Orb 2.0 multimedia streaming software: test

Before going any further, remember that streaming is a continuous reading procedure that you would know from such sites as YouTube, webradio, webTV or even from watching movie trailers on the internet. The player will receive part of the digital contents which is will place in its memory buffer. When there is enough data available, playing will commence, with the continuous download of the stream taking place transparently in t he background.


There are two distinct types of streaming: static and dynamic. In the first instance, it is not necessary to have a dedicated server. A simple http server will do and it is this solution that offers you the possibility of sharing your digital contents. The file is simply offered for download and it is the Internet browser that performs the continuous read of the contents, with the help of dynamic contents players from the web. Good examples of these are Adobe Flash Player, QuickTime, Windows Media Player, DivX web player and Real Player.

You simply need to ensure that the correct modules are installed on the remote PC so that you can access the shared contents. In the case of the Nintendo Wii, you will need to download the Opera browser which is still only in beta testing, but integrates the Flash player. Largely depending on the size of the contents you want distributed, static streaming implies that you have a lot of bandwidth.

In the case of dynamic streaming, a dedicated server is required as you need to load and transmit the digital contents and this could vary depending on the quality (different display resolutions, etc). You will need to select the quality level that is available to your correspondent and their internet connection speed so as to obtain an optimal stream.