Why Stream Rather Than Download the Audio Files?
Sound files can be made in many formats other than RealAudio’s Streaming RM format, but I prefer streaming for several reasons: • RealAudio files may be played almost immediately, without being downloaded in their entirety first. • In the event that Web use is heavy and even an RM file does not stream fluently enough, the student may simply download the file to his/her hard drive and play it with complete fluency thereafter. The professor need only provide students with a direct hyperlink to the file. • RM files are up to 40 times smaller than sound files in other formats. They may be downloaded much more quickly, and take up much less space, with little or no perceptible loss of sound quality. • Many college computer labs, such as those at my institution, do not permit students to download anything onto them. • RealPlayer now comes bundled as a plug-in with the free Netscape Navigator and is easy to download and install by itself. Users of older versions of Netscape Navigator and of M
