Playing Audio and Video

Audio and video come in many different file types online. But all audio and video can be divided into two basic types:

  • Download and play— These audio and video file types—including sounds in .WAV, .AU, .MID, and .MP3 formats and video clips in .AVI, .MOV, .QT, and .MPG formats—are generally downloaded to your computer and then played. After they are downloaded, these files play anytime, whether you're online or off.

  • Streaming— Streaming audio and video begin to play a few moments after the audio or video data begins arriving at your computer; in other words, while you're watching or listening to a few seconds of audio or video, the next few seconds are being transmitted to your computer. Streaming is essential for live ...

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