Conversation with Dr. Sneath: Silverlight
- Posted: Sep 07, 2007 at 10:56 AM
- 11,399 Views
- 14 Comments
Download
How do I download the videos?
- To download, right click the file type you would like and pick “Save target as…” or “Save link as…”
Why should I download videos from Channel9?
- It's an easy way to save the videos you like locally.
- You can save the videos in order to watch them offline.
- If all you want is to hear the audio, you can download the MP3!
Which version should I choose?
- If you want to view the video on your PC, Xbox or Media Center, download the High Quality WMV file (this is the highest quality version we have available).
- If you'd like a lower bitrate version, to reduce the download time or cost, then choose the Medium Quality WMV file.
- If you have a Zune, WP7, iPhone, iPad, or iPod device, choose the low or medium MP4 file.
- If you just want to hear the audio of the video, choose the MP3 file.
Right click “Save as…”
- MP3 (Audio only)
- Mid Quality WMV (Lo-band, Mobile)
- WMV (WMV Video)
Recently, I decided to drop in on Dr. Sneath to chat about
Silverlight (1.0 and 1.1). I wanted to address some confusion I was having around adoption of a 1.0 technology when the 1.1 version is around the corner. As usual, Dr. Sneath addressed this confusion with his usual clarity. These are quickly becoming my
favorite type of interviews: random drive by conversations with people who know a great deal about specific technologies. It helps when they are friendly and can handle a little randomization. Certainly, Dr. Sneath (also known as
Tim Sneath), fits the bill.
Tune in. Good stuff inside.
Tune in. Good stuff inside.
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Thanks for drawing the distinction between Silverlight 1.0 and 1.1.
I already got it, but some people miss it.
Will Silverlight 1.1 be ready for Visual Studio 2008?
How much of the functionality in percentage terms of WPF will be in Silverlight 1.1? I have heard over 90%.
Since Tim is back from vacation, suggest a video and demo aimed at the "creative professionals"--web designers and Flash animators--that are not developers--using Blend to publish a Silverlight app or movie.
Thanks again.
Anyway, nice interview. Informative, perfect length, and the casual style works well. I'm looking forward to that followup interview.
Wasn't it Charles setting up his tripod?
Glad you enjoyed the conversation. It's always great to get some insights from the Dr. Sneath.
C
The idea is insanely great! Cudos to the founder!
While there have been improvements (sound-only downloads), video bitrates (and resulting file sizes) are RIDICULOS. And you don´t seem to be technically able to seperate multiple streams into download offers. If you´re tight on space (what I can´t imagine), CUT DOWN ON BITRATE.
I hope you´re able to pass on the direct comparison to your Webcast fellas:
While their Web-UI is absolutely positively B* (half a dozen windows to download an archived Webcast!!!), they manage to fit 60+ minutes in VERY good quality into well below 10MB!!!
Your file sizes are mostly 30 times that!!!
Maybe you could use a little help from DotNet Rocks. We pushed them there already.
You democratized MS, now do the same for Channel 9 downloads!
Having gotten rrreally, rrreally angry. I will repeat this here until you react!
G.
Thanks for the feedback. As we've stated many times, we ARE going to provide various formats and sizes for our videos. Please be patient. For now, I will stary encoding download files at 512Kbs....
One of the C9 founders,
C
"Thanks for the feedback. As we've stated many times, we ARE going to provide various formats and sizes for our videos. Please be patient. For now, I will stary encoding download files at 512Kbs....
One of the C9 founders"
Sorry for beeing so impatient, but the suggested solution seems so easily achievable.
Just feed the WM9 encoder REASONABLE SIZE and BITRATE (little over 200Kb is easily sufficient with Webcasts!) parameters on the command line.
I DO NOT ask for work intensive things, like seperating faces from code samples or a paradigm shift (of a professionally steady camera,...).
The current situation (guess WELL OVER A YEAR!!!) is simply prohibitive for me. These are HUGE downloads which take LOTS of TIME and resources.
I want C9 to be as ubiquitous as it deserves to be!
Thanks
G.
A beta version with a go-live license would be a good first step. But I guess only now that 1.0 is out the door, all resources can be concentrated on 1.1. So it might take some time.
gue,
We will start creating 512Kbs bitrate files for download.
C
>...I will START...
Sorry I didn´t get the meaning in your earlier reply due to the typo. I guessed "STAY", which was not a good guess in hindsight, cuz I know bitrates are 1500Kbs or even 2000!
I lost track if download files still even contain two or more streams at different bitrates, which is Tera-counter-productive.
So 512Kbs is a start. Thanks. Anything magic in that number?
I rechecked with the Webcasts which are VERY GOOD QUALITY.
212Kbs Windows Media Video 9 Screen codec including WMA 9 Voice 8 kbps, 8 kHz, mono. (So you see: Even your MP3s are overkill!
Guess 704 x 528 is a great match for the specialized Screen codec. Dunno what the specialized Screen codec gain with this special content is. (very static large or small text)
Guess for your purpose (faces / filmed screen content) a lower resolution is sufficient and a higher bitrate is necessary. Maybe 512 really IS the magic number for very high quality still, but possibly much less is OK. (in the 300s) Please TRY!
Thanks for the quick reaction(s)!
G.
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