MACROMEDIA FLASH 8-USING FLASH Use Manual page 275

About streaming video using Flash Communication
Server
Streaming video from either your own server running Flash Communication Server or from a
host FVSS provides the most complete, consistent, and robust delivery option for both audio
and video files. In streaming, each Flash client opens a persistent connection to the Flash
Communication Server, and there is a controlled relationship between the video being
delivered and the client interaction. Flash Communication Server lets you use bandwidth
detection to deliver video or audio content based on the user's available bandwidth. This lets
you provide different content for users based on their ability to easily access and download
content. For example, if a user with a dial-up modem accesses your video content, you can
deliver an appropriately encoded file that doesn't require too much bandwidth.
Flash Communication Server also provides you with quality of service metrics, detailed
tracking and reporting statistics, and a range of interactive features designed to enhance the
video experience. As with progressive downloading, the video content (FLV file) is kept
external to the other Flash content and the video playback controls. This lets you easily add or
change content without having to republish the SWF file.
Streaming video with Flash Communication Server or FVSS provides the following
advantages over embedded and progressively downloaded video:
Video playback starts sooner than it does using other methods of incorporating video.
Streaming uses less of the client's memory and disk space, because the clients don't need to
download the entire file.
Network resources are used more efficiently, because only the parts of the video that are
viewed are sent to the client.
Delivery of media is more secure, because media does not get saved to the client's cache
when streamed.
Streaming video provides better tracking, reporting, and logging ability.
Streaming lets you deliver live video and audio presentations, or capture video from a web
cam or digital video camera.
Flash Communication Server enables multiway and multiuser streaming for video chat,
video messaging, and video conferencing applications.
By programmatically controlling video and audio streams (using server-side scripting),
you can create server-side play lists, synchronized streams, and more intelligent delivery
options based on the client's connection speed.
To learn more about Flash Communication Server, see:
flashcom/.
To learn more about FVSS, see: www.macromedia.com/software/flashcom/fvss/
www.macromedia.com/software/
About using video in Flash 275