Re: Streaming audio using m3u playlist file

[Barry Koopersmith <bkoopers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Roy Schestowitz wrote:

> On Sunday 21 August 2005 16:40, Barry Koopersmith wrote:
>
>
> > Roy Schestowitz wrote:
> >
> > > On Sunday 21 August 2005 04:46, Barry Koopersmith wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > > I created a webpage with this line of code:
> > > >
> > > > <a href="Scenic-3songs.m3u">(streaming with WinAmp)</a>
> > > >
> > > > The referenced "Scenic-3songs.m3u" file contains this one line:
> > > >
> > > > http://www.thefireandreason.com/TFaRLive1.mp3
> > > >
> > > > Here is the webpage:
> > > >
> > > > http://thefireandreason.irbl.net/audio/TFaR_audio_streaming.htm
> > > >
> > > > When I view the webpage in Mozilla Firefox, Netscape or Opera, when I
> > > > click on the link, it pops up the WinAmp mp3 player and it immediately
> > > > starts streaming and playing the referenced 11 mb size mp3 file. When I
> > > > view and click on the link in Internet Explorer (version 6.0), it pops
> > > > up the WinAmp mp3 player but it does not play the mp3 file. When I view
> > > > the html file locally on my computer in Internet Explorer and click on
> > > > the link, it pops up WinAmp and plays the mp3 immediately.
> > > >
> > > > What code can I use that will stream the mp3 file in Internet Explorer
> > > > on the website (as well as the other web browsers)?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks to anyone who can help me out.
> > >
> > >
> > > I suspect that you need to configure Internet Explorer to pass control to
> > > Winamp differently. It's natural to imagine that winamp.exe is passed
> > > some extra arguments that tell it how to handle the input file (e.g.
> > > enqueue, play). To say it differently, I don't think you should be
> > > dealing with this at source code level unless there is some M$-specific
> > > hack, which would not be valid HTML. This still doesn't explain why you
> > > get a different behaviour when viewing the page locally. Does the MP3
> > > file reside locally as well? I assume not.
> > >
> > > Try to change your filetypes in Windows and see if the default
> > > application for opening MP3 files gets assigned different behaviours
> > > depending on where it comes from.
> > >
> > > It is also worth mentioning that by embedding the URL's in an
> > > application-specific (Winamp) format, you might peril users who use other
> > > players. XMMS playlists, for example, are constructed differently.
> > >
> > > Roy
> >
> > Does the mp3 play in Internet Explorer if anybody else clicks that link?
> > Please let me know.
>
>
>
> I can't check at the moment as I have no access to a machine running
> Windows, however...
>
>
>
> > Is there a better method for streaming mp3 files on a webpage (so it
> > starts playing immediately instead of waiting until the entire file
> > downloads)?
>
>
>
> RealPlayer appear to play music immediately. Making an .rm or .ram version
> wouldn't hurt if you have the conversion software already. Bear in mind, as
> Spartanicus said:
>
> "There are many media players capable of handling m3u/mp3 files, leave
> that choice to the user, don't assume that they use the same player that
> you use."
>
> If I were to click a link to an MP3 file on your site, it would open up in
> RealPlayer, which means it would not interfere with my current playlists in
> XMMS. Never assume anything as regards the set preferences, application or
> platform. I suggest you leave that to the user and worry less whether an
> extra click is necessary or not. Add a gentle reminder to the visitor
> saying that he/she might need to start the audio explicitly. When I click a
> link to an MP3, I first get the choice as to whether I want it saved or
> opened. The one click 'magic' can never be guaranteed.
>
> Roy

The first time you click on a file link of a particular file type, 
Internet Explorer asks you if you want to open or save the file and you 
have the option of checking the box if you want the answer remembered. 
If someone selects "open", my goal is to have the large mp3 file 
streamed so it plays immediately. It doesn't matter to me which player 
the person uses to play it. When they click on the m3u, it is supposed 
to call up whatever music player is assiciated with the m3u file type. 
On my computer, it is WinAmp.

The problem is on my computer, all the different web browsers open the 
default m3u music player but Internet Explorer (with a live webpage, not 
from my local hard drive) is the only web browser that does not play the 
mp3 (it open opens the music player but does not play the mp3). Even if 
you click the "Play" button, it does not play. You have to type in the 
complete URL of the mp3. Is this a problem only on my computer or a 
problem using this code with Internet Explorer?

Is there a better method for streaming mp3 files on a webpage so if you 
select the open to open the file and your default music player opens, it
starts playing immediately instead of waiting until the entire file
downloads with Internet Explorer and the other web browsers?