by Matthew Pitts
There is a growing trend among many applications in many different genres to utilize the power of embedded media. Embedded media can be either sound or video that is integrated into the html of your web application. There is a significant difference between embedded media and external media. For instance, a Youtube video can be embedded in a web page using Flash. Flash uses a type of progressive download or streaming technology to instantly playback the video file. The streaming/progressive download technology can also be applied to sound files.
Embedded Media v. External Media
You can easily contrast the difference in the user experience between an embedded media file and one that requires a separate application to playback. While it is easy to link to a rich media file via a standard hyperlink in html as follows: <a href="http://somesite/somevideofile.wmv" target="blank">Click here to watch a video</a>, the result will not be to your liking. The problem is that this file will take a significant amount of time to download and playback.
The Beauty of Embedded Media
Embedded media is the answer to slow loading rich video files. A great way to get started with embedded media is to create a Youtube account and upload a high definition video. Youtube supports HD video so you can deliver a rich and stunning video experience to your clients without the problems of increased bandwith usage or storage issues. Consider a video below that I currently have embedded on my freelance page at www.mattpitts.lendahandlegal.com .
This video was recorded with an HD digital video camera. Some quality was lost when Youtube compressed the video, but it looks good for the most part. Hopefully this will encourage you to start to use embedded media in your site today.