When trying to create cross platform media experiences for use
on the web, there are only a few options open to you. Now we have a new
one on the table which could one day become the new standard.
Microsoft has recently released Version 1.0 of Silverlight and
of special
interest is their Silverlight™
Streaming by Windows Live™
which gives small content producers and developers 4GB of server space
from which to experiment with the platform.
The service offers web designers and developers a free and
convenient
solution for hosting and streaming cross-platform, cross-browser media
experiences and rich interactive applications that run on
Windows™ and
Mac.Combined with the ability to create content with
Microsoft®
Expression Studio and other 3rd party tools, Web designers and content
publishers wishing to integrate Silverlight applications into their
online properties can enjoy complete control of the end user experience.
Currently, video must be less then 22 MB which works out to
10mins
of content encoded at 300Kbps. VC-1 and WMV are the supported video
formats.
Microsoft has got its work cut out for itself beyond creating
the
tools, For if you build it will they come? I am referring to the
community of developers who create plug-in applications which serve to
build a foundation for product growth.
As someone who has a lot of
miles with Windows Media Encoder and streaming video content under my
belt, I
would like to see Microsoft go the distance with Silverlight as a
robust alternative to Flash.
[Content in whole or part adapted from IPTVe and is licensed under Creative Commons, no addition derivative works may be copied from this article without prior permission from IPTVe and Web TV Wire]
