Best Live Streaming Webcams

The various technologies available for producing and consuming streaming media all have advantages. For a number of years RealMedia was at the top of the pack but now Apple QuickTime, Windows Media, and Flash are the formats most widely used.

(Live streaming webcams often come bundled with their own software or will interface with either QuickTime or Windows Media.)

Apple QuickTime

As a multimedia technology, QuickTime, originally released in 1991, will handle digital video, sound, text, animation, music, and immersive panoramic images. Currently in version 7.0.4, the QuickTime format is available for use royalty free and the media player is a free download.

Macromedia Flash

Flash, introduced in 1996, is both a multimedia authoring program and the player that displays the subsequent products. It supports vector and raster graphics and uses a scripting language, ActionScript. Flash supports bidirectional audio and video streaming. This is a popular method for adding interactivity and animations to web pages as well as video and is often used to author web-based advertisements.

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Microsoft Windows Media

The Windows Media framework includes tools for the creation and distribution of media. With formats for both streaming audio and video, including high definition video, and an advanced streaming format, Windows Media has proved to be a robust delivery system for excellent video quality. It is widely used online - especially as media center PCs have grown in popularity.

Real Networks

Originally known for its compressed audio format, RealNetworks compressed video format was widely popular online before Microsoft Windows Media gained ascendancy. While not as prevalent as it once was, RealMedia streaming files are still attractive for their small size and good quality.

Limitations of Streaming

On the server side of the streaming equation there are still issues with insuring that there is no data loss in the stream. If this issue can not be overcome, the quality of streamed video can be considerably less than that of a downloaded clip. On the viewing or listening side reception can be effected by firewalls, poor connections, or missing or outdated software.

Regardless of the envisioned use, more people are asking "what is streaming" and the answer changes. At one time it was "we keep an eye on our kids when they play with live streaming webcams." Today it might be, "we watched the game." And tomorrow, who knows? This is exciting technology that is, for all the advances, still in its infancy.

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