Up until now, implementing video into a website has been a challenge. The problem was not actually getting the video onto a site, but making sure that the audience was able to view it. Web developers had to choose a compression format (an algorithm which converts a large file into a smaller file) and hope that the end-user had a media player that could decode the video or was willing to install one. They were also assuming that the audience had an Internet connection fast enough to view the video without timing out.
Today, web-based video has never been easier to view. The majority of users on the Internet are accessing the web with high-bandwidth connections, allowing much faster downloads for music and video. With this standard high-bandwidth connection, the demand for video on the web is huge. In light of this, web developers are moving toward a video standard, Adobe Flash Video (FLV).
Adobe Flash Video allows the video to play directly in the page, which is good news considering Adobe Flash Player is installed on more than 96% of computers accessing the Internet. This will allow Internet users to view videos directly on a webpage with a click of a button. Today, newscasts, weather reports, music videos, and short films can be viewed online.
Don’t have Adobe Flash software? Many other programs can be used to convert other video formats into FLV such as, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, Apple Final Cut Pro, Apple QuickTime Pro, among others. This compact file can then be easily uploaded onto your site.
As a designer, the greatest part about using Adobe Flash Video is that it can be seamlessly integrated into a site. This means your video player and controls can be fully customized to match your website’s look — No Windows Media Player or QuickTime logo intruding in on your design.
Technology has come a long way, and is rapidly changing on a daily basis. As a web designer, staying current with techniques and current trends is crucial. As a web design and hosting company, Delaware.Net continues to maintain knowledge on up-and-coming products, and continues to have a reputation of excellence in the web development industry.
