I just logged into our hosting account and seen that we went over the limit on our bandwidth.

I'm sure I know why, and thats the video footage we have for most of our products.

As of right now, the video is embedded into the html, and uses microblo's media player.
There's a reason for it tho -

Most of our customers aren't real net savy, which is to say, i'll confuse the heck out of 'em if they have to download a plug-in for anything.

The video is only about 100k on each page, and I've also made an option for them 'click here' to see a larger video.

Is there a way I can cut this down at all, using any other format, yet still have the video appear 100% of the time without the user having to install anything else?

MrStitch wrote:

microblo's media player.

I'll get back later as soon as I stop LMAO and pick myself up off the floor!

Have you considered converting the video format to flash?  I believe this is much more bandwidth friendly, and you don't have to have your visitors download any special components or plugins.

I considered the flash, but I thought you had to have a plug-in for it.

Maybe i'm wrong, but I'm looking to target that guy who literally just got a brand new computer and went straight to our website... no non-sense anything. Video working perfectly right outa the gate.

I do have Corel X3... i thought I seen a flash something-or-other in there as an option. I wonder if it can convert?

If flash will work just as you said, then what else will I need to do to make it work.... never set up a flash before.

Stitch... do I have to ban you from the forum for the day so you can get out and enjoy your birthday?!?

You'll kill me Nic!

For the love of god... it's a good excuse to tell the boss I'm working on SEO, and still make what I make. hhahahahah

ok if you want to save money on the bandwidth, you need to upload the video on YouTube

then copy the embed code and paste it on your site somewhere

presto - you're using youtubes bandwidth instead of your own, and you're video will also be searchable and findable on youtube

Not sure how that will go over with the boss, as each video will have this funky 'you tube' looking type ad, and then the weird stuff they stick at the end.

It's definitely cost effective... thanks for the option.

well yes it will, but it will save your bandwidth

converting to another format is not going to help enough to notice

and there is another advantage to youtube - that site gets major traffic and your video will get loads of exposure, all the while consuming none of your bandwidth

MrStitch wrote:

I considered the flash, but I thought you had to have a plug-in for it.

You do, but its a standard plugin (you need the flash player - all new computers will come with this).  I was also going to suggest YouTube as their videos are flash based...

On average, how much space will a flash file save vs wma??

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MRSTITCH - YOU'RE NOW PART OF THE OLD FARTS CLUB!

Hey now, 32 isn't that old!

Is it?

I think I'll run out of work now screaming, and naked.....uhm.. yeah.... definitely naked.

MrStitch wrote:

On average, how much space will a flash file save vs wma??

it won't, in fact it will add space since the flash will just wrap the mpg or wma file

here is another service, less commercialised than utoobe  - samploe fun vid here

http://www.zippyvideos.com/186864894736 … ldgeezers/

Whoa. . . hold the phone . . .

Beofre you convert the video to flash there are a few things you should consider . .

• The video's quality WILL suffer!
• You have to know how to use Flash and ActionScript
• While Flash does come with most computers more and more people are blocking because of obnoxious adverts and privacy concerns

Here's something else to consider:
If the vid is only 100k you aren't going to save much bandwidth by converting to flash.  100k is the size of a medium sized image.  It may be time to just buy some more bandwidth.



And for Mr. Stitch,  your 32?  32! OMG!  Don't you have to retire now or something???  I quess you'll be moving down here to FL , driving a big white cadillac (very slowly) while wearing a hat with me in a car behind you screaming for you to "Do the speed limit or take the bus!"

Hi Stitch...hey...I run into this problem my family sites, which are all on my server.  I use Windows Media Player files.  This way, they can download the file - ONCE, save it and replay it as many times as they want.  They also like the features that come with the player, they all have the player with Windows and it's free.

I've tried all the standard video formats between my sites, family and all my clients.  .wmv is the most compatible and most prefered.

Just my two cents. 

how do you figure WMV is the most compatible, when Microsoft has gone out of their way to make it uncompatible ?

thebjer wrote:

.wmv is the most compatible and most prefered.

I believe, mpeg has more power. Flash streams very good (.flv)

greets,
ak

Mutilated,

I think what she means is that the user generally doesn't have to install anything, which is why I went with it.

99% of the population has media player installed, so it's a no brainer.