Video Straming technologies?

[(*)BlackZer0]

Hi everyone, this is my first post.

I wonder if you could help me... I need to find a way to stream videos for users without them being able to download it on their hard drives.

So far I've investigated Windows Media, and Flash video embedding. Realnetworks streaming is not an option in this case (client's demand).

How can I encode streaming video in Windows Media 9 and Flash MX?

Thanks everyone.

[Sux0rZh@jc0rz]

How can I encode streaming video in Windows Media 9 and Flash MX? Just take the video in it's finality, then open Flash MX>File>Import>(browse+find video, then import) then when prompted if you want to extend the "timeline" frames to fit the movie in. Then click on the movie(once it has imported) and right click>scale. Then scale to your needs and save.

(NOTE: Do not change framerate once the movie has been imported, or it will affect the movie.)

You can put a watermark under the movie, that way if they grab the .swf file, then they still can't easily remove the watermark(very hard).

[(*)BlackZer0]

Thanks man, although I already know how to do that... I was just looking to see if there was a way to keep my SWF video files away from he visitor's hard drive.

Anyway thans for your help :)

[Sux0rZh@jc0rz]

It's impossible to keep any kind of:

movie file
music file
image file
text file
html sourcecode

from the user, as the servers give it to the cpu for the cpu to process and then post. this is all saved in the .temp file nomatter what you do. you can put meta tags that tell it not to cache, but that doesnt keep them from doing other methods. There IS no 100% safe way to keep your movies or images away from the user without making a C## program that they can download with the movies encrypted and embedded within the program itself/a program that downloads movies from your server, then they play, and delete themselves. never letting the user see the actual file. This is a waste of time in my opinion too because people can "crack" the program in time and get the movies(takes quite some time), OR they can just give the program away to people. (File sharing, p2p, ect.) If you then put a subscription code on your program, they will make keygen's. ( www.crack-locator.com ) And if you make it a trial software, then they will make a "patch" to fix it ( www.crack-locator.com ) and there is basically no way to keep your stuff safe. the .swf with watermark is probly the best you can do.

[(*)BlackZer0]

Golly, thanks for all the info. I certainly won't go through the trouble of script-wrapping my movies. Guess I'll just go for Windows Media streaming, then.

You've been very helpful, thank you! :)

[Sux0rZh@jc0rz]

np.

[PeOfEo]

a good actual stream from a server would be winamp shoutcast, you would need to run your box as a server and config your router though.

[(*)BlackZer0]

Uh, no, I guess I'll just use the buggy Windows Media... no need to reconfigure my company's router :D

Thanks for the info

[PeOfEo]

Originally posted by (*)BlackZer0
Uh, no, I guess I'll just use the buggy Windows Media... no need to reconfigure my company's router :D

Thanks for the info well when I hear the term stream my mind generally jumps to live stream first, like a web radio even though that isnt what you needed. You could also use shoucast to do a stream that isnt live but shoutcast is designed to be an internet radio broadcasting program.

[(*)BlackZer0]

True, one does think of live streaming, but I was referring to streamloading... anyway I guess Winamp is not an option either, because it requires Winamp to be installed, or a plug-in downloaded. That's why I was thinking of Flash or WMedia, because they're the most widely spread in the client's region of interest.

Anyway, thanks a lot for the info... problem solved :)

[PeOfEo]

well shoutcast streams can be accesed with media player, there is no winamp plugin, it uses the same file types as quick time and media player basically. But since you do not want a live stream that rules it out anyway.