Streaming vs Progressive Download
jeffbruce Nov 28, 2006 8:06 AMHas anyone evaluated the performance difference between the 2
delivery methods? I believe I understand the differences between
the 2, and am trying to decide whether streaming is "worth it".
I don't need seeking, and I don't care whether the content (FLV) is cached. Initially I thought PD would be my choice. However, after reading:
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/flv_download.html
3 of the listed "advantages" stand out. Specifically:
In my project:
1. Some of the videos I have are long (over 10 minutes). Why is streaming better for long videos?
2. I don't know how many simultaneous users I will have. Let's say that it is a hundred or more. Why is streaming better? I will be using a major "streaming media" provider which will do either FCS or HTTP. Since they have major amounts of bandwidth, won't either method support lots and lots of simultaneous users? Anyone have real world numbers on how many simultaneous streams/PD connections can be supported on a given server?
3. The experience watching these videos (good looking video and smooth playback) are the MOST important aspect. The compression is the same regardless of which delivery method is used, so "image quality" should be the same, right? As far as smooth playback goes, has anyone done practical tests that say for "x" number of people simultaneously accessing a server, performance problems occurred "y" percent of the time using the 2 delivery methods?
I'm hoping better to understand from a PRACTICAL and FACTUAL standpoint why I should choose streaming. Or is the only thing I have to go on the "theoretical"? I'm also a bit suspicous that much of what I have read is simply marketing hype.
I would really appreciate any advice or insight, especially from people that use both methods.
I don't need seeking, and I don't care whether the content (FLV) is cached. Initially I thought PD would be my choice. However, after reading:
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/flv_download.html
3 of the listed "advantages" stand out. Specifically:
quote:
1. Deliver long files—for example, video clips over 10 minutes long
2. Deliver video to many viewers—for example, a hundred or more simultaneous viewers
3. Have advanced features such as bandwidth detection or quality-of-service monitoring for delivering the best possible experience
In my project:
1. Some of the videos I have are long (over 10 minutes). Why is streaming better for long videos?
2. I don't know how many simultaneous users I will have. Let's say that it is a hundred or more. Why is streaming better? I will be using a major "streaming media" provider which will do either FCS or HTTP. Since they have major amounts of bandwidth, won't either method support lots and lots of simultaneous users? Anyone have real world numbers on how many simultaneous streams/PD connections can be supported on a given server?
3. The experience watching these videos (good looking video and smooth playback) are the MOST important aspect. The compression is the same regardless of which delivery method is used, so "image quality" should be the same, right? As far as smooth playback goes, has anyone done practical tests that say for "x" number of people simultaneously accessing a server, performance problems occurred "y" percent of the time using the 2 delivery methods?
I'm hoping better to understand from a PRACTICAL and FACTUAL standpoint why I should choose streaming. Or is the only thing I have to go on the "theoretical"? I'm also a bit suspicous that much of what I have read is simply marketing hype.
I would really appreciate any advice or insight, especially from people that use both methods.
