Progressive Download Vs Streaming

Progressive Download Vs Streaming

Progressive downloads and streaming are the two prevalent methods of video content delivery over the internet. Both have their own sets of benefits and limitations and it is up to you to pick the one that is best suited to meet your needs and requirements.

It is important to understand the difference between the two mediums in order to fully appreciate each of their capabilities. The chief differentiators are the server and network transportation methods.
Progressive Downloads: Streaming from a Web Server!
Progressive downloads use a standard web server to transmit files over the internet.

Also known as HTTP progressive download. These are in fact, a bulk download of your media content on your computer.
For example, your video file is encoded at 200 kbps and placed on the server. Now, when a viewer requests to see that file via a link on your webpage, the server won’t care if the file is 200 kbps and the viewer is using 50 kbps dial up connection. It will simply start dumping the file onto the viewer’s computer cache as fast s it can. As soon as the media player gets enough content to kick start the play, it will start playing the video. This is called Progressive Download.

Of course the viewer will have to wait for a while if he/she is using a slower internet connection. Likewise, they won’t be able to use the fast forward option of the media player until the whole file has downloaded.
The advantage of progressive download, is that the video quality isn’t compromised. Even at 50 kbps, the client can view their videos in all their glory. Once the download is complete, the video is saved on the clients’ computer, so he/she can see it again without going through the ordeal of downloading it all over again.
Streaming Delivery using a Streaming Server!

A streaming media server is smart. It tracks the format of video files, their bandwidth, and structure and keeps an eye on the media player performance. Streaming servers streamline the performance of your video files by delivering the exact amount of data necessary to ensure smooth playback of the file at the exact rate needed to play it.

For example, if your client is accessing through a 50 kbps internet connection, they will be sent a file optimized for that very speed. The video quality will be compromised but the wait will be minimal.

If you are worried about copyright laws and need to make sure that your videos remain in your property, then true streaming is your solution. If your website uses true streaming to deliver video content, then rest assured that no files are left behind, even temporarily, on your clients’ computers. So every time they need to check out your videos, they will have to come back and reload to replay the entire thing.

With true streaming you can be assured of security and your client can use all the controls on the media player effectively. A streaming server is in constant conversation with the media player. So when the client fast forwards the video, it is instantly communicated to the server which starts streaming the media from that point onwards leaving all else. This enables true dynamics on your website.

It does make sense to save precious bandwidth and only transmit the part of the file that will actually be viewed.
Which one is better?
That depends on your needs really.

The fact is that most end users can’t tell one from another. Most of them are only concerned with the content. But most internet videos use progressive downloading. For example YouTube uses this method to deliver their video content.

But if your content is under the copyright law or you want something more spectacular and cutting edge, like customized playlists then True Streaming is your only option.

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