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I. Multimedia
Welcome to Level 2 of the Internet Learning Tutor. This section was created to introduce you to more of what the Web has to offer as you progress through your journey on the Internet. By now, you have successfully completed Level 101 and are ready for more advanced applications of your knowledge.

Multimedia is the term used to describe different software applications that make your experience on the Web come alive.

To get the full experience of multimedia software, you need a computer equipped with sound and video hardware. Fortunately, most computers have them built in. You may also want to plug in stereo speakers or headphones before enjoying online audio. There should be connections ("jacks") on the back of your computer into which you can plug these accessories.
A. Plug-Ins
When you're on the Web, you may encounter a notice that says something like, "You must have Macromedia Flash loaded to view this animation." This is just an alert that tells you when you need to add a particular type of software application to your Internet browser (such as Netscape or Internet Explorer) to view or hear the multimedia. These applications are referred to as "plug-ins." The more recent browser versions come loaded with the most popular plug-ins already included, but you still may be prompted to download a specific piece of software.

Macromedia Flash is one of the most popular plug-ins available. It lets you watch animations, play online games and use advanced Web navigation. The plug-in is available at www.macromedia.com.
Shockwave is another plug-in primarily used for playing games online. It can be found at www.shockwave.com, along with a number of sample games.
Java can be used for games or online utilities and applications. Visit www.java.com.

Other plug-ins can be found when you encounter a page that requires them. Your browser will either automatically download and install the plug-in, or a link will be shown to tell you where to get that plug-in. Here's how to download plug-ins and other software:
  •  First, create a new folder on the hard drive of your computer to hold the files you will download. Then go to the Web to find the software you want.
  •  Locate the link that will begin the download process. Your browser will prompt you to choose a destination for the file it is about to download. Save the file into the new folder you created. When you click OK, the download begins.
The speed of the download is based on how fast your computer is, what kind of connection to the Internet you are using, and the speed of the computer ("server") that is sending you the file. If the transfer stops midway for more than three or four minutes, click Cancel and try again.

When the download is complete, the dialog box tracking your download progress will simply disappear. You now have the software on your computer. Some install automatically, but others may require you to tell them to install.

If you need to start the installation, examine the files you just downloaded into the folder you created. A "Readme" file contains information for installing the software and sometimes includes the software vendor's contact information in case you have a problem. If no Readme file is present, look for a file called Install.exe or Setup.exe. The software should take over at this point, asking you questions and putting the program files where they belong. Usually you will be asked to agree to a software license agreement. Read the license carefully before accepting the terms.

When completed, you should have a new program on your computer. You may be instructed to restart your computer before the new software is recognized.

Nearly every plug-in available online is free, or has a free version available. Some plug-ins also offer an enhanced or plus version, that either costs a one-time download fee or a monthly subscription fee. These plus versions offer extra features and content. Apple's QuickTime Pro, for instance, allows full-screen video playback and tools for creating and editing your own videos. Real offers a RealPlayer Plus with extra recording and playback features, and RealOne SuperPass which provides added video content.
B. Online Music
By far, the form of multimedia most affected by the Internet revolution is music. The entire music industry has repositioned itself because of the popularity of digital music, particularly in the form of MP3s.
Brief History of Web Music
Music on the Internet began with Real Audio, a format developed by Real Laboratories. Instead of being downloaded, songs were "streamed" or played directly to your Real Player software. Since you listened to the music only on your computer, you saved the locations of songs instead of saving the songs themselves.

This is similar to how Internet radio (see below) still works today. You could download the files, but there was no reason to, because they could not be listened to without the computer. Today, there are portable players that digitally store the actual music files, usually in MP3 format.

Music Formats

  •  MP3 was created as people began using their computers as entertainment centers, and needed a way to "rip," or copy songs from, compact disk (CD) collections onto their computers without taking up too much space. MP3s combine a small file size with good audio quality. A small 5 GB portable MP3 player can hold at least 1,000 songs while a traditional compact disk holds just 12 to 20 songs.
  •  Windows Media Audio (WMA) was developed by Microsoft. It is about the same size as MP3, and plays in Windows Media Player (WMP) and on most MP3 Players, but not on the Apple iPod.
  •  WAVE is an older format that also plays in Windows Media Player. "WAV" files are generally large, with little discernible quality improvement over competing formats like WMA and MP3.
  •  Advanced Audio Coding (AAC), or MPEG-4 Audio, is a proprietary music format developed by Apple Computer Company. It can be played on iTunes or on an iPod.
  •  OGG Vorbis is a free, publicly developed music format that can be played in most in-computer MP3 players, such as Winamp and Musicmatch, with a plug-in, and works on many portable MP3 players.


Playing Music on your Computer
To play any of these formats, you need a software music player that resides on your computer.
PCs with Microsoft Windows already come with Windows Media Player, which plays audio and video files in many formats. You can launch Windows Media Player by clicking on your computer's Start Button, selecting All Programs and then selecting Windows Media Player. You can download the latest version of Windows Media Player (often called WMP) at www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/.
Apple Computers come with Apple iTunes installed. iTunes plays AAC and MP3 files, but not WMA files. iTunes can also be installed on a PC.
Visit www.itunes.com to download.
Winamp is free MP3 player that plays all formats, including AAC and OGG Vorbis. It can be downloaded at www.winamp.com.
Musicmatch Jukebox plays WMA and MP3 files, but comes with advanced options, such as automatically downloading cover art and fixing incorrect song titles. It can be downloaded at www.musicmatch.com.

Playing Music on the Go
There are three ways to enjoy your MP3s and digital music on the go. You can get an MP3-enabled CD player, a Flash-based MP3 player or a hard disk drive (HDD)-based MP3 player. Each has its own advantages. MP3-Enabled CD players are great for beginner MP3 listeners. Basically a portable CD player that can also play a CD filled with MP3 songs (at least 150), these devices are the most inexpensive for the space they provide.
They can also play your regular CDs.
Flash-based MP3 players are perfect for people who have small MP3 collections and need a small, reliable player. The biggest advantages to flash-based players is they are small, rugged and don't skip. Thus, many people prefer flash-based players for listening while exercising.
HDD-Based MP3 players are great for people with big music collections who want access to all their music on the go. They are still light, between 4 and 6 ounces, and offer storage up to 20,000 songs. They offer advanced navigation, the ability to create playlists and many more options. These players are also generally the most expensive, so do some research before you purchase one (see Lesson 3 - Shopping).

Where to Get Music

  •  You hear a lot about file-sharing abuses these days, with lawsuits alleging some swappers are violating copyright laws. Needless to say, there are better ways to get MP3s than to use file-sharing services. If you want to listen to MP3s online, support the artists by purchasing them. You can buy MP3s by the song, by subscription, listen to Internet radio, or find sites with free downloads.
  •  Buying by the song is best for the light music downloader.
  •  Subscriptions are good for heavy downloaders, because you can get a large quantity of music at great prices. But if you don't download a lot, or listen to streaming music at your computer, subscriptions can be a waste of money.
  •  Internet radio is a great way to sample songs for free. All it requires is MP3 player software like Winamp or Windows Media Player, and an Internet connection. Instead of downloading the songs, the music is streamed to your computer. This is ideal if you like the variety of radio, with a bit more control. Internet radio is also a great solution if you have limited space for downloading music, or if you rarely take your music on the go. Some stations are the same you get on FM across the country, and some are exclusively online.
  •  A number of sites give away a limited number of free MP3 songs. You can also search for free MP3 files with a search engine by entering in the song title and the term "MP3."
C. Online Video
Online video works mostly the same way as online audio. But, because a video file is 10 times as large as an audio file of the same playing time, most online video is streamed to your computer instead of downloaded. Although streaming video vendors provide a wide variety of content, some sites specialize in certain categories, such as sports and news.
Video Players
Most computer operating systems come with a video player. Or, you can download one to use. Popular video players include:
  •  Windows Media Player (WMP)
  •  Real Networks RealPlayer
  •  QuickTime by Apple

Video Formats
Microsoft has developed a number of streaming formats for watching videos in Windows Media Player. They include Advanced Streaming Format (ASF) and Windows Media Video (WMV). When you find files in this format, you can stream them and watch them in Windows Media Player.
Audio/Video Interweave, or AVI, video files can also be viewed in Windows Media Player and in Real Networks Real Player. These files usually are poor quality, unless combined with a good codec (see below). The Motion Picture Experts Group, or MPEG, video format is the standard today. These files can be played in WMP, Real Player and other players. MOV files can be played only Apple's QuickTime Program.

Codecs
Sometimes you'll download a file in these formats, but you won't see any video when you try to play the file. That is because you need a newer "codec" or video creation file.
The popular DivX codec creates AVI files that are both small and high quality. Download the codec and a DivX Player at www.divx.com.
MPEG-4 Video is the best quality video available online. It is the codec now being used for DVDs. You can find the latest codecs at www.microsoft.com.
D. Fun, Games and Animation
But wait, there's more! The Internet is a virtual carnival midway loaded with sights and sounds and interactive games. Many people enjoy static or animated cartoons - both professional and amateur -- some of which can be pretty raunchy or very satirical. Other people play games they download and play by themselves - or join in multiplayer games in which participants create their own identities or "avatars." These contests can range from pretty simple (and bloody) shoot-'em-ups to complex role-playing plots. Sources for games include:
  •  AddictingGames.com
  •  FlashGames.com
  •  UltimateArcade.com
E. Parental Controls
Not every form of multimedia available on the Internet is suitable for all audiences. Some games may be too violent for young surfers; some videos may contain mature themes and content; some music may feature objectionable lyrics. Certain Web sites, such as casinos and those selling alcoholic beverages, may only be accessed by surfers of a certain age.

For these reasons, parents should be aware of the Web sites accessed by their children, and should create guidelines for Internet use, just as one would for movie and TV watching.

There are also a number of programs available to help ensure safe and appropriate Internet use for children. These programs come in three basic flavors: programs that monitor Internet use; programs that limit Internet use, preventing specified users from accessing certain types of sites; and programs that do both.

Many Internet service providers (ISPs) now bundle parental controls with their Internet service. AOL, Earthlink and many others all offer some sort of permissions and Internet tracking for family Internet usage. Popular third-party programs that work with any browser and any ISP include CYBERsitter, Net Nanny and SurfControl (formerly CyberControl). Schools and libraries can use network blocking programs like BESS and workplaces can implement network programs like Sentian and SpectorSoft.