Siu Lun

I’m stumped the past few days, it turns out a term that I’ve used since the first time I’ve uploaded a video for Flash to ‘play before it’s finished downloading’ is actually an arguing point that seems to be fussy with no definite answers that can be found on the web.

It could have been a misused terminology but I’ve always thought HTTP Streaming – literally means, progressive download via HTTP.

Since, from the outset, when you reference a video file to play in Flash. Unless it’s true streaming via a streaming server. It’s always been in the http protocol.

I guess the matter is made ‘worst’ by the fact that there are HTTP Streaming servers around that imitates streaming but allows for progressive download at the same time such as: http://stream.xmoov.com/

So… what is the difference actually? I’ve read an artcial that says HTTP Streaming refers to HTTP Tunneling – i.e. streaming by tunneling streams in the HTTP protocol. Others, seems to think the same as me. I suppose the tunneling one make sense, but it all just seems like semantics to me. I know the idea between real streaming, tunneling real streams to HTTP and false streaming via HTTP/progressive download are all very common, but is there a definite term to seperate all of these?

A search on google only yields differing results.

An interesting find.

UPDATE: Some clarity that also suggest the trap of the term HTTP Streaming – http://www.streamingmedia.com/article.asp?id=10789
I’m actually surprised it’s written in late 2008, when people have been using that term since at least 2006. I guess there was never a defined definition.

UPDATE 2:
“Streaming” – the definition of it does not in anyway say that streams cannot be preloaded, all it says is that it is data packets being constantly sent to the recipient. Therefore ‘technically’ from a language perspective, HTTP Streaming can mean ANYTHING, including, “PUSH” data such as COMET. Therefore, it’s best to avoid that terminology whenever possible because of it’s ambiguous nature.

In my current role, I’m trying to do what seems like an impossible task. Changing the web development landscape in Hong Kong.

Being in a large multi-national company in Hong Kong, I’ve been empowered to help develop a world-class interactive agency. This means I have the projects that can show the world, all I need is to find and gather the right people, work with the right people, train the right people and overall raise the bar of web development in Hong Kong to a whole new level.

This might sound big, and well, to be frank, I do believe it is. In my environment now, it helps being around similarly ambitious people. The hard part of course, is to educate such people without being patronising, and it’s a lot about working with people while being courteous. I find it very challenging, especially with working with over 200 individual minds with their own quirks and traits.

Nevertheless, we try every step to push the limits, we’re pushing the limits in every level. It is a challenging road for all involved, but everytime we emerge with a project that’s better than the last. There comes a limit though that we’ll touch one day on the level of skills, and overall enthusiasm. I’m trying to find the right people, convert what we have. It’s a little like a missionary on a mission to convert the populace.

It’s a hard road, I’m learning as I’m going along, while bringing everybody else up to speed, but success will eventually come.

With the release of Google OS imminent and the likes of O3D plugins being developed at Google. It is only a matter of time Google will force/encourage the entire PC gaming industry into developing browser based games that has the social side of the web integrated into the core.

Some game developers are already seeing this trend and have jumped into developing mobile games and other browser based games.

One example is Sid Meier whom is developing the legendary civ series onto the social networking platform. Facebook.

It is clear Google’s path to success will continue and by entering into the PC OS and mobile OS market, they’re trying to dominate and overtake the traditional OS giants. If I were you, I would stock up on Google shares.

All of what I’ve said can very well happen in the next year or 2.

As all of the technology concerns is either in development/mature enough to be deployed for production today.