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Streaming Audio 10 Years Old

Posted by Zonk on from the now-more-than-ugly-pixels dept.

SlimySlimy writes "This month, streaming audio turns 10. Though first introduced by Real, streaming multimedia is so commonplace today it's hard to believe that it didn't even exist 10 years ago. In line with one of their previous press releases, RealNetworks has released a mysterious website and letter from CEO Rob Glaser celebrating 10 years of Internet streaming audio, as well as announcing a yet-to-be-revealed 'revolution' in digital media. 'On April 26, we are changing the rules of the Internet again, and digital music will never be the same.' Here is their press release from 1995 (when they were still Progressive Networks) announcing the first streaming Internet multimedia."

8 of 220 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Solution searching for a problem? by interstellar_donkey · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Because 10 years ago, most people didn't have fast connections and most people didn't have the hard drive space to store it.

    And because today, content providers often don't want you keeping a copy of their content on your hard drive.

    --
    The Internet is generally stupid
  2. Please by m50d · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Don't criticise real, just this once. They introduced it, they were doing it over 28kbps modems (which is probably where all the buffering lines come from...it doesn't happen anymore, it didn't happen on a decent connection, what do you want them to do on a connection so slow, it's not funny), we should salute them.

    --
    I am trolling
  3. 10 years old? by Thuktun · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Wouldn't MBONE count as streaming multimedia? It predates that by three years.

  4. Re:Solution searching for a problem? by tommertron · · Score: 3, Insightful
    when I can just download the same content in a proper format and use fast forward and rewind it, pause it,... in any way I like while watching it full screen in good quality?

    Sounds great, unless you're listening to a live broadcast. Or something that content providers want you to listen to, but not own.

    --
    Random rants about technology: http://technorants.blogspot.com
  5. Re:Streaming is still not there... by howareyougentlemen · · Score: 3, Insightful
    What I simply do not understand is why more websites, if they're pushing the same amount of bits either way, don't offer the complete file for download.

    One reason is bandwidth conservation. Most people do NOT view/listen to the entire content file. With downloads, you have to dump the whole thing on them (or at least a LOT more than if you streamed).

    Not to mention having to wait for the download to complete. For -really- brief clips, sure, there is no difference. If you are having problems with streaming, the first thing to do is be sure you have set your player to TCP protocol. There are -many- factors that can screw up UDP delivery, and almost all of these will impact your perceived quality.

  6. hard to believe? by MartinG · · Score: 2, Insightful

    it's hard to believe that it didn't even exist 10 years ago.

    Is it?

    Even when you think that 10 years ago Microsoft Internet Explorer didn't exist and 15 years ago the world wide web had only just been invented?

    --
    -- MartinG To mail me: echo kewyjlcxyzvjfxbqwh | tr bcefhjklqvwxyz .@adgimnoprstu
  7. Re:I'm confused by zuvembi · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yes, yes we do.

  8. Timing -- iTMS is 2 years old on the 28th by oboylet · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Sure, this the 10-year aniversary of RealPlayer doing streaming or whatever, but it was 2 years ago (4.28.03 I think) that Apple opened the iTMS for business.

    I see a Press Release flame war ensuing, touting the million or so subscribers that Real claims to have vs whatever million number of songs iTMS has served up.

    Also, Real might be launching some new digital music service to take the steam out of Jobs's crowing over his pet project.

    Just a thought.