FILES

The obvious solution is to create your own, but creating audio and video on a computer is not as easy as drawing an image in Windows Paintbrush. Creating audio and video files requires additional hardware and software that the average computer user may not have.

Creating sound isn't so bad, if you have a soundcard and a microphone; audio capturing software is usually included with your soundcard. You will need to use the audio capture software to record your voice through the microphone, then save it in an appropriate sound file format.

Many audio capture programs also let you record audio from a CD playing in the CD-ROM drive. Be careful about this! If you record, for example, a portion of a song by your favorite artist and post it on your website, you could be violating copyright statutes. Be sure the CD you're recording from is royalty-free (see below).

If you don't have audio capture software, you can try Sonic Foundry's Sound Forge program (around $200), or try the Goldwave shareware program mentioned earlier.

Creating a custom video file on a PC-compatible, however, requires a video capture card ($500 and up) and video processing software such as Adobe Premiere (another $300 or so). Luckily, companies are emerging that will take your taped video and convert it to a video file for a fee. You can find these companies by searching for "video conversion" on the various Internet search databases (such as Yahoo, http://www.yahoo.com).

If you don't need a custom sound or video file, you're in luck, as there are numerous sources for "stock" sound and video clips. First and foremost are CD-ROM collections. These commercial products contain clips that are "royalty-free" (do not require the payment of licensing fees) and can be used at your website. These can be found in most any software mailorder catalog or computer store.

Another option is to visit Internet sound and video "archives." These are collections of audio and video (clip art images are also frequently available) that people are free to copy and use. To find these, go to a Web search database such as Yahoo (http://www.yahoo.com) and search for the word "archive." You'll be presented with a list of all records with that word in it, and can scan through the lists for sound and video sites.

(Be sure, however, before you use any of these resources that they really are free to use. If you copy an audio file, for example, from ESPN's website, you're taking copyrighted material for unauthorized reuse, which can result in legal repercussions.)

ADDING AUDIO AND VIDEO LINKS

Once you've collected your audio/video files, adding links in your web pages is just like linking to a document or another website. In fact, you already saw how to do it earlier with regards to linking to the Goldwave and Nettoob files.

Suppose you have a video file called WINDSURF.AVI that you'd like people to be able to download. Your link could look like this:

Download windsurfing video (853k).

Notice that I put the size of the file (853k) at the end of the link. You should always, always do this as a convenience for your readers, so they can gauge how long the download time would be. They may be using a 28.8bps modem (or even slower), and a file that size would take a long time to download.

That's basically all there is to it. When you add video or audio to your website, you're basically making files available for downloading. Unfortunately, at this time, there's no truly feasible way to show video as it's downloading, though it's in the works. With the new RealAudio sound format, you can play sound as it's downloading, but the reader must have the RealAudio player for this to work. If you want to use RealAudio at your website, you can get more information at http://www.realaudio.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE

INTERNET AND THE WORLD WIDE WEB

1. What is the Internet?

The Internet is an all-purpose term to describe the loosely interconnected global computer network linking information and people. Using Navigator to connect to the Internet, you can read the latest headlines, tap into financial services, download new software, listen to live broadcast events, and share ideas, information and E-mail with anyone connected to the Internet.

2. Isn't the Internet the World Wide Web?

No - the Web is the most popular component of the Internet. Colorful elecronic Web pages are chock-full of text and pictures, and many possess audio and video capabilities.

3. I thought America Online, CompuServe, The Microsoft Network, and Prodigy were the Web.

No, they are called online services. They are Internet service providers (ISPs) who provide a connection to the Internet and also provide proprietary content available only to their subscribers.

4. What does the term "cyberspace" mean?

It's a term for the entire online universe. It comes from a science fiction book called "Neuromancer" written by William Gibson.

5. What do I need to connect to the Internet?

Four things; a computer, a modem, an Internet connection, and a web browser program such as Netscape Navigator. (Included with your Infodisk ProPlus CD)

6. What kind of computer do I need?

The best option is a Pentium PC capable of running Windows 95 (Win95) or Windows 3.x. Netscape, the company that makes Navigator, recommends an IBM-compatible PC, 486 or faster processor, eight megabytes (MB) of random-access memory (RAM), running Win95, Windows NT, or Windows 3.1. You'll also need at least 18 to 30MB of free hard drive space for installing Navigator.

7. Do I need a special type of modem?

No. Several manufacturers such as 3Com's US Robotics, Hayes, and Motorola manufacture modems. The minimum modem speed you'll need to connect to the Internet is 14.4 kilobits bits per second (Kbps). The current standard is shifting to 33.6Kbps, and new 56Kbps standards are currently evolving.

8. Which modem should I buy?

If you don't have a modem, your best bet is to buy a 33.6Kbps modem that you can upgrade to 56Kbps. While it sounds complicated, this is very common. Just make sure when you buy a modem, you ask if it is upgradeable. Generally, there is no charge for a software upgrade from 33.6Kbps to 56Kbps modem. You will want to check and make sure the 56Kbps modem will be compatible with your ISP.

9. Where do I get a connection to the Internet?

From an Internet Service provider (also known as "ISP" for short). If you just bought a PC with Win95, chances are your new computer is already loaded with special offers from many ISPs. To check, left-click the Start button, select Programs, and look for a folder such as "Online Services" or "The Internet". If you see the one you want, say America Online (AOL) or AT&T, clicking on the icon starts the subscription process (you'll need a credit card to finish it). If it's not there, check into popular national ISPs such as Spryne or EarthLink, or check your local Yellow Pages for local ISPs.

10. How much does an Internet connection cost?

For a household account, you can expect to pay around $19.95 a month for unlimited access (though less expensive programs are available). In most cases, when you sign up with an ISP, you will receive special installation software that includes a Web browser.

11. How do I view the World Wide Web?

Open Windows, turn on your modem and make sure it's connected to a phone line. (If you have an internal modem, it's automatically turned on every time you start your computer.) Double-click the icon for the dialer program your ISP gave you. When the Internet connection has been established, double-click the Netscape Communicator icon. (If you have Win95, it's probably on your Desktop or listed under Start/Programs/Netscape Communicator. If you're using Windows 34.x, it's probably in the Netscape Communicator Program Group.) Then stand back as the Navigator screen opens and you're whisked onto the 'Net.

12. So how do I surf different web pages?

You can hop from one Web page to another, starting from your browser's home or start page. Click any link to go to another new page, where you can click any link to go to another page, etc. If you know exactly where you want to go, type the URL in the Location bar and hit ENTER. You also can use the Back and Forward buttons located on the toolbar to move among Web sites you've previously visited.

13. What's a home page?

It's a starting out point of a Web site, similar to a table of contents page in a book. Every site on the Web has a home page that tells you what you'll find inside. If you see a place that you want to go, simply click the links and away you go.

14. What are links?

Link is short for hypertext link or hyperlink. You'll quickly recognize a link when you visit a Web page because it's usually a phrase or image that stands out from the rest of the text and graphics on the page. For example, a link might be an underlined word or an icon that is set apart from the rest of the information on the page. Links connect you to other pages or places in a Web site. Simply move your mouse pointer over any highlighted word, phrase or image that you think is a link. If the word, phrase or image is a link, the on-screen pointer (which usually looks like an arrow) will change to a pointing finger. Another way to tell if you found a hyperlink is to look at the gray message bar at the bottom on the Navigator window. When your pointer is pointing to a link, you'll see the corresponding page's URL.

15. What's a URL?

URL is short for universal resource locator also known as a Web address. Every place on the Web has an address or URL. For example, http://www.netscape.com is the URL for Netscape's home page. The URL will appear in the Location box located beneath the toolbar.

16. What is the "http?"

The "http" stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. Most URLs follow this format: http://www.name.com. It's always followed by a colon (:) and a double slash (//).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT

NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR & COMMUNICATOR

1. What is Netscape Navigator?

Netscape Navigator is a special software program called a Web browser that lets you interact with all components that make up the Internet. With Navigator, you can view or "browse," and even create your own electronic Web pages on the World Wide Web.

2. How much does Navigator cost?

The usual retail price is between $49 and $89 (Prices will vary. Best buys are at computer and office superstores. Keep in mind that Netscape offers various rebates and promotions.) However, a copy of the latest version of Navigator 4.0 is included in the Infodisk ProPlus.

3. What's the difference between Navigator and Communicator Standard?

The download version of Navigator includes the Web browser and Netcaster, the company's subscription push channel service (see questions 67-68). Netscape Communicator Standard edition includes a full suite of components such as Messenger, that let you send and receive E-mail; Collabra, that lets you read and subscribe to newsgroups (see questions 97-98); Composer, that lets you create your own Web pages; and Conference to perform advanced Internet communications such as audioconferencing. For advanced users, a Professional edition has even more features, including Calendar, a Web-based personal information manager.

4. Which one should I get?

The Infodisk ProPlus CD-ROM includes both the Netscape Navigator and the Commnicator 4.x.

5. How do I install Navigator?

If you have Navigator on diskette or CD-ROM, you can install it just like any other software. (For more information, see "Installing Communicator & Navigator" in this issue.)

6. What do the rest of the buttons on the Navigation Toolbar do?

Clicking "Home" zips you to your start page. Reload forces your current Web page to be retransmitted or reloaded. The Print button sends the current web page to your printer and prints it.

7. What about the other buttons?

The Security button controls Navigator security settings such as passwords and making sure sites are secure. (Secure sites have a closed lock icon displayed in the bottom left-hand corner of the Navigator screen.) The Search button sends you the Netscape Net Search page with links to popular Web search engines such as Yahoo! The Guide button takes you to a "best of" listing of what's on the Internet with familiar categories ranging from Business to Sports. Stop halts the transfer of any incoming Web page.

8. What's underneath the Navigation Toolbar?

That's called the Location Toolbar. It houses your Bookmarks and Location bar.

9. How come the space underneath the Navigation Toolbar is blank?

That area is called your Personal Toolbar. It's where you can put your favorite Web sites. It works like a bookmark, but favorite Web sites appear as shortcut buttons.

10. How do I customize the Personal Toolbar?

Easy. Go to the Web site you want to add to your Personal Toolbar. Move your mouse over the Page Proxy icon located between Bookmarks and Location bar. The icon will move and your mouse arrow will turn into a hand. Hold the left button on your mouse down, drag the icon to your Personal Toolbar and then release the mouse button. Ba-bing! A button containing the Web site shortcut appears on your Personal Toolbar.

11. Is there any way to speed up Web browsing?

One of the fastest and easiest ways is to reduce the amount of data coming in. The more pictures, graphics and images stored on a page, the longer a Web page takes to load. To turn multimedia effects on or off, from the Edit menu, click Preferences, and under Category, click Advanced. Depending on whether you want to turn them on or off, select or unselect Automatically load images, Enable Java, and Enable JavaScript. If something looks interesting, you can always click the icon and call up the image.

12. What is a plug-in?

A small software program can be added to your Web browser in order to extend its capabilities. For more information on specific plug-ins, see the "Plug-ins" section of this issue.

13. What's an example of a plug-in?

RealAudio and Shockwave are two plug-ins that let you listen to audio and play video and animation files, respectively. Presently, there are more than 176 plug-ins for Navigator.

14. How do I know what plug-ins I have?

Communicator comes with the most popular plug-ins already built in. To find out which plug-ins you have go to Help, then select About Plug-ins. You'll see a chart that tells you exactly what plug-ins have been installed.

15. How do I know if I'm missing a plug-in?

If you need a plug-in to activate a special feature on a Web site, a window will pop-up in Navigator and tell you.

16. How do I get a plug-in?

You'll be given the opportunity to go download the missing plug-in, install it, and then return to the original site to see what you were missing.

17. Is there any one place on the Web that will tell me about plug-ins?

Certainly the best place is on the Netscape site. The company tests every plug-in before making it available. You also can check Browser Watch's Plug-In Plaza (http://browserwatch.internet.com/plug-in.html).

18. After I get the file, how do I install it?

Win95 users open Windows Explorer, Windows 3.x users open File Manager. Look for the folder Navigator indicated to which it would download the file. When you find it, double-click the .EXE file, and the setup program will start.

19. Does every download work the same?

Not exactly. Some files are compressed, which means the files have been smooshed together. Compressing the files saves time during the download. These compressed files, which usually will have a .ZIP or .EXE file extension, have to be decompressed. In most cases, double-clicking the file starts the process.

20. Where else can I find software to download?

The Web is brimming with places such as CNET's Download.com (http://www.download.com) or Shareware.com (http://www.shareware.com). Both warehouse every flavor of software imaginable. Also check www.telepages.com for downloads of promotional marketing software that may be offered from time to time.

21. How can I find out about other Navigator or Communicator software?

You can subscribe to Netcenter News, a free monthly service. To read a sample issue and subscribe, go to http://home.netscape.com/netcenter and select In-Box Direct. Netcenter is also a terrific one-stop gateway to find lots of information about Netscape products. Bookmark it. You also can click on Help to find the latest version of Navigator, plus links to plug-ins and other member services.

COMMON WEBSITE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

COMMON WEBSITE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q: Do I need a modem to have a website?

A: No. Various people and services will prepare and maintain your website for you. However, it's highly advisable that you obtain a modem as soon as possible, so you can both verify that your work is actually being done for you, and so you can receive email responses generated by your website.

Q: I put up a website with a company that told me that there are 30,000,000 people on the Internet, and that I'd receive tons of sales. I've yet to receive a single response. What's the problem?

A: There are a number of things you should know and understand before you advertise on the Web. First, there aren't 30,000,000 people on the Internet. That figure is severely inflated - it's more like 12-15,000,000. Most of those people won't be interested in what you have to offer. That's just life.

The ones that might be interested need to know how to find you. Does the service you've signed up with list you in all of the major search databases? Unless someone already has the URL (address) of a specific website they want to visit, they will go to one of these databases and search under the subject they're interested in. If you aren't there, this person will never know about you. If this service doesn't insert you into the databases, it doesn't matter what kind of Internet Mall your website's in, you'll only get a trickle of traffic. You'll need to do it yourself.

Q: I want to put a lot of large images on my website, as well as a video of myself that will play when someone accesses my website. Is this feasible?

A: Yes and no. When creating a website, you should keep in mind that most people will be accessing your site with a 33,600 bps modem. This is relatively slow, and will result in long download times for large images. In general, it's a good practice to keep individual images under 20k in size, smaller if possible. If your site takes too long to download, people will become impatient and will leave before it's finished loading.

As for the video, there are technologies in development which will allow for videos to play as they're downloading. As of now, though, visitors to your site would have to click on a link to download the entire video first, before they could view it. Video files can be extremely large, and could result in extensive download times (and storage expense on your side, depending on your Internet Service Provider's pricing structure). Be sure your video is crucial to your site before you put it up.

Q: How can I tell how many people have visited my website?

A: There are many ways to do this. The simplest method is to add a counter to your website. Check with your Internet Service Provider on how to do this, as the procedure varies from provider to provider. It is usually as simple as adding one line of code to your HTML document.

Be sure, however, that you add a visit counter, rather than a hit counter. A visit counter adds 1 to the total when someone visits your site. A hit counter adds 1 to the total each time something downloads from your site. So, if you have four images on your page and one person visits it, a hit counter will register five hits: one for the page itself, and one for each graphic. This might make you think that five people have visited, when only one has.

If your service provider does not have a visit counter available, you can register with various outside firms that will audit your website. Prices and deliverables for this service vary. Here are two services you can check: Wishing Com (http://204.119.16.17/), Internet Audit Bureau (http://www.internet-audit.com/).

Q: Is it possible to tell where someone heard about my website when they visit (similar to having a key in a print ad, so you can attribute a response to a particular magazine or newspaper)?

A: It may be, depending on your Internet Service Provider. As noted in the above question, most providers have a CGI-Script (a program you can call from your website) that can count visitors for you. Some CGI-Scripts will maintain a log of visitor information, possibly including where they came from. Knowing this information is very valuable, as you can find out what outlets are most useful for promoting your website. If your service provider cannot do this for you, you can always put a form on your website asking people to type in where they heard about your website. (IDEA: Put a list of every place you promote your website in the form as a pull-down menu. That way, people can just click on the proper answer, rather than having to type it in. Convenience will always increase your response!)

Q: I've written a book and would like visitors to my website to be able to pay for and download the book. They should be able to fill out a form with their name, address, and credit card information. Only after they've filled this out will they be able to download the book. Is this possible?

A: It may be, again depending on your service provider. Check with your provider to see if they have CGI-Scripts available for passwords and custom form thank you pages (the page the visitor sees after they fill out and submit a form). Then, what you'll need to do is password protect the page where visitors download your book. Set up a custom thank you page that contains the password and a hyperlink to the downloading page. When your visitor fills out the form and submits it, they'll get the page with the password. When they click on the link, they'll be asked for the password. They type it in, and they're allowed to access the download page. You should change your passwords frequently, preferably daily, to help keep things secure.

This isn't foolproof, though. Someone could submit a blank or only partially filled out form and get the password. By and large, though, Internet users are honest, and any fraudulent downloads should be more than compensated by the extremely high profit margin on the product (no printing expense, virtually no delivery expense).

The other way you can do this is to email the password to the buyer after you receive their filled out form in your email. The advantage to this is that you can verify the information on the form, and eliminate any blank or partial forms. The disadvantage is the buyer does not get their product immediately, which negates one of the advantages of selling information on the web. You need to weigh these factors when deciding how you want to do business.

A final option would be to encrypt the book file with a program such as PKZIP. After your customer downloads the file, they contact you for the password.

Q: How can I get my website recognized by some of the Cool Site of the Day websites?

A: Good question. For those who haven't seen them, there are many websites which are nothing more than groups of links to other websites that are deemed to be beneficial in some way, or just plain "cool". Each website has its own criteria, which are usually about 90% subjective, based on the tastes of the person who maintains the website. Usually, though, you will need to have a website that is either innovative in its presentation (graphically exciting, or making use of new web technologies like Java, Shockwave, VRML, etc.), comprehensive in content, or, most frequently, humorous in nature.

You can see a decent list of these sites by visiting the Yahoo database (http://www.yahoo.com) and clicking on the topic "Computers: WWW". From there, you will be presented with a list of subtopics, including "Cool Sites". Click there, and you will get a list of these websites, which you can then check out for details.

(Some people may be asking, why would you want to be listed on one of these websites, anyway? The simple answer is traffic. Being listed as a "cool site" will increase traffic through your website immensely the day you're listed. Most of these websites maintain a list of sites that were previous cool sites of the day. You'll be on that list, too, and people who search through the list will find your link. It's hard to get picked as a cool site, but if you do, you'll notice it!)